The Busy Woman s Garden Book 



rather than wide, so that the herbs may be 

 gathered without walking on the bed; three feet 

 is a good width as that can be reached across 

 fairly well. As the amount of any one herb used 

 in the average family will be small it is not neces- 

 sary that they be set in regular rows; they may 

 rather be started in rows, for convenience in 

 planting and identifying when up and then the 

 fine, vigorous plants set in clumps in the border, 

 or in colonies of sorts. The leaves of the various 

 plants are the part used and they should be cut 

 or gathered on a bright, clear day just as the 

 plants are coming into bloom, tied in bunches 

 and hung up in a dry place, an attic with open 

 windows, or a shed, or spread out on racks or a 

 floor, anywhere where they will diy quickly so 

 as to retain all their flavor. When thoroughly 

 dry the leaves should be stripped from the stems 

 and packed in bags or boxes for use. 



The annual varieties are cultivated the same 

 as the perennials but if one prefers these may oc- 

 cupy a row through the garden where they can 

 have the cultivation accorded the other vege- 



204 



