308 ECONOMIC BOTANY. 



FLOWERS. 



300. From the petals of several species of Rose, Rosa 

 centifolia, R. gallica, R. damasdna, R. sempervirens, etc. 

 (family Rosaeece), Attar of Roses and Rose-water, 

 etc., are manufactured. For this purpose roses are culti- 

 vated in great quantities in several warm countries. On 

 one acre of ground, ten thousand rose plants may stand, 

 and these produce annually about five thousand pounds of 

 rose leaves (i.e. petals), and this quantity of petals yields 

 one pound of oil or Attar of Roses. The flowers are 

 collected before they are fully expanded. From the petals, 

 by a simple process of distillation, Rose-water is obtained. 

 The process in the manufacture of the Attar (called also 

 Ottar and Otto) is much more complicated. It is seldom 

 to be found pure, being mixed with oil of geranium and 

 olive-oil. Spirit of Roses is obtained by distilling the 

 petals with a small quantity of alcohol. The dried petals 

 infused in vinegar is called Rose of Vinegar. By beat- 

 ing up the fresh flowers in boiling water, and adding an 

 equal weight of honey. Honey of Roses is obtained ; and 

 Conserve of Roses is made by beating up the petals with 

 sugar, 



301. The Orange-tree, Citrus aurantium (family 

 Rutaoeoe), is cultivated both for its delicious fruit and 

 fra,grant flowers. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree, 

 native of India ; it has a greenish-brown bark, and bears 

 oblong leaves, with winged petioles ; the sepals and petals 

 are five each, and the versatile anthers about twenty or 

 more. The fruit is a berry, the well-known Orange. 

 The flowers are solitary, or in axillary clusters, and very 

 fragrant. From their fragrant white petals the oil of 



