





214 MINT SAGE. 



in rectified spirits appears a dark green by daylight and a bright red 

 by candle light. Spearmint is cut just as the flowers appear, for me- 

 dicinal purposes, but for the oil the flowering plant is preferred, and 

 both are cut in dry weather. The roots must be transplanted every 3 

 years to preserve its qualities, otherwise it degenerates into spearmint. 

 They, with most labiate plants, give fragrance to the air and correct 

 the efHuviae of stagnant pools. Plants set in spring come into use the 

 same year. To preserve it best, dry it quickly before the fire in a 

 screen, powder it immediately, and put in tight bottles. Parsley, sage, 

 thyme, &c., should be thus preserved. 



M. Piperita has the most penetrating smell and stronger and more 

 pungent taste, for medicinal purposes, (see medicinal plants.) Ten 

 species are well known. 



Peppermint cordial is made of 75 drops of the oil, 1 oz. sugar, with 

 10 pints of rectified spirits of wine, diluted with 10 galls, of water, 

 and 3 drachms of alum. The addition of 6 oz. of salt to 10 galls, of 

 water greatly improves the flavor and strength of any spirits. 



SAGE, Salvia officinalis, C. 2. O. 1. Labiate, sp. 95-170. Eh. A. 

 and P. The common species is from the French sage (wise), and the 

 genus from to save, both in allusion to its virtues. All are of easy 

 culture, and some are ornamental. Of the S. officinalis there are many 

 varieties. It has been in great repute in medicine as a sudorific, aroma- 

 tic, astringent and antiseptic. The Chinese use it as a tonic to 

 strengthen the nervous system, preferring it to their own tea. It is 

 also given with us as a warm tea, to promote perspiration in colds and 

 fevers. With food it is principally used for seasoning soups and 

 broths, and for stuffing ducks, geese, turkeys, sausages, &c. It is 

 likewise much used in making sage cheese. It is discarded from the 

 English materia medica. The S. grandiflora is prepared for tea. Some 

 species produce galls or apples, by the junction of onion seed, and are 

 sold in the Greek markets, and are candied with sugar. S. verbenaca 

 is a native of the four continents, and everywhere very aromatic. A 

 mucilage is produced from the seeds, which, if placed under the eye- 

 lids, has been said to abstract any dust, &c., which may have got 

 there. The flowers are used in Holland to give flavor to the Rhenish 

 wines. A wine is made with sugar, from the herb or flower, not un- 

 like frontinac. There are 3 or 4 varieties commonly cultivated, all 

 sown or raised by suckers on light soils for 3 years. The garden sage 

 is highly stimulent, tonic and stomachic, resembling camphor, which 

 it contains. There are many species, natives of this country. 



The red, broad-leafed, or balsamic, green, small-leafed green, or sage 

 of virtue are cultivated. The red is most in use ; the 2d is used medi- 

 cinally, and the 4th is best raw and for decoctions. They are propa- 

 gated by seed suckers or portions of old roots. They grow on any soil 

 for 3 or 4 years. 35 species are well known; the genus is indeed very 





