M E rr 



M E N 



bo separated and planted out where they are to 

 remain. As their branches are weak and slender, 

 they require support; and wlicn planted near 

 trees thrive better than in an open situation. 



The third sort ma)^ be increased by parting 

 the roots, and planting them out in the spring, 

 a little before the plants begin to shoot, in 

 warm situations where the soil is light, as in 

 strong retentive land the roots are apt to rot. 

 When planted close to a wall exposed to the 

 south or west, their stalks may be fastened 

 against the wall, to prevent their trailing upon 

 the ground ; in which situations the plants fre- 

 quently flower. Tiicv should have a little shel- 

 ter in severe frost in order to preserve their 

 stalks. 



They afford ornament and variety as climbers 

 in the shrubberies and other parts. 



MENTHA, a genus containing plants of 

 the hardy herbaceous perennial kind. 



It belongs to the class and order Didi/namia 

 Gijmnospermkt, and ranks in the natural order 

 of FtrtkiUalce or Labiatce. 



The characters are : that the calyx is a one- 

 leafed, tubular perianthium, upright, five- 

 toothed, equal, permanent : the corolla one- 

 petallcd : petals upright, tubular, a little longer 

 than the calyx : border four-parted, almost 

 equal ; the upper segment wider, emarginate : 

 the stamina have four filaments, awl-shaped, 

 upright, distant, the two nearest longer: anthers 

 roundish : the pistillum is a four-cleft germ : 

 style filiform, upright, longer than the corolla : 

 stigma bifid, spreading : there is no pericar- 

 pium : calyx upright, with the seeds in the 

 bottom ; the seeds four and small. 



The species cultivated are: 1. i\/. viridis. 

 Spear Mint ; '■2. M. rotwul'ifolia, Round-leaved 

 Mint: 3. M. crispa, Curled Mint; 4. M. 

 piperita, Pepper-Mint; 5. M. gentilis, Red 

 Mint; 6. M. Pulegium, Pennyroyal; 7. M. 

 cervina, Hyssop-leaved Mint, or Upright Pen- 

 nyroyal. 



The first has long, creeping, very spreading 

 roots; the stalks are upright, square, single, 

 green, rising two or three feet in height : leaves 

 spear-shaped, serrated, close-sitting, smooth, 

 very green : the stalks are terminated by purp- 

 lish flowers, in oblong erect spikes : the stamina 

 longer than the corolla, the latter of which is 

 purplish red. It is a native of Britain, &c. 



As it is not so hot to the taste as Peppermint, 

 and having a more agreeable flavour than niost 

 of the other sorts, it is generallv preferred for 

 culinary and other purposes. The leaves and 

 tops arc used in spring salads, and eaten as 

 sauce with lamb, and, when dried, in soups, 

 &c. 



There are several varieties : as broad-ieafetl 5 

 narrow-leafed ; curled-leafed; variegated-ieafed ; 

 silver- striped-lcafed ; gold-striped- leaied. 



The second species has the stems from two to 

 three feet in height, erect, hairy or shaggv, the 

 liairs pointing more or less downwards : the 

 leaves are somewhat cordate, rugged, stronglv 

 and sharply crenate or rather serrate, the teeth 

 and points of the small upper ones being often 

 very taper : the under side is shaggy not hoary, 

 and all the veins are fringed as it were with 

 close hairs : the spikes are several, terminating 

 erect, sharpish, not very densely whorled : th 

 bractes lanceolate, hairy, sharp and projecting:- 

 the flowers reddish : the calyciue teeth broad at 

 the base ; the stamens always nuieh l')n<i,er than 

 the corolla. It is a native of several parts of 

 Europe, flowering in August and September. 

 It it found in gardens variegated. 



The third has the stems hair\', much branch- 

 ed, about the same height with common 

 Spear Mint : the leaves deeply indejited on 

 their edges, waved and curled, light green : the 

 flowers purple, growing in thick interrupted 

 spikes at the top of the stalks : the calyx cut 

 almost to the bottom : the stvle standing out 

 beyond the corolla. It is a native of Den- 

 mark, or Siberia. 



The fourth species has smooth purple stalks : 

 the leaves are smaller than those of Spear ' 

 Mint ; they are lanceolate, serrate, very dark 

 green, with purple midrib and veins, and they 

 are a little hairy on their under side : the spikes 

 of flowers are shorter and thicker than those of 

 Spear Mint, and are broken or interrupted at 

 bottom, the lower whorls peduncled, distant, 

 consisting of from nine to twelve : the corolla 

 is of a dark purple colour, and the stamens are 

 longer than the corolla. 



In external appearance it corresponds with 

 the first sort, for which it may easily be 

 mistaken ; but in that the stem is taller, the 

 leaves have scarcely any petioles, and are nar- 

 rower in proportion to their length, the spikes 

 are longer and composed of more whorls. It is 

 a native of Britain, flowering in August, 



The fifth has several erect stems, growing in 

 tufts, about eighteen inches high, with harsh 

 somewhat hairy angles, more or less reddish in 

 the upper part, branched, leafy : the leaves 

 most crowded towards the iipper part, sharply 

 serrate, veiny, punctuated with shinins dots, 

 having a few short hairs scattered over them, 

 especially about the margin, and along the 

 nerves on the back : their usual scent is much 

 like that of the first sort, but the smell of 

 Mints is very variable. It is a native of several 

 parts of Europe. 



