168 SYLVA FLORIFERA. 



roses, for the provision of rose-water for their 

 lord, whose table was also covered with rose- 

 leaves instead of napkins. The French par- 

 liament had formerly a great day of cere- 

 mony, called baillee de roses, because great 

 quantities of roses were then distributed. 



We presume that it was formerly more 

 customary to use rose-water in this country 

 than at present, as we find amongst the 

 charges in the account of a dinner of Lord 

 Leiyster, Chancellor of the University of 

 Oxford, Sept. 5. 1570 : " For iij oz. of rose- 

 watere, for boylde meats, and leaches, and 

 gelleys, and drie leches, and marche payne, 

 and to wash afore dinnere, and after dinnere, 

 iij s. ix d." 



Rose-water is still in such demand in Da- 

 mascus, for the purposes of cookery, that 

 many hogsheads of it are sold daily in the 

 markets of that city. 



As we now possess upwards of eight hun- 

 dred different kinds of roses, it would be in 

 vain to attempt the description of all the 

 varieties and sub-varieties, which nothing 

 short of the most minute inspection can dis- 

 cover, and the nicest pencil pourtray. To 

 such of our readers as may wish to see the 

 roses pictured, we recommend them to inspect 

 the work which Miss Lawrence has published 



