THE POLYPETAL.E 03 



April oil a southern exposure in lines 1 foot apart. The 

 seedlings are afterwards thinned to G inches in the line. 

 Aniseed grows best in a light and sandy soil. 



The CoMMOX Caraway (Carum Carvi) is the most 



important of this family. It can be recognized by the 

 following: characteristics : 



1. A spindle-shaped root. 



2. A much-branched stem 2 feet high. 



3. Twice-pinnate leaves, with leaflets cut into very 



>J 



g an 



narrow segments. 



4. White flowers, udtJc 



the general uvibel. 



5. Fruits tapering at each end, and possessin 



ao-reeable aromatic odour and spicy taste. 



The fruit contains from 31 to ^ per cent of volatile 

 oil, which is valuable as a stimulant and is used tor 

 curing flatulency. The residue, after the removal ot 

 the oil, forms a valuable food for cattle owing to its 

 proteins and fats. The seeds have long been valued 

 by confectioners and cooks. ^ . 



This plant was formerly extensively cultivated m 

 Essex and Kent, but of late years its cultivationin thi« 

 country seems to have been discontinued. Possibly the 

 new conditions brought about by the War may re^^ve its 

 cultivation. Before 1914 it was imported from Morocco, 

 Holland, Russia, and Germany. 



British Carawav fetches a better price m the market, 

 because of its freedom from other seeds and cleaner 

 appearance. The Common Caraway must not be con- 

 fused with the two native Caraway plants, which are 

 not used medicinally; these are the Whobled Caraaj^u 

 {C.veHicillaMm) and i\xe Bulbous C.xr.AWAY (C. Bum^ 

 castanurit). 



