142 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



the pl.'ints about in an indiscriminate manner. Another aid to their 

 longevity is a dressing of the soil between them with a coat of rotten 

 hot-bed manure in February or March. The'^flavour of sage is so 

 ao'reeable to some persons, that they put a leaf in the tea-pot to 

 flavour the tea, and '* they say" that tea so flavoured is a fine re- 

 fresher for a weak stomach. 



Thyme. — Thymus vulgaris is the common pot-herb thyme. It 

 grows best in a sunny situation, on stony or sandy soil, but it may 

 be grown in rich garden soil ; in which case it is rather tender in 

 winter. When growing amongst stones, or on walls, the severest 

 frost does not harm it. Thyme may be raised from seeds sown in 

 fine earth in April or May, and will require to be thinned as the 

 plants spread. It is far better, however, to divide the plants into 

 little pieces, each with a ie^^ roots, in March or April, or, indeed, 

 any time through the summer, if shading and watering are resorted 

 to, that the heat of the sun may not destroy them. It is an ex- 

 haustive plant ; therefore, after having stood some years in one spot, 

 a fresh plantation should be made, and the old ones should be de- 

 stroyed, and the ground deeply dug and manured. Cut the tops for 

 drying when the flowers begin to expand. 



Lemon Thyme is a lemon-scented variety of wild thyme {Thymus 

 serpyllum). It does not come true from seeds, therefore must be 

 increased by parting the roots or by slips. A sandy soil is required 

 for this ; it thrives well in peat, but not in chalk, and in ordinary 

 garden soil grows luxuriantly, and is sometimes used in place of 

 box for edgings, and is better than box for green embroidery. The 

 common wild thyme {T. serpyllwn) of the heaths is as good as any 

 garden thyme for flavouring soups, forcemeat, etc., therefore those 

 who live in places where it grows in plenty may replenish their 

 kitchen stores from nature's great herb-garden. The following are 

 worth a place on a bank or rockery amongst Alpine plants : — T. 

 corsicus, a little green-leaved annual, which comes up every year 

 from self-sown seeds ; deliciously fragrant when in flower. T. ser- 

 pyllum lanuginosum^ a woolly-leaved variety of wild thyme, which 

 makes a pretty patch on a ledge of rock, requiring scarcely any soil. 

 T. vulgaris variegatus^ with variegated leaves, makes a pretty tuft 

 on a bank, and is almost good enough for an edging in the flower- 

 garden. T. azureus, a delicate little rock plant, with minute 

 purplish-blue flowers. Every known species and variety of Thymus 

 is worth growing, and all are pleasantly fragrant except T. azoricus, 

 which might be called a stinking thyme. 



"Wormwood {Artemisia vulgaris). — The common wormwood will 

 grow anywhere, even in a shady border, where few other things will 

 live, but, when required for a medicinal purpose, should be grown in 

 the full sun. It is a hardy herbaceous perennial, of coarse, but not 

 repulsive appearance. As it spreads fast, it is apt to become a 

 troublesome weed, and it is therefore , not advisable to plant it in 

 any place where a neat appearance is a matter of importance. Eor 

 medicinal purposes, it should be gathered in June, when in flower, 

 it is a fine tonic bitter. Several very beautiful species of Artemisia 

 are in cultivation in gardens. The variegated variety of A. vulgaris 



