Ways to Utilize Rose Petals

Ways to Utilize Rose Petals 

By S.K. UNDERWOOD New York

PERHAPS the most satisfactory roses are the hardy old-fashioned sorts that bloom all summer long. Although they have not the slender elegance of some of the newer varieties, there is something won drously sweet about the old "Pink Daily" and "Hundred Leaf."  They have a warm perfume that more developed roses have not.
First of all, every morning gather the petals of all the roses which are ready to fall, also snip off the seed pod; this insures more blooms. Dry the petals carefully in an unused room. where they can have air but no sun. They must be spread out on papers and if the weather should be damp. they must be shaken occasionally, or they may mold. 

Dried rose petals make delicious sachets for dresser drawers, and a thick layer of them may be quilted in a cheese cloth cover, and laid in the bottom of the drawer.

 A pillow of dried rose petals, covered with rose flowered cotton or silk stuff, is a charming addition to the couch.

Pot-pourri is perhaps the most popular for rose petals, and every home should have jar of it. This is an old- fashioned which has come down in a Southern family  from an English ancestress, and was from her quaint "Book of Worthy Recipes."

Pot-pourri 

Measure out a liberal half peck of sweet rose petals. Pack them in a bowl in layers with salt between each layer, using a small handful of salt to three handfuls of rose petals. Let them stand for five days, stirring them twice daily. Then add to them three ounces of powdered allspice. and one ounce of stick cinnamon. Let this mixture stand for a week, stirring it once daily. 

Now put the preparation into the permanent jar, mixing with the rose leaves one ounce  of allspicem half a pound of dried lavender blossoms, one ounce bruised cloves, one ounce stick cinnamon, one nutmeg coarsely grated, half a cup of ginger root ,thinly sliced , half an ounce of aniseed, ten grains of Canton musk of the finest quality, and two ounces of orris root. Stir all these ingredients together. Add at any time a few drops of attar of roses, or a few drops of any essential oil or extract of flowers. The addition of a little ambergris gives a lasting quality to the scent. but adds the writer if you make the pot- pourri fresh each summer, the ambergris is not needed     

Rose beads

Another use of rose petals has all the charm of tradition to commend it, This is the making of rose beads, with which the earliest rosaries were made, and from which comes their name. You should have at least half a peck of fragrant rose petals. Pound these in a mortar until they are mashed to a pulp. One ingenious woman puts them through her food chopper a couple of times, and says, the effect is the same. After they are quite pulpy, let the mass stand in the mortar, and on the second day,- pound again and stir several times during the day. Repeat this the third day. when it should be a soft black mass. and quite smooth, if the work has been properly done. 

Have ready a sheet of thick cardboard, or a wide thin piece of soft wood. Form the mass into beads, rolling in the hands into balls of any desired size, but being careful to keep them very round. Stick a heavy pin through each bead, and stick the pin into the cardboard, so, that the bead is held free to dry. Let the beads remain until thoroughly dried and hardened. 

Candied rose petals

Candied rose petals are a luxury, if one buys them at the confectioners; but made at home, they are both inexpensive and good. Have the petals perfectly fresh and dry. Melt in saucepan one cupful of granulated sugar with one half cupful boiling water. Let it boil a little until it is crisp and brittle, when dropped into cold water. Add quickly enough  of red coloring matter to make it a pretty pink shade, and one drop of attar of roses. Drop in the petals press them under the surface of the syrup for an instant, then separate and stir with a silver fork until, the syrup sugars. Lift out and shake the petals, then spread on an inverted sieve to dry . It will not be easy at first ,because it requires a deft and light touch , but it is worth while to try The red coloring matter may be bought at any reliable drug store, but be sure and tell the druggist what you want it for/ 

New York SK UNDERWOOD 

 

References:
1.NORMAL INSTRUCTOR. 1907

2.THE GARDEN MAGAZINE  JULY 1908