CULINARY HERBS 139 



dry sand is often thoroughly mixed with the seed 

 to prevent too close planting. The proportion 

 chosen is sometimes as great as four times as much 

 sand as seed. Whether sown direct in the field or 

 transplanted the plants should finally not stand 

 closer than 8 inches — lo is preferred. When first set 

 they may be half this distance. In a small way 

 one plant to the square foot is a good rate to follow. 

 The young plants may be set in the field during 

 June, or even as late as July, preferably just before 

 or just after a shower. The alternate plants may 

 be removed in late August or early September, the 

 alternate rows about three weeks later and the final 

 crop in October. 



Thyme will winter well. In home garden practice 

 it may be treated like sage. In the coldest climates 

 it may be mulched with leaves or litter to prevent 

 undue thawing and freezing and consequent heav- 

 ing of the soil. In the spring the plants should be 

 dug, divided and reset in a new situation. 



When seed is desired, the ripening tops must be 

 cut frequently, because the plants mature very un- 

 evenly. But this method is often more wasteful 

 than spreading cloths or sheets of paper beneath 

 the plants and allowing the seed to drop in them 

 as it ripens. Twice a day, preferably about noon, 

 and in the late afternoon the plants should be gently 

 jarred to make the ripe seeds fall into the sheets. 

 What falls should then be collected and spread in 

 a warm, airy room to dry thoroughly. When this 

 method is practiced the stems are cut finally; that 

 is, when the bulk of the seed has been gathered. 



