XXXV. THE AROMATIC HERBS OF THE FARM 
“Excellent herbs had our fathers of old, 
Excellent herbs to ease their pain, 
Alexanders and Marigold, 
Eyebright, Orris and Elcampane, 
Basil, Rocket, Valerian, Rue 
(Almost singing themselves they run), 
Vervain, Dittany, Call-me-to-you, 
Cowslip, Melilot, Rose-of-the-Sun. 
Anything green that grew out of the mould 
Was an excellent herb to our fathers of old.” 
—Kipling (Our Fathers of Old). 
Our great demands upon the plant world are for food, 
clothing, and shelter. Given these essential things, we then 
demand other things for pleasure or adornment. To neces- 
sary plain food, we add flavorings; to textiles, we add dyes; 
to walls and roof, we add decorations; and then we enrich 
our social intercourse with garlands and wreaths and incense. 
We use these things because nature has placed them near at 
hand, and has made us to appreciate them. 
Nature has singularly commingled the bare necessities of 
our existence with the pleasant gifts of her bounty and with 
the things we may not use. They grow together out of the 
same soil, foods and sweets and poisons. Fortunately, our 
instincts guide us in a considerable measure in the choice of 
foods, for what nature has made most pleasing to our palate 
is, in gerleral, most wholesome. There are, however, many 
wholesome plant products that are not at first pleasant to the 
taste, and there are poisonous fruits that are attractive in 
appearance. Nature has put into her plant products an 
endless variety of substances, nutritive, stimulating or 
poisonous, from which we may pick and choose. Moreover, 
she has so mingled these qualities in her products that their 
effect upon us depends upon our use of them. Foods are 
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