XXXV. THE AROMATIC HERBS OF THE FARM 



"Excellent herbs had our fathers of old, 



Excellent herbs to ease their pain, 

 Alexanders and Marigold, 



Eyebright, Orris arid Elcampane, 

 Basil, Rocket, Valerian, Rue 



(Almost singing themselves they run). 

 Vervain, Dittany, Call-me-to-you, 



Cowslip, Melilot, Rose-of-the-Sun. 

 Anything green that grew out of the mould 

 Was an excellent herb to our fathers of old/' 



— Kipling (Our Fathers of Old). 



Our great demands upon the plant world are for food, 

 clothing, and shelter. Given these essential things, we then 

 demand other things for pleasure or adornment. To neces- 

 sary plain food, we add flavorings ; to textiles, we add dyes ; 

 to walls and roof, we add decorations; and then we enrich 

 oiir social intercourse with garlands and wreaths and incense. 

 We use these things because nature has placed them near at 

 hand, and has made us to appreciate them. 



Nature has singularly commingled the bare necessities of 

 our existence with the pleasant gifts of her bounty and with 

 the things we may not use. They grow together out of the 

 same soil, foods and sweets and poisons. Fortunately, our 

 instincts guide us in a considerable measure in the choice of 

 foods, for what nature has made most pleasing to our palate 

 is, in general, most wholesome. There are, however, many 

 wholesome plant products that are not at first pleasant to the 

 taste, and there are poisonous fruits that are attractive in 

 appearance. Nature has. put into her plant products an 

 endless variety of substances, nutritive, stimulating or 

 poisonous, from which we may pick and choose. Moreover, 

 she has so mingled these qualities in her products that their 

 effect upon us depends upon our use of them. Foods are 



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