262 
OIL  OF  ROSES  IN  THE  BALKAN. 
the  dish  is  placed  in  a  water-bath,  and  after  some  time  weighed. 
The  loss  of  weight  gives  the  quantity  of  water  in  the  iodine.  There 
is  a  slight  loss  of  water  in  this  operation,  in  consequence  of  the 
heat  developed  during  the  combination  of  the  iodine  and  mercury, 
but  the  quantity  of  iodine  volatilized  is  very  minute.  It  is  advisable 
to  lay  a  piece  of  starch-paper  over  the  dish  while  in  the  water- 
bath,  so  as  to  be  sure  that  no  iodine  has  been  lost  in  consequence 
of  imperfect  combination.  The  following  results  of  the  examina- 
tion of  three  kinds  of  iodine  will  give  some  idea  of  the  applicability 
of  the  process;  two  determinations  were  made  in  each  case  im- 
mediately after  each  other: — 
Iodine  A.  I.    3-79  p.  c.      B.  I.   4'05  p.  c.      C.  I.    6  31  p.  c. 
II.    3-61  p.  c.         II.    3-88  p.  c.  II.    6-18  p.  c. 
—Chem.  Gazette  ,Mnvch3  1853,  from  Schweizerisches  Gewerbeblott, 
Sept.  1852. 
ON  THE  FABRICATION  OF  OIL  OF  ROSES  IN  THE  BALKAN. 
It  is  principally  the  Christian  inhabitants  of  the  low  countries 
of  the  Balkan  between  Selimno  and  Carloya  as  far  as  Philippopolis, 
who  occupy  themselves,  with  the  culture  of  the  Rosa  centifolia  pro- 
vincialis.  In  good  seasons  about  400,000  meticals  (1  metical  = 
1|  drachm)  are  obtained  in  this  tract  of  country.  400  roses  form 
about  1  oka,  8  okas  furnish  about  1  metical  of  oil.  In  bad  sea- 
sons only  from  100,000  to  200,000  meticals  of  oil  are  obtained. 
The  process  followed,  contrary  to  so  many  statements,  is  simply 
a  distillation  of  the  roses  with  water;  this  is  performed  in  copper 
retorts, which  contain  about  30  okas  of  water  and  the  same  quantity 
of  roses.  The  oil  obtained  varies  in  its  properties  ;  many  Kasas  ? 
furnish  an  oil  which  solidifies  more  readily  than  others.  The 
former  is  more  sought  after  in  commerce,  but  the  more  fluid  oil 
has  the  finer  odor.  The  oil  is  put  into  copper  vessels,  called 
"  kunkunnas,"  which  contain  100— 1000  meticals  ;  these,  when 
filled,  are  soldered  up.  The  rose-water  which  is  obtained  at  the 
same  time  serves  as  a  cosmetic,  &c.  The  transit  of  the  oil  of 
roses  is  from  Kasanlik  through  Constantinople. — Chem.  Gazette, 
March,  1853,  from  Dingier  s  Polyt.  Journ. 
