(1 Apr 1861)  
 
Flower Farms of France. Manufacture of Perfumery. Germantown, March 18, 1861....My dear Sir:- I am happy to be able to respond to your inquiry concerning the flower farms of the South of France, having visited the principal seats of the manufacture of perfumes in the year 1853. The growing of flowers for the production of fine essential oils 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, Montpellier, Nice, and in Algeria, but the great centre of this branch of industry is the town of Grasse, lying some few miles inland, and its seaport, Cannes, the winter residence of Lord Brougham.
It would be impossible to state, even approximately, the product of the flower fields of this interesting region. There are no less than sixty factories in Grasse, giving employment in the various departments of field and indoor labour, to fully 5000 persons.
.....Rose Water is distilled in large quantities also. 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" or double May rose, is the one universally grown.....NOVICE