332 AGRICULTURE ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE 



again, and then the seedsman is blamed for having 

 sold poor seed. 



Cut flowers can be made to keep fresh many days 

 by putting them in fresh water every day, each time 

 cutting off a little piece of the end of the stem, after 

 rinsing or washing it to take off the bacteria. A few 

 drops of washing ammonia in the vase water is also a 

 great help. 



AROMATIC PLANTS AND SEEDS 



A large number of plants are grown for the odors 

 yielded by their leaves. Among these are such well- 

 known herbs as the garden sage, the peppermint, sweet 

 basil, marjoram, lavender, rosemary, thyme, catmint, 

 catnip, and many others belonging to the mint family, 

 with two-lipped flowers. Many of them grow wild 

 on the Pacific Coast. Of the sunflower family we have 

 the camomile, of which the flowers, like the leaves of 

 the others mentioned, are often used for making teas 

 for sick persons. It is pleasant to have these odorous 

 herbs about the house and garden, and they also serve 

 for seasoning in cooking. From some of them, valuable 

 essences are made. 



Then there are many plants bearing aromatic seeds, 

 such as caraway, anise, coriander, celery, parsley, 

 fennel, and others, belonging to the carrot family. 



All these grow very well in California, and many as 

 far north as Washington. 



