The Busy Woman s Garden Book 



The Greeks held the plant in great respect. 

 A crown made of dried and withered leaves was 

 given to the victors in their games. A crown 

 together with a bunch of laurel was dedicated 

 to the god of banquets while all the guests at 

 these feasts wore crowns of parsley under the 

 impression that the herb created quiet and pro- 

 moted appetite. The Romans also decked them- 

 selves in like manner uj^on similar occasions be- 

 cause they believed that the plant had the power 

 to absorb the fumes of wine and thus prevent 

 drunkenness. 



It was parsley that Hercules selected for the 

 making of his first garland of victory. Greek 

 gardens were bordered with parsley and rue, 

 giving rise to the saying, "Oh, we are only at 

 the parsley and rue." As these ancients used 

 the plant in their rejoicing and merrymaking, so, 

 too, it was brought into use in their funeral dec- 

 orations. Sprigs of the herb were strewn over 

 their dead. According to old folk lore parsley 

 should be sown on Good Friday. 



Parsley is a biennial plant, making a fine clump 

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