Magazine  (18 Jul 1865)  Page(s) 53.  
 
The Flowers Farms of France....The growing of flowers, for the production of fine essential oils and for medicinal purposes, is an important branch of horticultural industry in those departments of France bordering upon the Gulf of Lyons and the Mediterranean Sea, and especially in the southern portion of the Department of Var, adjoining the former Italian, but now French, province of Nice. There are extensive factories in Nismes, Montpellier, Morbihan, Nice, and some lately established across the sea in Algeria. Smaller establishments are found at Mentone, and all along the Genoses Riviera; but the great and acknowledged centre of this branch of industry, is the town of Grasse, situated about seventy-five miles E.N.E. of Marseilles, a few miles inland, and its seaport, Cannes, well known as the winter residence of Lord Brougham. It would be difficult to state, with any degree of accuracy, the product of the flower-fields of this interesting region. There are over sixty factories in Grasse, which is a flourishing place of 12,000 inhabitants, giving employment in the various departments of field and in-door labour, to fully 5000 persons.
.....Rose water is also distilled in large quantities. A result of its distillation is a very minute proportion of otto of roses of the very highest quality; it appears in small supernatant grains or drops, which are carefully skimmed off and rectified. It is superior to the famous Kizanlik, or Turkish otto, and, like it, congeals, at ordinary temperatures, in beautiful, transparent crystals. I saw, at the celebrated manufactory of Mr. Antoine Chiris, who was in all things the leader of his profession, a bottle containing about three pounds, which he valued at 550 dols., or over 11 dols. the ounce. It is not an article of export, the quantity being very small, but it is reserved for use in unfavourable seasons, or a failure of the flower crop, to give strength and finish to the pomades and oils. The "Rose de Mai" (Rosa centifolia provincialis) or double May rose, is the one universally grown.

Magazine  (5 Jan 1862)  Page(s) 379-381.  
 
Les rosiers des parfumeurs, vulgairement appelé, dans les pays, rose de mai, n'est pas remontant comme celui des quatre saisons; sa fleur est presque simple ou à peine semi-double, de dimension moyenne, trés-étalée et montant son intérieur, où les étamines et les pistils abondant. L'arbuste cultivé ne s'élève guère de un mètre de hauteur; la couleur de ses tiges et de ses feuilles est d'un vert un peu jaune; il est hérissé de poils et d'aiguillons, etc.; sa floraison est précoce et n'a lieu qu'une fois par an. C'est l'espèce la plus apprécié par les parfumeurs de Grasse et de Nice, où l'on fait un grand emploi.
....Le rosier des parfumeurs redoute un trop grand abaissemnet de température; les hivers très-rigoureux le tuent quelquefois, ou du moins brûlent les jeunes tiges; ce sont surtout les gelées tardives du printemps qui lui sont nuisibles. Quand elles ne détruisent que les premiers boutons, le mal est insensible; on assure même que la plante n'en donne que plus de fleurs: d'où lôu a conscillé le châtrage de ce bouton à son apparition, pratique peu répandue et dont l'efficacité n'est pas bien constatée. La gelée des pousses latérales est bien plus à craindre, et la récolte alors souvent compromise. Le rosier craint encore les brouillards, dont l'humidité malsaine, pénétrant ses boutons, les fait jaunir et tomber (nèbla). Dans les terres légères et sableuses, il est exposé à être devoré par un ver qui coupe la peau circulairement vers le pied au niveau du sol et le fait mourir, mais il repousse de dessous de terre, et la récolte seule de l'année est perdue. Peu de temps après l'apparition de l'oïdium sur la vigne, le même cryptogame s'est montré sur le rosier, dont il attaque les feuilles et le bois sous la forme de taches rouilleuses....Raibaud-L'Ange.

Magazine  (1 Apr 1861)  
 
Flower Farms of France. Manufacture of Perfumery. Germantown, March 18, 1861....My dear Sir:- I am happy to be able to respond to your inquiry concerning the flower farms of the South of France, having visited the principal seats of the manufacture of perfumes in the year 1853. The growing of flowers for the production of fine essential oils is confined mainly to the southern portion of the Department of Var, lying on the Mediterranean, adjoining the late Italian, but now French Province of Nice. There are extensive factories in Nismes, Montpellier, Nice, and in Algeria, but the great centre of this branch of industry is the town of Grasse, lying some few miles inland, and its seaport, Cannes, the winter residence of Lord Brougham.
It would be impossible to state, even approximately, the product of the flower fields of this interesting region. There are no less than sixty factories in Grasse, giving employment in the various departments of field and indoor labour, to fully 5000 persons.
.....Rose Water is distilled in large quantities also. A result of its distillation is an exceedingly small quantity of Otto of Rose of the very highest quality; it appears in small supernatant grains or drops, which are carefully skimmed off and rectified. It is superior to the famous Kizanlik, or Turkish Otto, and, congeals, at ordinary temperatures, in beautiful, transparent crystals. The "Rose de Mai" or double May rose, is the one universally grown.....NOVICE