HERBS AND AROMATIC PLANTS. 



127 



In nearly every garden Feverfew (fig. 191) is grown. I have often 

 heard that persons drink an infusion of the leaves, but I have no 

 experience of its value, and probably it may be discarded altogether. 



The Woodroof (Asperula odorata, fig. 192) is a sweet-scented wild 

 plant which ought to be cultivated for the prettiness of its flower, for 

 its hay-like odour, and for the flavour which it imparts to claret-cup. 

 It grows well with me, but some time ago I nearly lost the whole, 

 as a stupid labourer was carefully picking it all out as a useless 



FIG. 191. Feverfew. 



FIG. 192. Woodroof. 



FIG. 193. Samphire. 



weed. This is really one of the greatest difficulties with which a 

 cultivator of plants has to contend, as employes destroy the loveliest 

 plants, and only preserve some florist's worthless monstrosity. 



Samphire (Crithmum maritimum,&& 193) is rarely grown in gardens, 

 although it appears to thrive well at Wallington. When planted, some 

 chalk was sunk in the ground and a little earth spread over, on which the 

 plants grow. It grows wild at Folkestone and on the cliffs of Dover, 

 where persons were formerly suspended by a rope to gather it from 

 the cliffs. Its leaves are pickled to be mixed with salads, to impart to 



them its peculiar flavour. 



"Half way down 

 Hangs one that gathers samphire- dreadful trade ! * 



SHAKSPEARE, King Lear. 



Our -district is deservedly celebrated for its Lavender (Lavetidula 

 spica, fig. 194) fields, which are so beautiful when in flower as to be 

 well worth the trouble of any lover of plants to visit from a considerable 

 distance. The peculiar effect of myriads of heads of lavender in flower 



