50 CULINARY HERBS 



Like those classes of society that cannot move 

 with "the four hundred," the herbs are very ex- 

 clusive, more exclusive indeed, than their superiors, 

 the other vegetables. Very fewr members have they 

 admitted that do not belong to two approved fami- 

 lies, and such unrelated ones as do reach the 

 charmed circles must first prove their worthiness 

 and then hold their places by intrinsic merit. 



These two coteries are known 

 as the Labiatse and the Umbel- 

 liferae, the former including the 

 sages, mints and their connec- 

 tions; the latter the parsleys and 

 c^r Row Hand" t^cir relatives. With the excep- 

 cuitivator ^Jq^ Qf tarragon, which belongs 



to the Compositse, parsley and a few of its 

 relatives which have deserted their own ranks, 

 all the important leaf herbs belong to the Labi- 

 atse; and without a notable exception all the 

 herbs whose seeds are used for flavoring belong to 

 the Umbelliferae. Fennel-flower, which belongs to 

 the natural order Ranunculaceae, or crowfoot fam- 

 ily, is a candidate for admission to the seed sodality ; 

 costmary and southernwood of the Compositae seek 

 membership with the leaf faction; rue of the Ru- 

 tacese and tansy of the Compositae, in spit^e of suspen- 

 sion for their boldness and ill-breeding, occasionally 

 force their way back into the domain of the leaf 

 herbs. Marigold, a composite, forms a clique by 

 itself, the most exclusive club of all. It has 

 admitted no members! And there seem to be no 

 candidates. 



