552 KITCHEN GARDEN. 



which are principally depended upon for the latest 

 crops : these two last -mentioned sorts are most abun- 

 dant bearers ; and if the young beans are gathered as 

 they become fit for table, the plants will be much more 

 productive, and continue in a state of bearing much 

 later in the season, than they will do if any of the pods 

 are allowed to remain for the purpose of ripening their 

 seeds. 



35. LAVENDER. 



Lavandula Spica, our common garden Lavender, is 

 a native of the south of Europe, and highly valued for 

 its fragrant flowers. The use of the distilled water of 

 this plant is well known. Alcohol extracts the virtues 

 of the flowers completely, and elevates in distillation all 

 their odorous parts. The oil, however, on which their 

 virtues depend, is obtained separate, in distillation with 

 water, in the proportion, it is said, of one ounce of oil 

 from sixty ounces of flowers. 



Lavender flowers should be gathered and gradually 

 dried, partly in the sun, and partly in the shade, by 

 being spread upon a mat or sheet, removed out of the 

 sun in' the heat of the day, and placed in it mornings 

 and evenings. 



The spikes should be cut when the flowers on the 

 under, or bottom part, begin to drop their corolla. 



The plant is propagated by dividing it, and planting 

 the slips in March or April. 



36. LEEKS. 



The Leek, Alliwn Porrum, is a biennial : it produces 

 an oblong tunicated root : its leaves are broad and flat, 

 rising and spreading out in opposite directions. 



It is a native of Switzerland, and was introduced in 

 1562. The varieties are 



1. Common. 2. London, or Flag Leek. 



