HERBS AND AROMA TIC PLANTS. 



127 



In nearly every garden Feverfew (fig. 191) is grown. I have often 

 heard that persons drink an infusion of the leaves, but I have no 

 experience of its value, and probably it may be discarded altogether. 



The Woodruff [Asperula odorata, fig. 192) is a sweet-scented wild 

 plant which ought to be cultivated for the prettiness of its flower, for 

 its hay -like odour, and for the flavour which it imparts to claret-cup. 

 It grows well with me, but some time ago I nearly lost the whole, 

 as a stupid labourer was carefully picking it all out as a useless 



Fig. 191. — Feverfew. Fig. 192. — Woodruff. Fig. 193. — Samphire. 



weed. This is really one of the greatest difficulties with which a 

 cultivator of plants has to contend, as employes destroy the loveliest 

 plants, and only preserve some florist's worthless monstrosity. 



Samphire {Crithmum maritimum, fig. 193) is rarely grown in gardens, 

 although it appears to thrive well at Wallington. When planted, some 

 chalk was sunk in the ground and a little earth spread over, on which 

 the plants grow. It grows wild at Folkestone and on the cliffs of 

 Dover, where persons were formerly suspended by a rope to gather 

 it from the cliffs. Its leaves are pickled to be mixed with salads, to 

 impart to them its peculiar flavour. 



" Half way down 

 Hangs one that gathers samphire — dreadful trade ! " 



Shakspeare, King Lear. 



Our district is deservedly celebrated for its Lavender {Lavendula 

 spica, fig. 194) fields, which are so beautiful when in flower as to be 

 well worth the trouble of any lover of plants to visit from a considerable 

 distance. The peculiar effect of myriads of heads of lavender in flower 



