INTRODUCTORY 5 



hear about and study, but few would care to grow 

 them in their gardens. Once we exclude the 

 wildings, it is surprising how the long Usts dwindle 

 down. I do allow some of them a footing, and 

 shall have more to say about them by-and-by. In 

 the meantime, plenty of Herbs remain that are both 

 good-looking, uncommon, and useful. Their cultiva- 

 tion offers a wide field of interest and pleasure ; 

 richly do they deserve the comfort and the comph- 

 ment of a place to themselves. 



Modern book-making about Herbs has often 

 consisted in diving into the past and cuUing quaint 

 recipes and verses and sayings from the old poets 

 and Herbalists. Enough of these can easily be 

 found to fill several large volumes. 



There is a great charm about this sort of thing, 

 but I do not think it is exactly what is wanted 

 at the present time. Moreover, it has been done 

 already. In Lady Rosalind Northcote's interesting 

 study. The Book of Herbs, the best old writers 

 have been quoted from, and the use of Herbs in 

 magic, in perfume, and in old-time decoration, 

 heraldry, and ornament, been fully gone into. 

 Dr. Fernie, in his Herbal Simples, has given to 

 the healing use of Herbs the most complete and 

 ample consideration, making his readers see, I 



