OTTO OF ROSES.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2631, 14 June 1877, Page 3

OTTO OF ROSES.

The most delicious of all perfumed essences is obtained by the simple distillation of rose-leaves. In our climate roses are not sufficiently highly scented to produce the properly odoriferous essence or oil; and all that the druggists can produce from rose-leaves is rose-water, which, in fact, is water slightly impregnated with tho essence or oil, which is to a small degree soluble in it. The most favorable country for the production of the most j highly scented roses is the middle portion of European Turkey, at the base of the southern slope of the Balkan Mountains, where the roses are grown in localities where they are protected against all winds except those from the south ; and the flowers thus attain a luxuriance in perfume and in growth, as well as in size, of which those who have not visited these regions can hardly form au idea. The town of K&sanlik, situated in the province of that name, is the centre of the field of cultivation and distillation of the rose-leaves. The leaves are gathered all over the province, which is forty miles long, and is watered by the river Thunga and the many niountain streams which discharge into the same, furnishing the necessary water also for the distillation. To give an idea of the extent which this industry has attained, we need only say "that there are in that province one hundred and twenty-eight different villages, of which the inhabitants are all employed in the culture of the beautiful flowers. Theaa^ll live in peace together, Turks and Christians ; aud they prosper, having become wise by experience, finding that it is hotter to work than to waste time in religious Or political quarrels. Almost all the country is occupied by rose plantations, and only a comparatively small portion is devoted to raising rye and parley for the subsistence of the inhabitants and their cattle. The rose grows best on those parts of the slopes where the sun shines most, and which is the least northern in exposure. A light soil is best, and the planting is done during spring and autumn, in parallel ditches three inches deep and five feet apart. In. these ditches shoots from old rose trees are laid ; they must, however.not be cut from the tree, but torn off, so that each shoot has some portion of the root adherent. They are then covered with earth mixed with a little manure. If the land is horizontal, and a mountain stream can be diverted so as to inundate it, this is done, to hasten the growth ; at the end of six months shoots' are seen coming up all along the furrows, and at the end of one year these shoots are three or four feet high, forming regular hedges. At the end of the second year roses appear, but not -in sufficient abundance for them to be gathered. The gathering is commenced in the third year, after which they produce largely, the hedges being, at the end of fire years, six feet high. The bushes produce flQwers until fifteen years old, when the field is worn out, and must be ploughed up. They do not prune the rose bushes at all j. as we-do; but they cut off, every year in the late fall or winter, the dead branches. \ . '

The great harvest commences about May 15, and lasts until June 5, or 10: the gathering is done daily in the morning before sunrise, and the distillation is finished before twelve noon, so as to have the benefit of all the freshness of the flowers, which is at once driven off by the heat of the day. In hot seasons the roses open more rapidly, and the crop may last but for ten days ; but m wet, cooler seasons, the progress is slower, and the crop may last for twenty-five days; but then the daily harvest is smaller in proportion, so that the final result is the same. However, cool, slow weather is preferred, as it eases the daily labor. The stills aTe of the roughest kind, and ■mall; they hold from 200 to 240 pints of water, and are carried to the rose-bushes to be filled. To 201b. rose-leaves, 160 pints of water are added, and the whole is distilled at a gentle heat until twenty pints of water are stilled off. This quantity contains nearly all the perfume of the leaves, which are then thrown away with the remaining water; and the still is again filled with 201b. leaves and 160 pints water. This operation is repeated until all the leaves have been used. The water thus distilled off is a strong rose-water; and the result of eight or ten distillations is put in a still and submitted to a second distillation, when a stronger rose-water is obtained; so strong, indeed, that it is unable to contain the essence in solution, and the latter floats on the top of the water. Experience has shown that, for every ounce of otto of roses, 3,0001b of leaves are required. • The total yearly production of eight districts, into' which the 160 villages of Kdzanlik are divided is on an average 35001b of otto of roses, of which the district in which the capital is situated produces half. Some years ago, however, the bushes were exceptionally prolific. Thus, in 1866, 60001bs were produced; but in' 1872 only 17001ba could be obtained. ■ We ought to add that every rose farmer has his own . stills for producing otto^ of roses immediately after, picking the flowers; and thousands of industrious workers are thus occupied, earning in a single short period of twenty days the products of a year's labor in preparing the soil, planting and taking care of the growing plants. When the distillation is over, the farmers come from all parts of the provinces to the capital to sell their products, those who hav«i>4arge quantities selling directly in the gre)it commercial centres, such as Constantinople and Adrianople. At present, however, an enterprising firm in Kezanlik, considering the delay to which the trade with the last-named cities i 3 subject, and the chances of adulteration, have established a depot in Paris, France, from which this delicate and expensive perfume is now distributed over Europe and all the world.