SECT. XVI. OF HERBS, &C. 263 



and by this practice every year, it may be continued 

 long in the same place. A moist situation suits it best, 

 so that some plant it by ditches, or ponds. 



BALM is either plain or variegated ; but the 

 former only is cultivated as a medicinal herb. It is 

 propagated by parting the root, either in autumn, or 

 spring, but rather the latter. Slip off short pieces 

 with foots, and plant them a foot, or fifteen inches 

 asunder, giving a little water. The variegated is for 

 the flower-garden. 



The balm that is gathered for drying ought to be 

 cut just as it gets into flower ; as for this purpose all 

 herbs should, being then in the highest perfection ; 

 and it should be done as soon as the dew is off, for if 

 left till afternoon, in a full sun, the plant is exhausted 

 of its juices : Pick off all decayed leaves. Dry it 

 in an airy shady place till fit to tie in small bundles, 

 which must be stored by hanging up in a dry airy 

 room, about six inches from one another, till per- 

 fectly dry, when lay them in a drawer in a dry room, 

 pressed close, and cover vyith paper. 



Balm, and most perennial herbs, should be fresh 

 planted in beds every third or fourth year ; and each 

 year, in autumn, or spring, have the ground stirred 

 about them, and dressed with some fresh earth, or a 

 little well consumed manure, the plants being previ- 

 ously cut down, and ground weeded. 



BASIL is a pretty annual, of which we have two 

 sorts, the large and the bush : (each having a variety) 

 both are used as pot-kerbs, but chiefly the former. 

 Sometimes also this herb (a jfe> of the young leaves) 

 is used in sallads, and occasionally in medicine. The 

 large grows about a foot high, and the bush but a few 

 inches. They are both sweet, but the bush basil most 

 so. It has a delicate round form, and so is cultivated 

 as ornamental, though its flower is nothing. Both 

 sorts are usually sown on a gentle hot-bed, in March, 



