342 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES, 



MINT.-MENTHA. 



Natural order, Verticillatce. A genus of the 

 Didynamia Gymnospermia class. 



The Greeks called this herb Mivftv, and 

 the ancient poets tell us it was so named 

 from one of Plutus's minions, whom he 

 turned into this plant. 



Miller enumerates eighteen species of mint, 

 two thirds, at least, of which are natives of 

 this country. 



The use of this refreshing herb did not 

 escape the notice of the ancients. Man 

 would naturally be induced to seek reviving 

 and stimulating plants for the sick and feeble; 

 and we are told that balm and mint were 

 among the earliest medicines thus selected. 

 We may conclude that those simples were 

 more efficacious when the body was less ac- 

 customed to the luxurious and complicated 

 diet which art has introduced, and which 

 has made it necessary for the students of 

 medicine to extend their research for more 



