BASIL. 63 



Zethy, that " the smell of this plant is good 

 for the heart and for the head : that the 

 seede cureth the infirmities of the heart, 

 taketh away sorrowfulnesse which commeth 

 of melancholie, and maketh a man merrie 

 and glad." 



Basil leaves a grateful smell when stroked 

 with the hand ; and it was said that the hand 

 of a fair lady made it thrive. Farmers who 

 had learnt to compliment in the reigns of 

 Queen Mary and Elizabeth, planted it in 

 pots to offer to their landladies, or others 

 who visited the farm. It is thus noticed by 

 Tusser : 



" Fine Basil desireth it may be hir lot 



to grow as a gilleflower, trim in a pot : 

 That ladies and gentils, for whom you do serve, 

 may help her as needeth, poore life to preserue." 



Schroder, and other medical writers of 

 latter days, give it the virtue of cleansing the 

 lungs of phlegm. 



It is used as an ingredient in the aqua 

 bryonies composita, or hysteric water. 



Aiton mentions thirteen species of basil, 

 now cultivated in this country, the earliest 

 of which was in 1548. It is a native of the 

 South of Europe, as well as the East Indies, 



