A SIXTEENTH CENTURY HERB GARDEN 



H. H. MANCHESTER 



f.-'M'^HE olden-time herb garden here pictured is reproduced 

 f/.-B^p from a hand-colored woodcut in the " Krauterbuch," 

 p ifsffl or " Herb Book," published at Frankfort by Lonicerus, 

 WiT ] W* or Adam Lonitzer, in 1 582. 



The scene is remarkable for several reasons, most important 

 of which is that it shows the comparatively new process of dis- 

 tilling being carried on in the herb garden, for the sake, let us 

 hasten to say, of medicinal purposes. 



The operation is shown in the foreground at the right of the 

 picture. An apprentice is picking over the herbs, which are 

 then being pounded in the mortar by the apothecary who is 

 seated in the center of the picture. At their right may be seen 

 the furnace and various alembics for distilling. The group of 

 men at the left probably represents famous doctors of ancient 

 and mediaeval times. At the extreme left, a woman herb 

 gatherer may be seen with a basket on her head. In the back- 

 ground, a gardener is grafting a tree, while a fountain and vines 

 add to the beauty of the scene. In the right-hand upper corner 

 is pictured a sick room, in order to suggest the use made of the 

 products of the garden. 



While the distilling of some easily vaporized substances 

 was known to the Greeks, the distilling of alcohol and essences 

 was developed by the Arabians. As late as 1 500 Hieronymus 

 Brunschwig, or Henry of Brunswick, published a book in which 

 he described "the new art of distilling simples." 



This process was carried on particularly by the apothecaries. 

 Pharmacy and medicine had become separated during the 



Middle Ages, and the pharmacists attended to the preparation 

 of the remedies. Since many of the herbs used could not be 

 found readily enough in a wild state, each good apothecary 

 was supposed to raise them in an herb garden of his own. This, 

 of course, was only an extension of the practice of raising simples, 

 carried on previously not only by the physicians, but by the 

 Benedictine monks and others. 



But the work of Lonicerus was much more than simply a 

 description of medicinal herbs. It pictured, described, and gave 

 the medicinal properties of practically all the trees, shrubs 

 and plants considered of importance at the time. An 

 importation from America, Tobacco, is described, and in ex- 

 planation a picture is added showing an Indian smoking a large 

 roll of Tobacco longer than his head. 



The work contains the English name in addition to the Latin 

 and German for each species. This makes it possible to give a 

 very interesting list of the better-known shrubs and plants culti- 

 vated at the time either for their beauty or medicinal properties. 

 These are given in the order followed in the book, with the old 

 English spelling preserved: 



Buck-thorn, Haw-thom, Sweet bryer, Rose, Berberre, Elder, Ash-tree, Jujubes, Arbute-tree, Sumach, 

 Sycomore, Acacea, Cedar. Myrtle-tree, Cotton Plant, Cubebs, Sarsa Parilla, Balsam tree, Tree 

 Moss, Misseltoe, Asphodee, Burdock, Saffron, Artichoke, Foxglove, Mandrake, Orlander or Rose- 

 bay, Coriander, Poppy, Anemone or Emony, Columbine, Centory, Chrysanthemum or Gold knap, 

 Ox-eye, Marigold, Trefoil, Hore hound, Catmint, Spear mint, Water cresses, Penny-royal, 

 Marjoram, Organy, Thymus or Time, Hysop, Sage, Rosmary, Lavender, Spicknard, St. John's 

 Wort, Daisy, Gentian, Cowslip, Worm wood, Tansie, Marigold, Snap-dragon, Holy hoks, Marsh 

 mallows. Horse radish, Crowfoot, Laurel, Water lilly, Violets, Hearts ease. Larks-spur, Lilly of 

 the Valley, Carnations, Peony, Winter green, Jacinth or Hyacinthus, Daffodils, Hops, Bittersweet, 

 Wood-bine or Honey Suckcles, Saxifrage, Fern, Colts foot. Hemlock, Yarrow, Madder, Pease, 

 Lilly, Flower de Luce, Flag, Saffron. Golden Rod. Tulip, Tobacco, Sun flower 



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