1164 



PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS 



SAGE 



rich sandy soil under a bell-glass during 

 the smnmermonths. The rooted cuttiags 

 may be transplanted about a foot apart 

 the following spring, into ordinary good 

 garden soil. 



MINT or SPEARMINT (Mentha 



viRiDis) A well-known perennial herb, 



of the Labiate order (see p. 742), with a 

 creeping rootstock, and nearly stalkless 

 lance-shaped, acute, shining green leaves 

 strongly veined. It is cultivated and 

 highly valued for the tender tops of the 

 shoots, which are used for sauces &c. 

 They may also be dried and stored away 

 in bags for use. 



Culture cmd Propagation. — Mint 

 flourishes in the open air in light garden 

 soil inclining to be rather moist than dry. 

 In cool and partially shaded positions it 

 will last for many years spreading by 

 means of its squarish underground creep- 

 ing stems. The leafy stems should be 

 cut down to the ground every autunon, and 

 a layer of fresh soil and manure placed 

 over them. 



Mint is readily increased by dividing 

 the rootstocks in spring during mild 

 weather when growth has commenced. 

 The divided portions may be planted in 

 rows about 6 to 9 inches from each other, 

 or in beds, and covered with a couple of 

 inches of good soil. It is necessary that 

 each divided portion should have as many 

 roots as possible, as otherwise they are 

 unable to become established quickly from 

 the risk of being killed by spring frosts. 



Cuttings of the tops 3-6 in. long will 

 also root freely during the late summer if 

 inserted about half their length in cool 

 shaded borders or beds 6 to 9 inches apart. 

 If the weather is dry attention must be 

 given to watering, and a good soaking at 

 evening time or very early in the morn- 

 ing will benefit the cuttings and cause 

 them to root more quickly. 



Forcimg Mint. — Where hotbeds or 

 greenhouses exist and can maintain a 

 temperature of about 60° Fahr., Mint 

 may be readily forced from November to 

 May. The roots are lifted, placed in boxes, 

 and covered with fine soil. They are then 

 placed in the heat required and kept 

 watered. The young and tender leafy 

 shoots when from 3 to 6 inches high may 

 be cut for immediate use. 



MUSTARD (SiNAPis alba).— This 

 native annual is often grown to be used 

 with Cress, and is quickly raised from 



seeds in the same way, either indoors 

 or in the open air (see p. 1161), but should 

 be sown 2-3 days later than Cress to 

 come into use simultaneously. It may 

 be mentioned that Rape (Brassica Napus) 

 is frequently grovra instead of Mustard, 

 but exactly in the same way. It is 

 rather milder in flavour and is more 

 appreciated by some. 



PENNYROYAL (MenthaPulegium). 

 A hardy British and European perennial 

 with trailing stems which root freely at 

 the joints. The leaves are roundish oval, 

 slightly hairy, and greyish-green ia. colour, 

 and the pale purple flowers appear in late 

 summer and autumn. The plant belongs 

 to the Labiate Order (p. 742). 



Culture dc. — Pennyroyal is cultivated 

 for its leaves, which are used for flavouring 

 and have a strong and agreeable scent. 

 The plant likes a rather heavier and 

 moister soil than Mint. It is easily 

 increased by dividing the plants in spring, 

 or by inserting rooted pieces of the stems- 

 in the soil. 



PEPPERMINT (Mentha piperita). 

 This is also a British and European per- 

 ennial with trailing branched and reddish 

 stems which root freely at the joints Kke 

 those of Pennyroyal, to which it is 

 closely related, and belongs to the same 

 order (Labiatse, p. 742). The leaves are 

 more or less ovate-oblong, and the purple 

 flowers are borne in loose blunt spikes in 

 late summer and autumn, but do not 

 ripen any seeds. 



Culture dc. — Peppermint may be 

 grown in the same soil and situation as 

 Pennyroyal, and may be increased in the 

 same way by division and cuttings of the 

 rooted stems. 



SAGE (Salvia officinalis). — This 

 well-known herb is a hardy evergreen 

 tufted undershrub, 1 ft. or more high, 

 native of S. Europe. It has woolly white 

 stems, and oval toothed or wrinkled leaves 

 greyish or whitish-green in colour. These 

 are used for seasoning when dried. The 

 purple, blue, or white flowers appear in 

 summer and have the usual characters of 

 the Labiatae order (see p. 742). Other 

 Sages useful for the Flower Garden are 

 described at p. 746. 



Culture and Propagation. ■ — Being 

 found wild on dry chalky hills, the Sage 

 plant will thrive best in a similar soil 

 under cultivation, but flourishes in any 



