888 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



from weeds, and have a little fine, rich mould occa« 

 siona'lv thrown over it. 



Caraway. Carum Carui. — The seed of this plant 

 is extensively used in domestic cockery, and is much 

 esteemed by coufectioners. If it is sown in autumn, 

 the plants will produce seed the next season ; if sown 

 in the spring, not until the succeeding year. 



Coriander. Coriandrum Satiimm. — This plant is 

 an annUfil, and is cultivated for its seed, which is 

 used in some medicinal preparations, and is also cov- 

 ered with sugar for a sweetmeat. 



Fe.v.vel. Anethum Focniculwn. — This plant is con- 

 sidered very wholesome, and the stems, earthed up, 

 are eaten as celery, while the leaves are by some 

 much prized in broths, &c. The seed is a carmina- 

 tive, and has been recommended in diseases of the 

 chest. Fennel can be propagated by sowing or by 

 division of the roots. It is a perennial. * 



Lavender. Lavandula Spica. — This is thought to 

 be the plant from which the spikenard ointment, so 

 precious among the ancients, was prepared. It is 

 among the most powerful stimulants of the nervous 

 system. The distilled oil of this plant is sometimes 

 called Oil of Spike, and is a part of several aromatic 

 compounds. It is propagated by seeds. 



Marjoram. Origanum. — There are two kinds of 

 this plant cultivated in gardens ; pot marjoram and 

 sweet marjoram. It is much used in food to make 

 it more savoury. The seeds may be sown broadcast 

 or in drills, and on the spot where they are to re- 

 main, as they do not well bear transplanting. The 

 best time for sowing is April, or early in May. 



Mint. Mentha. — There are two kinds of this plant 

 cultivated, Mentha Viridis, or Spearmint, and Mentha 

 Piperita, or Peppermint. The spearmint was much 

 used by the ancients. Pliny says, " you will not see 

 a husbandman's board in the country on which all 

 the meats, from one end to the other, are not sea- 

 soned with mint." A sprig of it was thrown mto 



