WORMWOOD. 333 



aromatic kind : it was formerly much used in pud- 

 dings, but has of late years been neglected, and is 

 now seldom used either as a culinary vegetable or 

 medicinal herb. 



24. TEA SAGE SAL VIA 



Is a native of the south of Europe, a perennial, 

 and readily increased by planting slips or cuttings 

 in April. 



Sage has a strong fragrant smell, and a warm, 

 bitterish, aromatic taste. It was in ancient times 

 considered as a remedy of general efficacy in all 

 diseases : hence the old adage, 



Cur moriatur homo, cui salvia crescit in horto 



Why should a man die, while he has sage in his garden ? 



At present, however, few practitioners consider it 

 as an article of much importance in medicine. 



Although frequently employed as a sudorific, it 

 seems to have no advantage in this respect over 

 many other plants. 



The Chinese, who are said to have experienced 

 the good effect of sage, value it highly, and prefer 

 it to their own tea. The Dutch have long been in 

 the habit of drying sage leaves in great quantities, 

 and taking them out to China, where, for every 

 pound of sage they get in exchange four pounds 

 of tea. 



25. WORMWOOD ARTEMISIA 



Grows wild about dunghills, and on dry waste 

 grounds. It is a hardy perennial, and may be pro- 



