The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-18
BY HARR1ETTE GILLESPIE.

copyrighted 1895, by S. S. Mcclure,
Limited.
Nearly a century ago commerce
recognized the marketable value Of
flowers and since then their cultiva-
ton for the manufacture of perfumes
and essence has been conducted on an
enormous scale and has formed q spec
ial and lucrative industry in Europe.
In Italy, Spain, Turkey, Algiers, In
dia in fact. wherever the climate is
ssuch as to produce in the flowers the
intensity of odor for profitable eXtrac-
ton are seen the flower farms.
But the south of France stands pre-
erninentIy at the head. And those who
will brave the almost tropical heat OF
this region during the harvest season
and venture into the lovely Cannes
valley will be repaid a thousand fold
by the unusual spectacle presented
there OF acres of land devoted exclu-
sively to the cultivation of flowers and
mind and body alike will be brought
under the spell of masses of gorgeous
bloom and the witchery of sweet
smells.
Within that triangular portion Of
France bounded by the towns of Nice,
Grasse and Cannes is the Valley of
Flower Farms. This small area is the
largest flower growing district in the
world, and of these three towns
Grasse leads the world in the manu-
facture of perfumes. In other regions
flowers are more for ornamental pur-
poses. Here they grow like grass, corn
and potatoes. Here the jasmine, tube
rose and jonquil bloom not in the gar
denS, but in. fields. 'Tis a land flowing,
not with milk and honey, but with
orange flower and rose water, and with
violet and jasmine butter. Drives of
many miles may be taken through
these enchanted grounds and long be-
fore reaching them the air is oppres-
sive with the odor
| 1t has been proposed to cultivate
| flowers in England for pertaining pur-
poses, but the climate renders the
scheme totally impracticable. The only
two perfumery ingredients in which
England really eXcels are lavender and
peppermint. These planted in a warm.
genial climate would grow rank and
strong, thereby failing to accomplish
the desired end. Italy produces chiefly
[ essences of bergamont, orange and
! lemon. To Turkey we are indebted for
the far-famed altar of roses. But the
flowers such as violets, jasmine, orange
| rose and tube-rose, which form the
basis of the finest perfumes, are grown
to perfection in the Cannes valley.
Among the minor products of this re-
gion are rosemary and lavender
/ grown principally in the rural districts
! by the grape and olive farmers, who
have the rude, primitive appliances
necessary to distill the flowers and who
! produce a second grade of essences.
which are used to adulterate the more
expensive perfumes.
/ What Lands Serve Best For Flower
Farms.
From the observation of practical
florists and horticulturists there are
certain essential conditions necessary
/ to the success of this industry. First
an altitude of from 500 to 1000 feet.
for flowers grown on such a height are
] said to have a much richer perfume
/ than similar varieties blooming in the
loWlands Next condition is the soil,
which must be of calcareous compost
ton. Thirdly, the situation should be
( sheltered from the cold north winds
and not subject to the white frosts of
the damp lowlands. Where rainfall is
scanty irrigation is necessary during
the summer months to produce a rich
perfume
/ One principle strictly adhered to in
/ TINS manufacture is that all fancy and
]
be excluded, and only the plain old
fashioned varieties used The rose is
/ the common pink one and the white
jasmine is always used, the yellow and
less fragrant being discarded. The
single violet is preferred to the double
ana a double tube-rose is never. seen
on the farms. VioIets, jonquils and
mlgnonette are usually gathered in
February, March and April, although
I he
early as December. Roses and orange
blossoms with thyme and rosemary in
June. jasmine and tube-Foses in july
and August. Lavender and spikenard
in September, and the acacia in Octo-
Der and November, May and June are
the months of greatest activity. when
roses and orange blossoms are gath
cred. So, as can be seen, the entire
season covers three-quarters of the
year.
How Flower Farming is Conducted
As a rule landed proprietors make
arrangements with the owners of some
labratory to work the farm, reservins
a share of the profits, frequently a
third. Often during the harvest season
travellers or middle men, go through
the country buying flowers, for which
prices varying according to the extent
! of the crop and market value are paid
The flowers are then hurried to the dis
tiilery, while they are still fresh and
crisp. On many of these farms labra.-
tories are erected on the grounds
facilitating the transportation of the
! flowers.
The soil and climate here render tine
necessary farming operations very
simple:
For roses the field is FIRST scantiIy
MANFRED, especially with refuse mat.