34 
MITCHAM I ITS PHYSIC GARDENERS AND PLANTS. 
fully scraped out, immediately placed on a sieve, and stirred with- 
out pressure. The juice thus obtained was set aside for six or 
eight hours, and yielded 7J drachms of remarkably fine elaterium 
(No. 1) of pale green color, and having the strongly characteris- 
tic aroma which has been compared to that of senna or tea. The pulp 
and seeds were then washed in a little distilled water, subjected 
to gentle pressure, and on being set aside to deposite, yielded half 
an ounce of elaterium (No. 2) of a greyish green color, and hav- 
ing rather less of the fragrant odor. 
The sliced cucumbers were then washed with distilled water 
and pressed. The deposite obtained (No. 3) amounting to an 
ounce. It had a dark, dirty, olive-green color, less aroma than 
the former products, and is apparently unfit for use. 
The fracture of the three samples differs considerably ; No. 1, 
being the most friable, brittle, and easily reduced to powder ; No. 
2 similar, but in a rather less degree ; No. 3 is more tough and 
gummy in its fracture. 
In order to obtain the maximum product of good elaterium, it is 
necessary to strain off the liquid from the pulp and seeds as 
quickly as possible after the cucumbers are cut. The deposite 
speedily takes place on exposure of the juice to the air, and 
unless the above precaution be taken, a portion of it is likely to 
be left in the sieve with the pulp ; or, if afterwards obtained by 
washing, it is more or less contaminated with the inert constitu- 
ents of the pulp. 
IV. ROSES. 
Two sorts of roses are cultivated at Mitcham, namely, one 
known there as the Damask Rose, and which Dr. Pereira states to 
be the Rosa gallica, var. 8 officinalis, De Candolle ; and the se- 
cond called at Mitcham the Provence or Cabbage Rose, and which, 
according to Dr. Periera, is the Rosa centifolia, var. a. vulgaris 
foliacea, De Candolle. 
Mr. Moore (1805) states that :— 
" The ground is prepared in the same manner as for lavender 
and liquorice, and the roses planted three feet asunder, are kept 
well cleaned and hoed, and in the autumn all the superfluous and 
dead shoots are cut out, and the ground dug between them. Every 
other year they are refreshed with twenty-four loads of spit dung 
pointed in between them, and close to the roots." 
