288 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



Romaine [Roman mint] ; menthe de Notre Dame [Our 

 Lady's mint] : in Italian, erba Santa Maria [the Holy 

 Mary's herb]. The flower, such as it is, is of a dark 

 purple; the leaves are handsome, and, when they grow 

 luxuriantly, have a cool and refreshing appearance. Pre- 

 parations from several of the species are used in medicine ; 

 as Pepper-mint, Spear-mint, Pennyroyal, &c. 



An infusion of Spear-mint is used as a substitute for 

 tea; the young leaves are eaten in salads, and some eat 

 them in the same manner as the leaves of sage, with bread 

 and butter. 



All the Mints are easily increased by parting the roots in 

 the spring, or by planting cuttings in any of the summer 

 months ; keeping the earth very moist until they have taken 

 root. 



Mint to be used as tea should be cut when just begin- 

 ning to flower, and dried in the shade. 



It is said that Corn-mint in French, le pouliot thym 

 [thyme pennyroyal] prevents the coagulation of milk; 

 and " when cows have eaten it," says Withering, " as they 

 will do largely at the end of summer, when pastures are 

 bare, their milk can hardly be made to yield cheese; a 

 circumstance which puzzles the dairy-maids." 



Some of the wild mints are as beautiful as they are 

 fragrant, and are well worthy the attention of those who 

 love to peer into the flowery hedges, ramble in shady lanes, 



" Or into the meadowes, where 

 Mints perfume tlie gentle aire, 

 And where Flora spends her treasure/' 



W. BROWNE. 



