ATDTDA (43): R. damascena [and] R.alba (949.11)

[Dave Monroe]

On 6/9/08, Tim Strzechowski <dedalus204 at comcast.net> wrote:

> "Their mother, Zhivka, turned out to have a way with roses, and kept a private patch out in back of the house where she carried on hybrid experiments, having begun years ago by crossing R. damascena with R. alba and gone on from there" (p. 949).
>
>
> According to the Pynchon Wiki:
>
> Species of roses. The species most used in attar-making is Rosa damascena.
>
> R. damascena is named after the Syrian city of Damascus, which, in 1912-13, was still part of the Ottoman Empire. R. alba is the white rose. Cross-breeding these makes the perfect Bulgarian flower, part Ottoman, part Christian; the blending of two worlds.
>
> http://against-the-day.pynchonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=ATD_946-975#Page_949
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damascus

Cf. (?) ...

Damascus steel is a hot-forged steel used in Middle Eastern
swordmaking from about 1100 to 1700 AD. Damascus swords were of
legendary sharpness and strength, and were apocryphally claimed to be
able to cut through lesser quality European swords and even rock. The
technique used to create original Damascus steel is now a matter of
historical conjecture. Many raw materials, and the metalsmiths'
recipes, are no longer available....

The general term "Damascus" refers to metal with a visible grain
pattern, sometimes with a texture. Modern damascus is a lamination of
folded steels selected with cosmetic qualities, with grinding and
polishing specifically to expose the layers. True Damascus patterns
are formed when carbon trace elements form visible swirls in the steel
mix, that change properties when work hardened (forged)....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damascus_steel

Tim,. was I supposed to have tagged off after this?   I was thinking,
p. 961 ca. 7/9, but ... well, will hasten to catch up, if need be,
y'all really shouldn't be held back AGAIN by my inability to keep
track of what I'm sposta be doing ...