CHAPTER XXIII. 



HERBS, SWEET AND CONDIMENTAL. 



A GREAT variety of plants, medicinal, fla- 

 voring and decorative, are herbs, but we 

 will consider only those used for cookery 

 and usually called "sweet herbs." The very 

 name brings memories of fragrant smeUs. If 

 we cannot all say, " I know a bank whereon 

 the wild thyme grows," yet few who have ever 

 known a garden are unacquainted with the 

 odorous bed of thyme, sage and mint. Al- 

 though there is not such heavy demand for them 

 in this country as in Europe, yet their use is 

 growing, the favorite being sage. 



Sweet herbs may be divided, both as to cul- 

 ture and as to products, into two classes: — the 

 annuals and the perennials: those grown for 

 their foliage, and those for their fruits. All are 

 easily grown and demand little attention, and 

 though they may be bought at any drug store, 

 yet they who have once raised their own herbs find 

 a pleasure in them that they will not like to miss. 

 Annuals and perennials may be grown together 

 and a very little plot of ground is enough to 

 grow them all. Choose a place where they will 

 not interfere with plowing and cultivating and let 

 them stay, planting the annuals in the same place 



198 



