GIP3EYWOKT CLAEY. 221 



used in soups, sausages, &c. Two species of Mint are used 

 medicinally, and from one is drawn tlie essence which flavours 

 those delights of children" mint-drops." The botanist Ben- 

 tham has given much study to this tribe, and he asserts that 

 the members only frequent warm and temperate climates : 

 1000 species belong to the eastern hemisphere, 600 to Europe, 

 and only 159 to tropical countries, even these growing on 

 mountains. The aroma is contained in glands placed in the 

 leaves. Most of the members of this order are herbaceous 

 plants, but the Eosemary of our gardens attains to the dignity 

 of a shrub. A decoction of Eosemary forms an excellent wash 

 for hair, making it curl well ; it is often put into hair-grease. 

 It improves soiled black garments to sponge them with Eose- 

 mary tea ; this is the Labiate plant which Mr. Johns mentions 

 as forming an ingredient in the Eau de Cologne. In Yorkshire 

 we have an old superstition, that where the Eosemary nourishes 

 the wife is master in the house ; but where the Eosemary pines 

 in the garden, then the husband is the master. The poor 

 people always carry sprigs of this tree to funerals, and throw 

 them into the grave. It is the largest plant of the Labiate 

 tribe. In Crete, according to Sieber, the regular firing-woods 

 are Sage, Thyme, Cypress, Marjoram, and Lavender. Thus 

 the Labiates minister to the comfort of man in an unusual 

 manner, and not only is the summer air scented with their fresh 

 odour, but the very smoke is perfumed with their fragrance. 



The Gipseywort (Lycopus europaeus), represents the first 

 British family of the tribe. I have found it near Leamington, 

 and Edward has it from Hawkhurst, in Kent. It grows in 

 wet places, and gipsies are supposed to darken their com- 

 plexions by washing with an infusion of it. It has the family 

 characteristic of a square stem and rough opposite leaves. Its 

 flowers grow in whorls, and are very inconspicuous. The 

 corolla is four- cleft, and it has only two stamens. 



The Salvia family is the next in order. We have two British 

 Salvias. 



