A ricli arr;iy of fragrant tasteful herbs 

 Did bounteous Nature give : sweet balm to lull 

 The fever-quickened pulse ; basil, plant royal ; 

 And borage, dressing meet for cooling cup." 



ANON. 





ABIA'NA (nat. 



Irida'cese). 



Dwarf, free-flowering, 



half-hardy Cape bulbs of in March or October, 

 great beauty, that do well 

 in a sandy, peaty soil, and 



ord. \ rennial( Melissa ojficinalis} with ornamental 

 foliage, succeeding in any common garden 

 soil. Propagated by divisions of the roots 

 In former times. 



sheltered sunny situation out of doors, but 

 best suited for cold greenhouse. If planted 

 in open borders the bulbs should be taken 

 up in autumn. When the bulbs are send- 

 ing up leaves and flowers they should be 

 kept well watered. '1 here are many varie- 

 ties, bearing blue, purple, blue and white, 

 dark red, red and white, red and yellow, 

 and yellow blossoms. The best known 

 perhaps is Babiana vil'osa^ with flowers of 

 a delicate violet, blooming in August. 



j owing to the lemon-like flavour of the 



Balm (nat. ord. Labia'tae). leaves, it was much used in making a 



A sweet-scented hardy herbaceous pe- cooling drink, known as balm tea. 



35 



