The growing of plants and flowers for use in perfumery, medicine and culinary art, is a most important branch of horticultural industry in that part of France bordering upon the Gulf of Lyons and the Mediteranean Sea, and especially in the southern portions of the Departments of Var and Nice. There are extensive establishments in Nismes, Montpelier, Morbihan, Nice and some then just founded across the sea in Algeria.

But the great centre of this branch of industry is the town of Grasse, about 75 miles E. N. E. of Marseilles, a few miles inland, its seaport Cannes, the former winter residence of the late Lord Brougham, and its neighboring seaport, Nice. There are over 70 factories in Grasse - which is a flourishing town of over 12,000 inhabitants - and they give employment in the various departments of field and in-door labor to fully 5,000 persons. In Cannes and Nice there 30 more factories of the same class.

Many manufacturers grow their own plants and flowers, others buy them daily in the market, and still others are supplied by contract. The latter system prevails among the best houses. Contracts are made at a fixed price for a term of years, for the total product of a farm. The average price, stated in American currency and weight, was about as follows per pound -

The latter are grown in the shade of groves near Nice.

These are the principal garden flowers used in Grasse. A great breadth of land is devoted to Lavender, Rosemary, Thyme, Sweet Marjoram, Cherry Laurel, Sage, Balm, and other medicinal and culinary plants, which are sold at much lower rates than the products of the flowers above-named. The preparations from all these plants and flowers divide themselves into four classes; Essential Oils, Distilled Waters, Floral Pomades and Oils, and Dried Leaves and Flowers. (To be concluded).