iSyi.] THE HERB BORDER. 255 



shrivels up to notliing in drying. When the plants begin to flower, a 

 portion should be pulled up by the roots and dried in the shade for 

 winter use. As Basil is generally preferred in a green state, it is 

 sometimes needful to sow successional batches, and to force it during 

 winter. In the latter case the seed should be sown in boxes and 

 pushed on in a vinery or pine-stove, and afterwards transferred to a 

 rather drier and cooler temperature. A box of good plants will serve 

 a good while. Take care to sow as often as needful. 



Borage. — This is an annual supposed to be a native of England. The 

 flowers are sometimes used for garnishing, and it is also used as a pot- 

 herb, but it is chiefly for cool tankards or cups that it is in demand, 

 for which purpose a bunch of the tops are employed. Borage, like 

 some other things, is a plant that will generally keep its own footing 

 when once it gets established in a garden — it seeds so freely. It may 

 be sown at any time, when it is needful to take this trouble. When 

 the young leaves are wanted frequently, it should be sown at intervals 

 during the summer. Water when needful, and thin out the plants to 

 9 inches or 1 foot apart. It will grow in any soil. 



Burnet. — A perennial, and a native of Britain. The young leaves 

 are employed in soups and salads, and also in cool tankards like 

 Borage. It will succeed in any ordinary light garden-soil, to which a 

 little lime-scrapings may be added. It should be sown in March in 

 shallow drills about 10 inches apart, and the plants may afterwards be 

 thinned out to 6 inches asunder in the row. It may also be propa- 

 gated by divisions of the roots in spring, planting the pieces as above 

 stated. Keep the ground cleaned and stirred during the summer, and 

 cut off the flower-spikes as they appear. 



Marigold {common). — This is a hardy annual ; a native of the 

 south of Europe. The flowers are used for culinary purposes, but the 

 plant is not generally cultivated in England as a herb. The seed may 

 be sown in April, in a bed of light rich soil, and the plants should 

 afterwards be thinned out to 1 foot from each other. The flowers 

 should be gathered as they expand, dried in a shed, and put away for 

 winter use. Marigold flowers put into soups were at one time sup- 

 posed to have a soothing efi"ect upon the mind or spirits. 



Balm. — A hardy perennial ; a native of the south of Europe. The 

 leaves have a strong lemon scent ; it is used chiefly for making Balm- 

 wine and Balm-tea. It propagates freely by division of the roots in 

 spring, and will succeed in any ordinary garden-soil : before blooming, 

 a portion may be cut and dried. 



Hyssop. — This is a low, aromatic, evergreen shrub ; a native of the 

 south of Europe. It is pretty generally grown, though not much used, 

 except medicinally ; it is a specific in some kinds of chest diseases 



