252 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



tern upon a mantle which had belonged to Helen ; and 

 Theocritus, as a rehevo upon a pastoral prize-cup : 



" And all about the cup a crust was raised 

 Of soft acanthus." 



But these Acanthuses either will not bear our climate, or 

 they strike their roots too deep for potting ; so that, how- 

 ever interesting they are rendered by classical association, 

 it is in books we must enjoy them, if we would enjoy them 

 at home. 



MINT. 



MENTHA. 



LABIATiE. DIDYNAMIA GYMNOSPERMIA. 



Supposed to be named from Mentha, a daughter of Cocytus, who 

 was changed into this herb by Proserpina in a fit of jealousy. (See 

 Anemone.) 



Mint may seem to belong rather to a kitchen or a 

 physic, than to a flower garden ; but besides its medicinal 

 and culinary uses, Spear-mint is esteemed by many per- 

 sons for the scent ; and for this scent, and the quick- 

 ness of its growth, it is often grown in pots, although as a 

 flower it is of no value. This mint is called in French, 

 menthe verte [green mint] ; menthe d' Arigleterre [English 

 mint] ; menthe Romaine [Roman mint] ; menthe de Notre 

 Dame [Our Lady's mint] : in Italian, erba Santa Maria 

 [the Holy Mary's herb]. The flower, such as it is, is of 

 a dark purple ; the leaves are handsome, and, when they 

 grow luxuriantly, have a cool and refreshing appearance. 

 Preparations from several of the species are used in me- 

 dicine; as Pepper-mint, Spear-mint, Pennyroyal, &c. 



An infusion of Spear-mint is used as a substitute for 

 tea ; the young leaves are eaten in salads, and some eat 

 them in the same manner as the leaves of sage, with bread 

 and butter. 



