678 PRACTICE OF GARDENING. Part III. 



strengthening the tone of the viscera in general. As a medicinal plant, it possesses the 

 general virtues of alexipharmics. 



4242. Culture. It is propagated by offsets in autumn, after the plant has done flowering : these, if planted 

 in a deep soil, rather moist, or in a shady situation, will be fit for use the end of the second year. Koots of 

 this age are said to be preferable to those of older plants. 



Subsect. 1 1 . Liquorice. Glycyrrhiza glabra, L. {Lam. III. t. 625. f. 2. ) Diadel. 

 Decan. L. and Leguminosce, J. Reglisse, Fr. ; SUsholz, Ger. ; and Reglizia, Ital. 



4243. The liquorice is a hardy perennial plant, a native of the south of Europe, and 

 introduced into this country in 1562. The roots run very deep into the ground, and 

 creep to a considerable distance, sending up strong herbaceous stalks, four or five feet 

 high ; the leaves are composite, and consist of four or five ovate leaflets terminated by an 

 odd one ; these and the stalks are clammy, and of a dark green. The flowers come out 

 in axillary spikes, of a blue color, in July and August. Stovve informs us, that the plant- 

 ing and growing of licorish began about the first year of Queen Elizabeth. 



4244. Use. It is cultivated on a large scale for the brewers and druggists, and in 

 gardens for the saccharine juice obtained from the root by decoction, and used as an 

 emollient in colds, fevers, &c. 



4245. Propagation and culture. " Licorice is propagated by cuttings of the roots. On account of the 

 depth to which the root strikes, when the plant has room to flourish, the soil should have a good staple of 

 mould thirty inches or three feet in depth. Taking the small horizontal roots of established plants, cut 

 them into sections six inches long ; having traced out rows a yard asunder, plant the sets along each row, 

 at intervals of eighteen inches ; covering them entirely with mould. For the first year, you may cultivate 

 alight crop of lettuce or onions between the rows. During the summer, keep the plot clear from weeds ; 

 and when the subordinate crop comes off, hoe and dress the ground. At the close of autumn, or as a 

 winter dressing, fork or dig between the rows, to stir and refresh the surface ; and cut down the decayed 

 stems." 



4246. Taking the crop. " After three or four years' growth, the main roots will be of a mature size, 

 and fit for consumption or the market. In the course of the following winter, begin to dig them up, open- 

 ing a trench close to the first row, as deep as the roots, then, with the spade, turn out all the roots clean to 

 the bottom j so proceed from trench to trench, and prepare the ground for some other crop." (Aber- 

 crombie.) 



Subsect. 12. Wormwood. Artemisia Absinthium, L. (Eng. Bot. 1230.) Syng. 

 Polyg. Super. L. and Composites, J. Absinthe, Fr. ; Jfermuth, Ger. ; and 

 Assenzio, Ital. 



4247. The wormwood is a perennial plant, well known, and frequent in calcareous 

 commons and by road-sides in England. It rises from two to four feet high, covered 

 with minutely divided hoary leaves. The flowers appear in small pendulous hemi- 

 spherical bunches in August. The whole plant is intensely bitter and aromatic. 



4248. Use. The seeds are used as stomachics, and the herb was formerly much used 

 as a vermifuge. The growth of this plant, Neill observes, " should be encouraged in 

 poultry -walks, it being found beneficial to them. The distillers in Scotland sometimes 

 employ it in place of hops, and for their use, small fields of it are occasionally sown." 



4249. Propagation and culture. By seed, cuttings, or dividing the root : the latter is the easiest mode, 

 and the future treatment may be the same as for rue or hyssop. The sea-wormwood (A. maritima), the 

 Roman {A. pontica), and the Tartarian {A. santonica) are propagated chiefly by cuttings, and may be treated 

 like the common species. 



Subsect. 13. Blessed Thistle. Centaurea benedicta, L. (Zorn. Ic. 122.) Syngen. 

 Polyg. Frustan. L. and Composites, J. Centauree sudonjique, Fr. ; Cardo 

 benedicten, Ger. ; and Cardo santo, Ital. 



4250. The blessed thistle is an annual plant, a native of Spain and the Levant, and 

 introduced in 1548. The leaves are long, elliptical, rough, runcinate, and variously 

 serrated. The calyx is woolly, and the flowers yellow, appearing from June to November. 



4251. Use. An infusion of the leaves is sometimes used as a stomachic, and is said 

 to procure the return of appetite, where the stomach was injured by irregularities. A 

 strong infusion promotes perspiration, and increases all the secretions. It was formerly 

 used in cases of cancer ; but at present is considered of little medical value. 



4252. Culture. The seed is to be sown in autumn, in any light earth, and in a warm situation. Thin- 

 ned and kept free from weeds, the plants will flower the following June and July, and if not gathered, will 

 produce seeds in August and September. Gather the herb when in flower, and take great care in drying 

 it and keeping it in a dry airy place, to prevent its rotting or getting mouldy, which it is very apt to do. 



Subsect. 14. Balm. Melissa officinalis, L. Didyn. Gymnos. L. and Labiat<e, J. 

 Mttisse, Fr. ; Melisse, Ger. ; and Melissa, Ital. 



4253. The balm is a hardy perennial, with square stems, which rise two feet high or 

 more, furnished with large ovate leaves, growing by pairs at each joint. It is a native 

 of Switzerland, and the south of France ; produces flowers of a purplish color from 

 June to October, and was introduced to this country in 1573. There is a variety with 

 hairy leaves. 



4254. Use. It is now little used, unless for making a simple balm-tea, which affords 

 a grateful diluent drink in fevers, and for forming a light and agreeable beverage under 

 the name of balm- wine. 



