156 On the Cultivation of Hei'bs and Salads. 



The flowers are dried in houses prepared for tlie purpose, 

 with flues running through them. The flowers are spread 

 on canvass frames, hut such as hyssop, horehound, and other 

 cut herbs, are hung upon lines, in sheds, through which 

 plenty" of air circulates. Most of the more succulent roots 

 and juicy herbs, however, are artificially dried in storehouses, 

 never in the sun. 



Tarragon. — The late Mr. Chapman, of Vauxhall, may be 

 reckoned among the earliest growers of this useful herb. 

 He was the first to cultivate it on a large scale, for Covent 

 Garden Market, and at that time he had his own price for it. 

 This was about forty years ago. Mr. C's soil just suits it, 

 being a rich deposit of mud and sand, reclaimed from the 

 Thames very many years ago. This soil is four feet deep, 

 in red sand and gravel. Tarragon is generally propagated 

 by dividing the roots and crowns ; it is easily made into 

 cuttings, and strikes freely. April is the best time to lift 

 plants for dividing and potting for next year's forcing. Be- 

 sides borders in front of his houses, Mr. Chapman has gen- 

 erally 1000 8-inch pots furnished with some five and six 

 roots in each pot. These continue in use until that out of 

 doors pushes in March or April. Tarragon is sold in small 

 bunches, about six or eight inches long. It will thrive in a 

 mixture of old tan and mould, but it dislikes a strong clayey 

 soil. This herb is much esteemed by the higher classes 

 in all countries. 



Sweet Basil. — This, like tarragon and other such herbs, 

 is largely grown by Mr. Chapman, who sows it on bottom 

 heat, in low span-roofed houses, in February and March. In 

 such places he has full command of hot water pipes ; and as 

 basil, like cucumber or balsam plants, is very likely to damp 

 off, great care is necessary to keep it healthy at that early 

 period of the year. When up, the plants are either potted 

 off in 3-inch pots, or pricked out thickly in boxes, &c. 

 They are again potted singly into 5-inch pots, and hardened 

 off for planting out for summer use. Large quantities of it 

 are pulled up in autumn, and hung up in sheds for winter. 



