SWEET MARJORAM 



Among the Greeks, Thyme denoted graceful elegance of the 

 Attic style and was besides an emblem of activity. "To smell 

 of Thyme" was, therefore, an expression of praise, applied to 

 those whose style was admirable. In the days of chivalry, when 

 activity was a virtue very highly rated, ladies embroidered knightly 

 scarfs with the figure of a bee hovering about a sprig of Thyme. 



The type and its variegated varieties are used as border plants 

 in cultivated grounds; there are also varieties with broad leaves. 



Creeping Thyme, Thymus serpyllum, is common in old gardens, 

 and is prized as an evergreen edging and as cover for rockwork 

 and waste places, for the creeping, woody, branching stems form 

 dense cushions. The species has varied into many forms, whose 

 names appear in the catalogues. All are aromatic. 



According to Danish tradition, on Midsummer Night at twelve 

 o'clock the king of fairy-land with his retinue disport themselves 

 among the beds of fragrant wild Thyme. 



SWEET MARJORAM 



Origanum majorana. 



Origanum, Greek from horos, an elevation or hill, and ganos, 

 beauty — the beauty of the hills — a reference to its native habitaf. 



A perennial herb one to two feet high; 

 hairy, leafy, much branched. Mediter- 

 ranean region. 



Stems. — Many, somewhat woody. 



Leaves. — Small, oval, entire, crowded, 

 sprinkled with resinous dots, pale-green. 



Flowers. — Two-lipped, small, white or 

 pinkish, in crowded, roundish terminal 

 clusters, surrounded by an involucre. 



Seeds. — Very small. 



Sweet Marjoram has a pleasing odor 

 and a warm, aromatic, bitterish taste, 

 which makes it highly esteemed as a 

 seasoning for soups, stews, meat pies, and dressings. In our 

 gardens it must be treated as an annual, because it winter-kills. 



S2I 



Sweet Marjoram. Origanum 

 majorana 



