(1867)  Page(s) 512.  
 
There are many persons in France who grow flowers as an exclusive crop. It is their sole dependence. "The growing of flowers, for the production of fine essential oils and for medicinal purposes, 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, Montpelier, Nice, and in Algeria, but the great center of this branch of industry is the town of Grasse, lying some few miles inland, and its sea-port, Cannes, the winter residence of Lord Brougham.
.....Rose water is also distilled in large quantities. 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" (Rosa centifolia provincialis) or hundred-leaved Rose, is the one universally grown.