1S6' THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



way, so tbat, at a moment's notice, a supply may be obtained for 

 use in a fresh state. 



Tbe montb of May is the best time in all the year for tbe forma-^ 

 tion of a berb-garden. For all tbe woody aromatic plants required 

 for flayouring soups and meats, sucb as tbyme, sage, etc., a dry, 

 sunny, sandy bank is tbe best situation possible. The fragrance and 

 flavour of these plants are much enhanced by a dry, rather poor 

 soil, and full exposure to air and sunshine. A bank appropriated to 

 such things might be made very pretty, for all these plants are at 

 least sightly ; some iew of them, as, for example, lemon thyme and 

 marjoram, are beautiful. It is quite proper for the gardener to have 

 a plantation of these useful subjects, in order to supply quantities^ 

 when required for drying, or for the preparation of any cosmetics, 

 or other purposes ; but it is desirable there should be a small, and 

 we may call it a private, plantation, so situated that the ladies of 

 the household may be able at any time, without difficulty, to obtain 

 small quantities of such herbs as they require. Therefore it is we 

 recommend the formation of a bank, in a sunny spot, to be planted 

 with all such herbs as will thrive on it, and to be made as ornamental 

 as possible ; to which end may be added a few Provence Eoses for 

 the scent-jar, a few common Major Tropa?olum (vulgo Nasturtium) 

 for pickling, a Sweet Bay for flavouring custards, one or two trees 

 of Yariegated Eue, which is just as good as green rue for medicinal 

 purposes, and Calycantlms floridus, for its spicy flavour; with what- 

 ever else may be deemed suitable for the situation. It must be re- 

 membered, however, that all the aromatic herbs in common use will 

 not thrive alike on a dry, sunny, sandy bank. Some require a deep, 

 moist, rich soil, and of this class parsley and mint are notable exam- 

 ples. Places for such as these should be found independent of the 

 supplies the gardener may be able to furnish, for they may be 

 wanted when there is no one at hand to obtain them, and the 

 kitchen-garden may be too far away for a journey in wet weather. 

 I cannot, of course, predicate the wants of every household ; but, 

 having found it greatly to conduce to domestic comfort to have 

 herbs of all kinds scattered about the pleasure-garden, though we 

 have a complete and rather large collection of them all in their 

 proper place, I propose these plans for the good of others ; and I 

 have only to beg of each reader to accept, modify, or reject, as a con- 

 sideration of individual circumstances may render advisable. 



ANGELICA {Ar dicing elicci officinalis). — A coarse-looking plant of 

 the Umbelliferous order. It grows five or six feet high, and requires 

 a deep loamy soil and a damp situation — suitable, in fact, to plant 

 out beside a lake or river. The stalks have a warm aromatic flavour ; 

 when candied with sugar, it is considered scarcely inferior to ginger 

 as a carminative and stomachic stimulant. The root may be pre- 

 pared in imitation of preserved or pickled ginger. In the north of 

 Europe it is much used, and is believed to have the property of 

 prolonging life. Angelica may be raised from seed, but it should be 

 sown as soon as ripe. If seed is not obtainable, secure a plant, 

 suffer it to seed, and sow the seeds as soon as they begin to fall, and 

 a fine stock of plants will be the result. The plants usually die 



