The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-04-07
GIRLS AS GARDENERS.
There is Great Profit in Raising Flow
ers for Perfume.


France are devoted 10 the cultivation
of flowers. Some of the products are
sent as fresh-cut flowers TO Paris and
other cities, but the bulk of the bios
SONS are bought by the makers OF
perfume, cologne, aromatic essences,
rose and lavender waters and the soaps
and toilet articles for which the
French are famous.
Villagers and tourists walk freely
among the paths and lovely lanes of
these, flower farms, but nobody tears
down a vine or bush 10 gather some
superb rose, rising queenly and per-
feet on its ytem amid the court OF
glossy green leaves. No one mutilates
sprays to gather the blossoms. Flow
ers there are regarded as property Z;
they represent business and stand for
an income.
Now there can be no doubt at all
that the great variety of soil and cli-
mate in the United States opens to
women and even girls the pleasurable
French way of making money, and
joined to it might be the culture of
herbs and seeds used in the kitchens,
and in the preparing of candies and
sweetmeats, and in the compounding
Of medicines. Over three hundred
different kinds are in demand by
chemists and pharmacists.
The business would not be wholly
an untried experiment here. Four
miles out of Boston there is profit
able herb farm. 1t is situated on
that strip of rich soil extending from
Arlington to Worcester, called forty
years ago so old people tell me, the
New Jersey of Massachusetts, on
account of the quantity of peaches
raised there. This herb farm has
brought good steady profits to its
owners for three generations.
In answer to my inquiries, the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture states that it holds the opinion
that something might be done in our
country by raising flowers for per
fumers and soapmakers.
Seven perfect perfume flowers are
demanded and used by perfumers and
apmakers-orange rose, jessamine,
violet, acacia, tuberose and lavender.
Added to these are many other favor
ties important to manufacturers,
such as mignonette, night-blooming
cereus, magnolia, besides thyme, ber-
gamot and bay leaves; and there are
woods and barks like sandal, aloes,
fir, cedar, cinnamon, cascarilla.
Druggists use many of our familiar
herbs, seeds and roots-peppermint,
anise, coreander and caraway, rose
mary, pennyroyal, sassafras, hops,
elder flower, camomile, sage, mustard
and sarsaparilla, all used in COM
pounding medicines and essences.
A few peppermint farms in Western
New York said to be the only ones in
the United States, with the exception
Of one or two in Michigan, bring in
large revenues to their owners.
But there are obstacles to the gen
eral growing of peppermint crops.
The plant requires rich moist soil
and peculiar conditions. Where it
can be raised it proves 4 good staple.
Three thousand one hundred and
forty-nine pounds OF prepared pepper
mint were imported into the United
States in 1891, worth 3,9lS.
Many OF the aromatic herbs for the
perfecting of their leaves demand rich
soils, plenty Of sunshine and moisture,
such as sage, sweet marjoram, rose
mary and thyme; so do some of the
fowers-odorous nagnolas, orange
and lemon flowers, tuberoses and jes-
samines.
There is no doubt that a daintily
tied bundle Of green sweet herbs, such
as the French serve with lettuce sal
ads-sprigs of chavil and tarragon
and chives-could be raised for city
markets alon with the dry herb bus
mess.
Orange foNe can be packed to our
Northern cities by mail one Southern
matron maks n good income in this
way.
Rose and musk geraniums grow to
tall and vigorous shrubs where no
frosts can cut them down. Planta-
tions Of these plants are perfectly
possible to women's gardening. No
plants slip" more easily. Rapid
propagation is practically unlimited.
Tasteful small boxes of these dried
leaves to perfume closets and drawers
would readily sell in cities.
The lemon verbena is another plant
OF value. A couple of leaves fresh or
dried, dropped into teacup just as
the hot tea is being poured in, adds
an aromatic taste. These dainty
leaves are used in Spain as a tonic,
and as sedqtive in headaches and
childish complaints. Pretty boxes
filed with them might bring in good
returns to some thrifty countrywo-
man, and become the fashion at mod
err, tons - Homo Onppn