INTRODUCTION 5 



Chickweed whose stars are not disclosed till 9.15 a.m., 

 ^vheIl they display themselves for exactly twelve hours. 

 Andrew Marvell wrote these pretty lines on this device : — 



How well the skilful gardener drew 



Of flow'rs and herbs this dial new ; 



Where, from above the milder sun, 



Does through a fragrant zodiack run. 

 And, as it works, th' industrious bee 

 Computes its time as well as we I 

 Ho"w could such sweet and wholesome hours 



Be reckon'd but with herbs and flow'rs I 



The Garden. 



The Quarterly for June 1842 quotes this charming 

 description of a garden in which herbs were not dis- 

 regarded. " Quaint devices of all kinds are found 

 here. Here is a sun-dial of flowers arranged according 

 to the time of day at which they open and close. Here 

 are peacocks and lions in livery of Lincoln green. Here 

 are berceaux and harbours, and covered alley and 

 enclosures containing the primest of the carnations and 

 cloves in set order, and miniature canals that carry 

 down a stream of pure water to the 'fish ponds below. 

 . . . From thence (the shrubbery) winds a path, the 

 delicise of the garden, planted with such herbs as yield 

 their perfume when trodden upon and crushed. . . . 

 It were tedious to follow up the long shady path not 

 broad enough for more than two — the ' lovers ' walk." 

 The reviewer himself continues in a less sentimental 

 strain, and his observations make a very proper intro- 

 duction to a book on Herbs. 



" The olitory or herb-garden is a part of our horti- 

 culture now comparatively neglected, and yet once the 

 culture and culling of simples was as much a part of 

 female education as the preserving and tying down of 

 ' rasps and apricocks.' There was not a Lady Bounti- 

 ful in the kingdom but made her dill-tea and diet- 

 drink from herbs of her own planting ; and there is a 



