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204 SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE
tartarea, L. parella, Pertusaria communis, Parmelia sordida,
Isidium corallinum and some others, which furnish the Cudbear
or Persio.
Rosa centifolia, Linné.
The Cabbage-Rose. Indigenous on the Caucasus and seemingly
also in otber parts of tbe Orient. Much grown in
South Europe and South Asia for the distillation of Rose-
water and Oil or A tta r of Roses. From 12,000 to 16,000
Roses, or from 2501bs. to 3001bs. of Rose-petals are required
according to some calculations for producing a single ounce
of A tta r through ordinary distillation. The flowers reqnhe
to be cut ju st before expansion; the calyx is separated and
rejected; the remaining portions of the flowers are then subjected
to aqueous distillation, and the saturated Rose-water
so obtained is repeatedly used for renewed distillation, when
from the overcharged water the oil separates on a cold place
and floats on the surface. But some other methods exist for
producing the oil, for instance it may be got by distilling the
rosebuds without water at the heat of a saltwater bath.
The odour may also be withdrawn by alcoholic distillation
from the Roses, or be extracted by the “ enfleurage” process.
The latter is effected by placing the flowers, collected while
the weather is warm, into shallow frames covered with a
glass plate, on the inner side of which a pure fatty substance
lias been thinly spread. The odour of the flowers is
absorbed by the adipose or oleous substance, though the
blossoms do not come with it in direct contact; fresh flowers
are supplied daily for weeks. The scent is finally withdrawn
from its matrix by maceration with pure alcohol. Mr. Jos.
Bosisto’s method for obtaining tbe most delicate and precious
volatile oils will likely be applicable also to the Rose, and
prove more advantageous both in labour and gain than any
other process. Purified Eucalyptus-oil can be used for
diluting Rose-oil, when it is required for the preparation of
scented soap.
Rosa Damascena, Miller.
Orient. Allied to the preceding species, and also largely
used for the production of Essential Oil of Roses.
Rosa Gallica, Linné.
The French or Dutch Rose. Middle and South Europe,
Orient. The intensely coloured buds of tbis species are particularly
chosen for drying. These however may be got also
from other kinds of Roses.
Rosa Indica, Linné.
Noisette Rose. From Upper India to China and Japan. Some
Roses of the sweetest scent are derived from this species.
Rosa lævigata, Michaux. (E. Sínica, Aiton.)
The Cherokee-Rose. China and Japan. Considered one of
the best Hedge-roses, and for that purpose much employed
in North America. I t serves also well for bowers. Allied
to the foregoing species.
Rosa moschata. Miller.
North Africa and South Asia as far east as Japan. From
the flowers of this extremely tall climbing species also essential
oil is obtained. The A tta r thus derived from Roses of
not only different varieties but even distinct, species must
necessarily be of various quality.
Rosa sempervirens, Linné.
From South Europe through Southern Asia to Japan. One
of the best Rose-bushes for covering walls, fences and similar
structures. Also the flowers of this species can be utilised
for Rose-oil.
Rosa setigera, Michaux.
North America, where it is the only climbing Rose-bush. I t
deserves introduction on account of its extremely rapid growth,
ten feet to twenty feet in a season. Its flowers however are
nearly inodorous.
Other original species of Roses deserve our attention. Dr. J.
Hooker admitting about thirty, all from the Northern Hemisphere.
But on the snow-clad unascended mountains of
Borneo, Sumatra, New Guinea, and Africa south of the
Equator yet perhaps new Roses may be discovered, as they
have been traced south to Abyssinia already.
Rosa spinosissima, Linné.
Europe, North Africa, Middle and North Asia. Adapted
for holding coasts-sands ; unapproachable to pasture animals,
and not spreading like the Sweet Briar, R. rubiginosa (L.)
into culture-land or pastures.
Rosmarinus officinalis, Linné.
The Rosemary. Countries around the Mediterranean Sea.
This well-known bush is mentioned here as a medicinal plant,
from which a distilled oil is rather copiously obtainable. One
of our best plants for large garden-edgings. The oil enters
into certain compositions of perfumery.
Royenia Pseudebenus, E. Meyer.
South Africa. Only a small tree, but its wood jet-black,
hard and durable, thus in Capeland and Caffraria called
ebony. R, pubescens (Willd.), acçording to Dr. Pappe,
furnishes there a wood adapted for xylography; this may
give a clue to the adaptability of many otlier kinds of wmods
in the large order of Ebenaceæ as substitutes for the Turkish
boxwood.
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