68 CULINARY HERBS 



The dwarf species is more compact, branching 

 and dainty than the common species. It has three 

 varieties; one with deep violet foliage and stems and 

 lilac white flowers, and two with green leaves, one 

 very dense and compact. 



East Indian, or Tree Basil (0. gratissimiim, Linn.), 

 a well-known species in the Orient, seems to have a 

 substitute in O. suave, also known by the same popu- 

 lar name, and presumably the species cultivated in 

 Europe and to some extent in America. It is an up- 

 right, branching annual, which forms a pyramidal 

 bush about 20 inches tall and often 15 inches in 

 diameter. It favors very warm situations and tropi- 

 cal countries. 



Cultivation. — Basil is propagated by seeds. Be- 

 cause these are very small, they are best sown in 

 flats under glass, covered lightly with finely sifted 

 soil and moistened by standing in a shallow pan of 

 water until the surface shows a wet spot. When 

 about an inch tall, the seedlings must be pricked 

 out 2 inches apart each way in larger-sized flats. 

 When 3 inches tall they will be large enough for the 

 garden, where they should be set i foot asunder 

 in rows 15 to 18 inches apart. Often the seed is 

 sown in the mellow border as early in the spring 

 as the ground can be worked. This method de- 

 mands perhaps more attention than the former, 

 because of weeds and because the rows cannot be 

 easily seen. When transplanting, preference should 

 be given to a sunny situation in a mellow, light, 

 fertile, rather dry soil thoroughly well prepared 

 and as free from weeds as possible. From the start 



