. 08 AROMATIC HERBS, ETC. 



* Southernwood, Artemisia abrotanum. 



* Speedwell, Virginian, Veronica Virginica. 



* Spikenard, Aralia rucemosa. 



* Tansy, Tanace/um vulgare. 



* Wormwood, Artemisia absinthi^im. 



The generality of Aromatic, Sweet, and Medicinal Herbs 

 may be raised from seed sown in Apiil and May. The 

 greater part of the above-mentioned plants are Perennial, 

 and "will multiply from the seed they drop, or from paitings 

 from the roots. The offsets, roots, or young plants thus 

 raised, should be planted at suitable distances from each other 

 early in the spring. 



The beds should afterward be kept free from weeds, and 

 as the herbs come into flower, they should be cut on a dry 

 day, and spread in a shady place to dry, for winter use. The 

 best way to preserve them after they are dried, is to rub 

 them so as to pass them through a sieve, then pack them in 

 bottles or boxes, each kind by itself; they should be after- 

 ward kept in a dry place. 



In the month of October, the heib beds should be exam- 

 ined. Lavender, Rosemary, and other tender plants, should 

 be taken up, potted, and placed in a frame or greenhouse 

 for the winter. Thyme, Hyssop, Winter Savory, Southern- 

 wood, Sage, Rue, and the like, will require their tops to be 

 neatly dressed ; and Pot Marjoram, Burnet, Tarragon, Tansy, 

 Pennyroyal, Sorrel, Chamomile, Fennel, Hcnehound, Mint, 

 Lovage, and other kinds of hardy Perennial Herbs, should 

 be cut down close to the ground. 



After this is done, it will be proper to dig lightly, and 

 loosen the ground between the roots of the shrubby ])lant.s ; 

 but the beds of close-growing running plants, such as Mint, 

 Running Thyme, and all other creeping herbs, will not well 

 admit of digging; therefore, after the stalks are cut down, 

 and the beds cleared of weeds, dig the alleys, and strew some 

 of the loose earth evenly over the beds ; and if the ground 

 be rather poor or light, a top dressing of very rotten dung 

 will be of considerable service. 



