ATTAR  OF  ROSE. 
131 
ceived  in  a  long-necked  glass  flask  of  the  capacity  of  about  4J 
okes  (about  lj  gallons).  There  are  usually  several  such  stills 
together. 
All  being  in  readiness  and  the  roses  for  a  day's  distilling 
having  been  collected,  the  still  is  charged  with  about  10  okes 
(about  27  lb.)  to  which  is  added  double  their  volume  of  water. 
The  fire  having  been  lighted,  distillation  is  carried  on  in  the 
usual  manner  for  about  an  hour  and  a  half,  the  result  being  sim- 
ply very  oily  rose-water  called  in  Turkish  Grill suju  (ghyul-suyu.) 
The  still  is  then  emptied,  or  rather  the  exhausted  roses  are  re- 
moved from  it  and  thrown  away.  The  decoction  which  remains 
and  which  has  a  very  agreeable  rosy  smell  is  used  instead  of 
fresh  water  for  a  new  distillation.  The  first  distillates  from 
each  apparatus  are  united  and  subjected  to  distillation  by  them- 
selves, one-sixth  being  drawn  off ;  and  the  residue  is  used  in  the 
place  of  spring  water  for  other  operations.  The  vessels  con- 
taining the  rose  water  and  completely  filled  with  it  are  now  kept 
for  a  day  or  two  at  a  temperature  exceeding  at  least  59°  Fahr., 
at  the  end  of  which  time  most  of  the  oil,  bright  and  fluid,  will 
have  risen  to  the  surface.  By  means  of  a  very  small  tin  funnel, 
having  a  fine  opening  and  provided  with  a  long  handle,  the  oil 
is  skimmed  off  and  is  then  in  condition  for  sale..  The  rose 
water  last  drawn  is  of  extreme  fragrance,  is  reserved  for  culi- 
nary and  medicinal  purposes  and  is  much  prized.  The  resin  of 
the  calyx,  which  adheres  to  the  knives  and  hands  of  those  who 
cut  the  flowers,  is  collected  and  prized  as  a  perfume  under  the 
somewhat  inappropriate  name  of  Qui  shamur  (Rose  dirt.) 
As  regards  the  product  of  volatile  oil,  it  is  evidently  extreme- 
ly variable.  The  author  thinks  that  the  average  percentage  may 
be  given  as  0*04,  though  he  cannot  support  the  exactness  of  his 
estimate  as  some  who  profess  to  have  counted  the  roses  one  by 
one.  The  annual  produce  of  a  harvest  is  from  300,000  to  400,- 
000  meticals,  or  in  round  numbers  from  3000  to  4000  pounds,  a 
quantity  which  represents  seven  millions  of  pounds  of  roses  and 
sets  in  motion  a  few  thousands  of  stills.  Returns  which  like  that 
of  last  season  (1866)  reach  600,000  meticals  are  exceptional. 
As  might  be  expected  with  so  costly  a  production,  the  harvest 
and  its  results  are  dependent  on  a  variety  of  influences.  Of 
