52 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDENING. 



to a height of four or five feet, having very 

 ornamental and stately pinnate leaves, and heads of 

 greenish-white inflorescence. The whole plant is 

 highly aromatic. Occasionally the stems are blanched 

 and used in a similar manner to Celery. More 

 frequently, however, the stalks are cut down during 

 the month of May in each year, and are candied for 

 use as a preserve. When well grown, the plant is 

 ornamental besides. 



As its native home is invariably moist lowlands, 

 it thrives best in such a position. Seeds are best 

 sown during the month of August in a drill row. So 

 soon as the young plants are a few inches high, 

 transplant them into rich moist ground about three 

 or four feet apart. The whole of each plant should 

 be cut down to the ground-line annually early in the 

 month of June, when an abundant auccessional supply 

 of young shoots will form. 



'Angelica. 



Anise [Pimpinella anisum). French, Ams;, Qei- 

 man, Anis ; Italian, Anice. — This plant is generally 

 grown in gardens for use in a similar manner to 

 Fennel, and for garnishing, being extensively culti- 

 vated in Spain for distillation, &c. It is an annual 

 plant, originally introduced from Egypt during the 

 middle of the sixteenth century. 



Its culture is simple, though it will not transplant 

 readily. A warm sunny border should be prepared 

 for it, and the seeds sown about May 2oth. Shallow 

 drill rows six or eight inches apart will best suit it, 

 covering the seeds over very thinly. So soon as the 

 young seedling plants are large enough, thin out aU 

 the lesser ones from amongst them, leaving each 

 strong one to be retained, standing free and alone. 



Balm {Melissa officinalis). French, Melisae; Ger- 

 man, Melisse; Italian, Melissa. — The Balm so popular 



in old English gardens, though seldom utilised for 

 purposes for which it used to be grown, nevertheless, 

 as one of the most fragrant of all aromatic plants, 

 is still very generally retained in the herbary. It 

 is a hardy perennial, and a, native of France and 

 Switzerland. To insure a constant supply, it is 

 only necessary to divide the plant each winter or 

 spring into as many parts as necessary, as every 

 division having a few roots attached wUl gTOW most 

 readily. It will thrive in any ordinary garden 

 soil. 



Basil Bush ( Ocymum minimum) . French, Basilic ; 

 German, Basilikmn ; Itahan, Basilica. — This, the 

 Bush Basil, otherwise known as the Least Basil, is an 

 annual plant used much for flavouring, &c. It is a 

 native of the East Indies. Seeds, to produce the 

 annual supply of 'plants, should be sown in pots or 

 boxes during the latter part of the month of March 

 in each year. The young plants therefrom, when 

 sufB.ciently grown and somewhat hardened by 

 moderate exposure, should be transplanted on to a 

 warm sunny site with rich soil, about six inches 

 apart. It is important that a little soil shoiild be 

 maintained around the roots when transplanted, in 

 view of which the young seedling plants may be 

 transplanted when very young into nursery boxes 

 to grow them on, and sufficiently wide apart so to do. 

 They require watering in, and slight shading for a 

 day or two subsequently. 



Basil Sweet {Ocymum Basilicum) is the larger 

 species of these culinary aromatics, and is the species 

 most generally in demand. Like the former, this also 

 is a native of the East Indies, and equally tender, 

 if, indeed, not more so than the former. The culture 

 of this species should resemble that given above. 

 As the leaves of this latter are much larger than the 

 " Bush " variety, it is certainly the most desirable to 

 grow. 



Both are grown until they form and commence 

 showing flowers, which is during the month of 

 June or July,, at which time they are pulled up by 

 the root and dried for winter use. An airy shed, 

 where too much sunshine does not penetrate, is the 

 best place wherein to dry them. 



Borage {Borago officinalis). French, Bourraclie ; 

 German, Boragen ; Italian, Borragine. — Borage is 

 strictly a perennial plant, though its more general 

 habit tmder generous culture often causes its succu- 

 lent growth to die away after the first summer. 

 Its uses are for inserting into cool tankard drinks, 

 for garnishing, and the manufacture of nitre, &c. 

 It is one of the best plants also for growing to 

 aflord bee-food. Its culture is of the very simplest. 



