28 THJ5 FAKM. 



Tomatoes may be brought to perfection late in the summer by sow- 

 ing the seed in the open ground the first week in May ; these plants 

 ■will be fit to transplant early in June, and the fruit may ripen in time 

 for preserves, or for catsup. 



Tomatoes may be preserved in a stone or glazed earthen pot, for use 

 in the winter, by covering them with water in which a sufBcicnt quan- 

 tity of salt has been dissolved to make it strong enough to bear an egg. 

 Select perfectly ripe berries, and cover the pot with a plate in such a 

 manner that it presses upon the fruit without bruising it. Previous to 

 cooking these tomatoes, they should be soaked in fresh water for several 

 hours. 



They are also preserved in their fresh and natural state in fruit-cans 

 — an excellent, and now quite common practice. 



Tnrnip. — See Tumip in The Farm. 



Aromatic, Pot, and Sweet Herbs. — Varieties : garden Angelica, anise, 

 sweet basil, borage, garden burnet, caraway, chervil, or the sweet- 

 cicely ; clary, coriander, dill, common fennel,* sweet fennel,* pot mari- 

 gold, sweet-marjoram,* spearmint,* peppermint,* pennyroyal-mint,* 

 common sage,* red sage,* summer savory, winter savory,* tarragon,* 

 common thyme,* lemon thyme.* 



Aromatic herbs are such as impart a strong spicy odor and savory 

 taste ; many of them are used as small pot herbs, and for sauces, stuff- 

 ings, and other uses in cooking. As only a small quantity of these are 

 necessary in private gardens, a by-corner may be allotted for them and 

 such medicinal herbs as may be wanted in a family. 



It may be necessary to explain, as we go along, that there are three prin- 

 cipal descriptive names given to plants, namely, annuals, biennials, and 

 perennials. The annuals being but of one season's duration, are raised 

 every year from seed. The biennials are raised from seed one year, 

 continue till the second, then perfect their seed, and soon after die ; 

 some of these should also be raised every year from seed. The peren- 

 nials may be raised from seed, but when once raised, they will continue 

 on the same roots many years. Those marked * are of the latter de- 

 scription, and may be propagated by suckers, off-sets, cuttings, or part- 

 ing the roots. Those who have not already a plantation of these herbs 

 may sow the seed of any of the different kinds in April or May, in drills 

 about half an inch deep and twelve inches apart, each kind by itself. 

 The plants may afterward be transplanted into separate beds ; or if a 

 drill for each kind be drawn two feet apart, the seed may be sown in 

 them, and the plants afterward thinned out to proper distances, accord- 

 ing to the natural growth of the different kinds of plants. 



"Plants Cultivated for Medicinal and Other Purposes. — Bene, boneset, or 

 thoroughwort; balm,* castor-oil bean, burdock, catnep, celandine, 

 chamomile,* comfrey,* elecampane,* feverfew, horehound,* horsemint,* 

 hyssop,* lavender,* lovage, marsh-mallow,* motherwort,* patience- 

 dock,* Carolina pinkroot,* opium poppy (aii;iual), rosemary,* gar- 

 den me,* bastard saffron, skull-cap, or mad-dog plant; Virginian 

 snake-root, sorrel,* southernwood,* Virginian speedwell,* spikenard,* 

 tari&y,* wormwood.* 



The generality of aromatic, sweet and medicinal herbs mav bp. raisnrl 



