CHAPTER EIGHTEEN 



THE HERB GARDEN 



Where no vain flower discloses a gaudy streak 



But herbs for use and physic not a few 



Of gray renown, within these borders grew. 



Shenstone. 



TO ATTEMPT to put the herb garden, with all 

 its charm, its fragrance, its folklore and tra- 

 dition and history, its possibilities and its 

 proven delights, into a single chapter, is to attempt the 

 impossible. Much that is of deep interest must be 

 omitted, but I trust to have enough to interest others in 

 this most pleasant and suggestive branch of the gar- 

 dener *s art. 



When the old farmhouse which is now our home came 

 into our possession we found hanging from the roof of 

 the low-browed, dusky attic a number of small paper 

 bags, neatly labelled Hoarhound, Caraway, Catnip, 

 Balm, Sage, Mint, Motherwort, Wormwood, and Mari- 

 gold. When opened, we found them to contain leaves, 

 dry almost to powder, that gave off most interesting 

 and illusive odours. Later we found that, though our 

 neighbourhood is but one hour from New York City and 

 near to several flourishing villages, the old custom of 



