40 A GARDEN OF HERBS 



enchanted flower of such potency, that a man who accepts 

 a sprig from a woman will love her for ever. Bacon records 

 the curious superstition that if basil is exposed too much 

 to the sun it changes into wild thyme, and nearly every old 

 herbalist assures us that rue and basil will never grow near 

 each other. Basil was one of the old strewing herbs. Its 

 clove-like flavour is much prized by good French cooks, but 

 our English cooks do not appreciate it, though they occasion- 

 ally will use it to flavour soup. Evelyn tells us that it must 

 be used very sparingly, and for salads, only the tender tops. 

 In those days strong flavours were popular. 



BASIL (both the bush and the larger sweet basil) should 

 be sown in gentle heat in March, hardened off in May, and 

 planted out at the end of May on to warm borders or beds 

 of light, rich earth. 



BETONY 



" Betony is good for a man's soul or his body." 



Saxon Herbal. 



' * Wood betony is in its prime in May, 

 In June and July does its bloom display, 

 A fine bright red does this grand plant adorn, 

 To gather it for drink I think no scorn ; 

 I'll make a conserve of its fragrant flowers, 

 Cephalick virtues in this herb remain. 

 To chase each dire disorder from the brain. 

 Delirious persons here a cure may find 

 To stem the phrensy and to calm the mind. 

 All authors own wood -betony is good, 

 'Tis King o'er all the herbs that deck the wood ; 

 A King's physician erst such notice took 

 Of this, he on its virtues wrote a book." 



James Chambers, The Poor Phytologist. 



Betony has indeed fallen from its old high estate, for 

 how few now know or care about its virtues? Yet with 

 the exception of vervain, there was no herb more highly 

 prized in olden times. The Saxon herbal, to which reference 

 is made in the above, is supposed to be an abridged copy 



