348 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



LAVENDEK. 



LAVANDULA. 



LABIATE. DIDYNAMIA GYMNOSPERMIA. 



So named from its use in fomentations and baths. French, la la- 

 vande : in Provence, aspic ; espic, whence the foreign oil of lavender 

 is usually called oil of spike. Italian, lavendola ; lavanda ; spigo. 



THE Common Lavender is increased by cuttings, which 

 should be planted in March, and placed in the shade 

 until they have taken root : they may then be exposed to 

 the sun. These plants will live much longer, and endure 

 the most severe cold, if planted in a dry, gravelly soil. 

 They grow faster in summer if the soil be rich and moist ; 

 but then they are generally destroyed in the winter, nor 

 are they so strongly scented as those which grow in a 

 barren soil. 



Lavender was formerly used for edgings, as we now use 

 box, thrift, &c. ; but it grows too high for this purpose, and 

 the practice is generally discontinued. The agreeable scent 

 of Lavender is well known, since it is an old and still a 

 common custom to scatter the flowers over linen, as some do 

 rose-leaves, for the sake of this sweet odour : 



(t Pure lavender, to lay in bridal gown." 



Lavender-water, too, as it is usually called, although it 

 is really spirit of wine scented with the oil of lavender, is 

 one of our most common perfumes. This plant has been 

 much celebrated for its virtues in nervous disorders, and 

 is an ingredient in some of the English herb teas now in 

 such general use. This species of Lavender is common 

 to Europe, Asia, and Africa. It flowers from July to 

 September. 



French Lavender (also called Purple Stoechas, from 

 being found in the islands named the Stoechades) may be 



