CHAP. XXVII VILLA GARDENING 503 



Marjoram, the seeds being sown in a gentle warmth in April, and 

 the plants hardened off and planted out in May, or it can be sown 

 in May on the bed where it is intended to remain in the open air. 

 When in flower cut and dry the stems with the flowers and foliage 

 in an airy room, and when dry rub and keep in wide -mouthed 

 bottles. 



Winter Savoury. — A hardy perennial, used in the same way 

 and for the same purposes as the annual kind, though the latter is 

 generally most ai)preciated. It is easily increased by division or 

 cuttings in spring. 



Tansy — Used sometimes in flavouring, though not much called 

 for. The curled-leaved variety is best. I have sometimes found 

 the leaves useful in table decoration. They are of a dark-green 

 tint, have a fernlike appearance, and rather a nice effect for decor- 

 ations on the cloth. Tansy is easily cultivated, and, being a native 

 plant, is very hardy. It may be raised from seeds, but it is better 

 to divide an old root and plant out the offsets 12 inches apart. 

 By cutting down a few plants at different periods during summer, 

 a young condition of growth in a part of the stock can always be 

 had. 



Tarragon is used in flavouring salads and in cookery, and 

 is quite indispensable. On some soils it is rather delicate, and, 

 although a native of Siberia, in cold heavy soils in this country 

 it often fails altogether. However, I have never known it to fail 

 on a dry warm site, and where there has been any difiiculty with 

 it, if planted on a raised well-drained spot it flourishes and becomes 

 strong, proving that it is not cold but damp that injures it. Tar- 

 ragon is easily propagated by offsets, which may be taken off in 

 spring with a piece of root attached ; or an old plant may be lifted 

 and the root-stock cut into small pieces and planted in a bed. I 

 have struck it in pots and boxes in spring; like any ordinary soft- 

 wooded plant, and a box or two of cuttings planted in spring in a 

 warm frame, hardened off and placed out all summer, will come in 

 useful when moved to a genial temperature for producing green 

 shoots in winter ; or, if no provision has been made in this way, 

 some roots may be lifted and placed in a forcing-pit. To obtain 

 a succession of nice young growths all the summer, some of the 

 shoots should be cut down at different periods to induce a succes- 

 sion of young ones to spring up. In winter a liberal top-dressing 

 of old manure should be spread over the surface, covering up all 

 the crowns. 



Thyme. — There are two varieties commonly grown for culinary 

 purposes — viz. the common Green and the Lemon ; the former can 

 be obtained from seeds sown in spring, and transplanted when large 



