in Botany. See Rosa.

Essence of Roses. See Roses, Oil of.

Rose of Jericho, so called because it grows in the plain of Jericho, though it did not originally grow there. It has perhaps been so named by travellers who did not know that it was brought from Arabia Petraea. Rose bushes are frequently found in the fields about Jericho; but they are of a species much inferior to those so much extolled in Scripture, the flowers of which some naturalists pretend to have in their cabinets.

"The rose shrub of Jericho (says Mariti) is a small plant, with a bushy root, about an inch and a half in length. It has a number of stems which diverge from the earth; they are covered with few leaves; but it is loaded with flowers, which appear red when in bud, turn paler as they expand, and at length become white entirely. These flowers appear to me to have a great resemblance to those of the elder-tree; with this difference, that they are entirely destitute of smell. The stems never rise more than four or five inches from the ground. This shrub sheds its leaves and its flowers as it withers. Its branches then bend in the middle, and, becoming entwined with each other to the top, form a kind of globe. This happens during the great heats; but during moist and rainy weather they again open and expand.

"In this country of ignorance and superstition, people do not judge with a philosophical eye of the alternate shutting and opening of this plant; it appears to them to be a periodical miracle, which heaven operates in order to make known the events of this world. The inhabitants of the neighbouring cantons come and examine these shrubs when they are about to undertake a journey, to form an alliance, to conclude any affair of importance, or on the birth of a son. If the stems of the plants are open, they do not doubt of success; but they account it a bad omen to see them shut, and therefore renounce their project if it be not too late.

"This plant is neither subject to rot nor to wither. It will bear to be transplanted; and thrives without degenerating in any kind of soil whatever."

Roses, Oil of or essential oil of, is obtained from roses by simple distillation, and may be made in the following manner: A quantity of fresh roses, for example 40 pounds, are put in a still with 60 pounds of water, the roses being left as they are with their calyxes, but with the stems cut close. The mass is then well mixed together with the hands, and a gentle fire is made under the still; when the water begins to grow hot, and fumes to rise, the cap of the still is put on, and the pipe fixed; the chinks are then well fitted with paste, and cold water put on the refrigeratory at top; the receiver is also adapted at the end of the pipe; and the fire is continued under the still, neither too violent nor too weak. When the impregnated water begins to come over, and the still is very hot, the fire is lessened by gentle degrees, and the distillation continued till 30 pounds of water are come over, which is generally done in about four or five hours; this rose-water is to be poured again on a fresh quantity (40 pounds) of roses, and from 15 to 20 pounds of water are to be drawn by distillation, following the same process as before. The rose-water thus made and cohabated will be found, if the roses were good and fresh, and the distillation carefully performed, highly scented with the roses. It is then poured into pans either of earthen ware or of tinned metal, and left exposed to the fresh air for the night. The otter or essence will be found in the morning congealed, and swimming on the top of the water; this is to be carefully separated and collected either with a thin shell or a skimmer, and poured into a vial. When a certain quantity has thus been obtained, the water and feces must be separated from the clear essence, which, with respect to the first, will not be difficult to do, as the essence congeals with a slight cold, and the water may then be made to run off. If, after that, the essence is kept fluid by heat, the feces will subside, and may be separated; but if the operation has been neatly performed, these will be little or none. The feces are as highly perfumed as the essence, and must be kept, after as much of the essence has been skimmed from the rose-water as could be. The remaining water should be used for fresh distillations, instead of common water, at least as far as it will go.

The above is the whole process, as given in the Asiatic Researches by Lieutenant-colonel Polier*, of making genuine otter of roses. But attempts (he says) are often made to augment the quantity, though at the expense of the quality. Thus the raspings of sandalwood, which contain a deal of essential oil, are used; but the imposition is easily discovered, both by the smell, and because the essential oil of sandal-wood will not congeal in common cold. In other places they adulterate the otter by distilling with the roses a sweet-scented grass, which colours it of a high clear green. This does not congeal in a slight cold. There are numerous other modes, far more palpable, of adulteration. The quantity of essential oil to be obtained from roses is very precarious, depending on the skill of the distiller, on the quality of the roses, and the favourableness of the season. The colour of the otter is no criterion of its goodness, quality, or country. The calyxes by no means diminish the quality of otter, nor do they impart any green colour to it. They indeed augment the quantity, but the trouble necessary to strip them is such as to prevent their being often used.

The following is a simpler and less expensive process for preparing this delicate and highly valued perfume; but whether it be equally productive, we know not. A large earthen or stone jar, or a large clean wooden cask is filled with the leaves of the flowers of roses, well picked and freed from the seeds and stalks; and as much spring water as will cover them being poured into the vessel, it is set in the sun in the morning at sunrise and allowed to stand till the evening, when it is removed into the house for the night. In the same way it is to be exposed for six or seven days successively. At the end of the third or fourth day a number of particles of a fine yellow oily matter is seen floating on the surface. These particles in the course of two or three days more collect into a scum, which is the otter of roses. This is taken up by means of cotton tied to the end of a piece of stick, and squeezed with the finger and thumb into a small phial, which is immediately well stopped; and this is repeated for some successive evenings, or while any of this fine essential oil rises to the surface of the water.

It is said that a few drops of this essential oil have at different times been collected in the city of London by distillation, in the same manner as those essential oils which are obtained from other plants.

Rose-Noble, an ancient English gold coin, first struck in the reign of Edward III. It was formerly current at 6s. 8d. and so called because stamped with a rose. See Money.

Rose-Wood. See Aspalathus, Botany Index.