.VARSITY 



THE EMIGRANT'S HAND BOOK. 435 



the two last are used in medicine. Sage has had great 

 reputation formerly, on account of its medicinal qualities; 

 but at present, these do not appear to be much regarded. 

 It possesses, however, some aromatic and astringent pow- 

 ers ; and a decoction, or sage tea, is found serviceable in 

 debility of the stomach, and in nervous cases. The Chinese 

 sometiti.es prefer it, it is said, to their own tea. It is useful 

 as a gargle in sore throat, and it is grateful and cooling. 

 The broad-leaved balsamic species is the most effiacious 

 for its medical qualities, and as a tea herb. It is also in- 

 troduced into cheese. 



MINT. 



There are several species of mint that grow wild, found 

 chiefly in low moist situations, and they are likewise cul- 

 tivated. They are all distinguished by a well known and 

 peculiar aromatic flavor, and some are employed in culi- 

 nary preparations, others yield a highly odoriferous and 

 pungent essential oil by distillation. None of them are 

 in the least poisonous ; but they are very different both in 

 appearance and their uses. 



Spearmint. This is the common mint cultivated in our 

 gardens, and employed in different processes of cookery, 

 as having the most agreeable flavor ; the leaves are 

 sometimes boiled in certain dishes, and afterward with- 

 drawn. They likewise form an ingredient in soups, and 

 are sometimes used in spring salads. They are also 

 dried for the winter, and in this manner lose none of their 

 flavor. Mint is stomachic and antispasmodic, and is use- 

 ful in flatulencies ; these qualities probably led, independ- 

 ently of its agreeable flavor, to its universal use in pea 

 soup, in which it is a valuable ingredient. 



Peppermint. This is cultivated entirely for the essen- 

 tial oil distilled from it. Its taste is stronger, warmer, 

 and more pungent than spearmint, and leaves a sort of 



