The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-06-14
THE HOUSEHOLD.
A Rose Jar.

Iu6Tc Is uO SWccJcr pcEluIuc Cudu
that from properly prepared rose
jar; yet with all the wealth of roses
it is seldom that one is created
with the scent. Here is our grand
mothers way of opening: They
used the same bowl that the leaves
were cured in for the rose jar, but
as it was left open all the time the
| fragrance was not as lasting as
when tightly closed. The leaves
were gathered on dry, sunny day
and scattered in the bowl with a
layer of salt alternating with the
rose leaves. When the bowl was
almost full little rosemary and
lavender were used,-in the pro-
portion of two handsful to eight of
the rose leaves; an ounce of orris
root sliced, an ounce each of cloves
and cinnamon, a little mace and a
few bay leaves were then added.
These must be thoroughly mixed
and covered closely for week or
ten days, when a delicate perfume
will be the result. 1t was the
custom with some people to put
musk in when the leaves were
cured.
/ have jar which is as nice now
as when it was made seven years
ago. 1t was made from the follow
ing directions: Gather the rose
leaves in the middle of the day,
using only the fresh ones, as the
better the leaves the more satisfac-
tory the jar will be. Use small
bowls or tumblers to cure them in.
Put small handful in and sprinkle
with salt, continuing until the re-
ceptacle is full; let them lie loosely.
Leave them until they are moist all
through and then add the spices.
Use cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, all
spice, ginger, coffee, and any others
you wish; the spices should not be
ground. The glasses should be
emptied every day into plates and
stirred so they will not pack.
Usually they are ready in a week
for the sachet powder and other
perfume. Use it literally and have
two or three drops of altar of roses
put in. This is very strong and
also expensive, so a few drops will
do.
To perfume the room 1 open the
jar for little while or spread the
contents on paper and then cover
it again; either way will make the
room as fragrant as garden of
roses.
Those who wish can make good
substitute for a rose jar in this way:
Take rose geranium or lemon YER
bena leaves and pack them in a jar
in salt the same as rose leaves.
Stir the mass two or three times a |
day for week, and at the end of
that time you will have a fine per-
fume for your rooms. A fine oil
can also be made from the above
named leaves. Take a large
mouthed bottle, with a perfectly
tight stopper, and place in the
bottom of it layer of cotton which
has been saturated with pure olive
oil, and then place layer of the
leaves on the cotton and cover them
with another layer of cotton. Close
the bottle tightly and lay it away
for two or three months, when the
oil can be pressed out of the cotton
and will be found very strong with
the fragrance of the leaves. If this
is wanted for handkerchief use, put
a few drops in alcohol and a de-
lightful perfume will be the result.
Many persons dry clover blossoms,
wild roses, lemon verbena, sweet
fern and the young shoots of sassa-
fras. They are mixed or turned
every day until dry, then salt and
mix spices with them. 1t is very
nice for mixing in with the filling
of pillows and cushions.-Vick's
Magazine.