SPIKE OIL. 



Stoechcis and no other species of Lavender. Because it 

 smells like A'ardus Iiidica it was named JCardus Italica 

 or Pseudo-A'ardus^ and in Spain it is still honoured b\' 

 the name of "Romero Santo" or Blessed Rosemar\'. There 

 the-\' extract from it an ethereal oil for household pur- 

 poses by hanj^ing fresh plants upside down in bottles, 

 iirmly closed and placed in tlie sun. .\. mixture of oil 

 and 'water collects at the bottom of the bottle, and this 

 is used to heal breakings-out on the skin, to wash \vounds 

 and to stop bleeding. From Lavcnuhda vera, wliich 

 grows at a higher elevation, the finer Lavender oil is 

 made, and out of the Lavandula spica, which grox^'S at 

 a lower altitude, the Spike oil is extracted. 



In earlier times they used to call all Lavender oils 

 b^' the name of Spike oil. The Abbess Hildegarcle recom- 

 mended them for making e^•e lotions, and the dried tlowcrs 

 were made into aromatic pillows fortJie health\' as well 

 as for the sick. In the si.xteenth centur^■ no cottage 

 garden was \\ithout Lavender. The small-lea\ed species. 

 Lavandula officinalis, was the most usualh- met with. 

 At this time it was a common custom to place dried 

 heads of Lavender and dried petals of the Kosa Ceiiii- 

 folia in vases in alternate la\'ers and strew salt and 

 spices in between. This mixture was called ••Potpourri", 

 and was a favourite incense, for in winter it was put 

 on the hot stove and filled the room with an agreeable 

 and delicate odour. 



One day on the road to Aga}' some women were 

 walking in front of us carr\ung on their heads loads of 

 Thyme which the\- had gathered on the hillsides of the 



