36 THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN 



properties of valerian have been well known through 

 all the ages; cats delight in it to such an extent that 

 they will go perfectly wild over it at times, gnawing 

 at the roots, and trying to tear up the whole 

 plant. 



Rosemary is a plant of many virtues, and in olden 

 times no garden was considered worthy of the name 

 which did not include this inestimable herb. It 

 was enormously in request for making wine, physic, 

 and scent, and up till the present time it is one of 

 the ingredients of Eau-de-Cologne. The flowers 

 are well beloved by the bees, making most excellent 

 honey. 



Bergamot is another great favourite with the 

 bees; in fact, its old-fashioned name is " Bee-Balm," 

 surely sufficient to prejudice anyone in its favour ! 

 The flowers are a warm crimson, and make a glorious 

 patch of colour in the garden. Oil of bergamot 

 goes into perfumery, and an extract from the leaves 

 helps to compose the preparation known to modern 

 doctors as thymol. 



Pimpernel, in the olden days, was a sure remedy 

 for the bite of a mad dog, and also an effective 

 remover of all sadness. It is very interesting to 

 note that the pimpernel should have won this 

 character for cheerfulness amongst the English, 

 for the name in the Greek means to laugh. 



Fumitory is another of the herbs with a magic 

 past, as its very name will tell us, for many of the old 

 books say that when burned, the smoke was used in 

 sorcery. Others again say that instead of growing 

 from seed, it is produced from vapours rising from 

 the earth. Truly a plant to connect with the 

 witch, her cauldron, and her black cat ! "l \ 



