The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-08-30
The Land of the Roses.

1t is probably not generally known that
the region in which Gen. Gourkho has
been lately operating with his Cossacks is
the land whence by far the greatest guam
tity of altar of roses comes to Western
Europe. Kassanlik, the name of which
has so often figured during the past fort
night as a point of strategical importance,
is also the center of one of the most re-
markable species of horticulture, or rath-
er agriculture, to be found in the whole
world.
Around it, near it, are the districts of
Cirpan, Giopea, Karadshah- Dagh, Kojun-
Tcpe, Yeni Saghra, all of which are de-
voted to this peculiar hIsbandry. The
Mussulman tradition assigns the origin Of
the rose to the night of Mohalnmed's
journey to Heaven. The white roses
spi ang from the drops of sweat which fell
from the blessed forehead of the prophet
himself in the toilsome ascent; the sweat
of Borak, the miraculous animal he rode,
gave birth to the yellow ones; while the
celestial drops which fell from Gabriel
were the source of the red rose. The ap-
peaTance of the neighborhood of Kassan-
lik would favor suspicion that the heav-
onward journey must have sorely tried the
Archangel, and Count Won Moltke, who
was well acquainted with Bulgaria and
the Balkans, has styled the Valley of the
Tupdja 1.-THE Cashmere OF Europe, the
Turkish Gulistan, the land OF roses"
Roses are not grown there as with us in
isolated patches in gardens but in fields
and in ridges as if they were no better
he thea sppeaanse Of those Ssa Be H s Ahla Is
any painter who should attempt to repro
duce this picture would assuredly be
charged with exaggeration. But 1t would
be impossible to catch the infinite alterna-
tions of color both among the roses them
selves and the green leaves of the shrubs
Hundreds of million of rose leaves strew
the ground and are useless for the chief
object in view. 1t Is calculated that about
one. fourth of the leaves are lost in this
way; perhaps as much more either fail to
come to the requisite perfection or arc
unavodably wasted. The entire produce
of the Tekhe, or region of which Kasanlik
is the center, is estimated at between 8OO
and 800 kilogrammes (from 1875 to 22O
imperial gallons) of rose oil. The wealth
of water in the valley is prodigious;
springs are not only numerous, but most
abundant in yield There is general
system of irrigation which, remembering
that the country is Bulgaria and not Lom-
bardy, is admirable. The whole valley
was picture OF prosperity, the result OF
natural fertility carefully tended by human
industry. Where roses are not cultivated,
heavy crops of maize are gathered, and
along the slopes and down by the water
side are numerous herds and tocks.
h asanlik itself is town of 10, GOO iDhab-
itants, and is surrounded by magnificent
walnut woods, which are also source OF
commercial value.
Won Moltke speaks of the situation as
one of the rarest beauty. Many OF the
trees, he says, cover an extent OF 100 feet
with their spreading branches, while
countless wild pigeons fill he woods with
their cooling. The murmuring or the rush
of waters is heard in every direction; the
sky itself presents perpetually changing
aspects by reason of the neighb0ring
mountains; while the deliciously fresh air
is redolent with delicate perfume. About
twenty-five miles to the southeast OF kas-
sanlik, and divided from the TundJa
Valley by range of hills, is Eski-Saghra,
town of Is, 900 inhabitants, also notable
industrial center, the best silk and the
finest wheat in Turkey being produced in
the surrounding district. With such dill
gent husnndmen, moderately fair gov
ernment would soon make the whole OF
Southern Bulgaria the richest and most
productive country in Europe. The CAM
paign of which these beautiful and fertile
valleys are now the theater will have
probably ruined the rose culture, at least
for many a year.-L0nd0n Times.