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The Garden Magazine, November, 1921 



two or three are of much value. Spearmint, known also as 

 Lamb-mint in England where it is an invariable accompaniment 

 of roast lamb, is the most usual of this family. It is excellent 

 for flavoring dried, and adds a piquant touch to green peas as 

 well as soups and stews. Formerly the life of the nearly obso- 

 lete mint julep, it now lends flavor to milder summer drinks; 

 also it is the basis of a most delectable jelly made by Scotch 

 housewives. 



Peppermint is an invaluable remedy, crushed and used 

 as a poultice, or steeped, for certain forms of indigestion; it 

 is one of the potent harmless remedies that should be always 

 at hand along with Catnip, or Catmint, which is a sort of cure- 

 all for ailing cats as well as humans. 



Bergamot, another Mint, brightens many of our gardens with 

 brilliant crimson blooms — there is also a white variety — and 

 was much in fashion in Great-grandmother's time when nose- 

 gays were carried to church to smell by way of making the two- 

 hour sermon smacking of brimstone tolerable. In these nose- 

 gays, Southernwood, variously known as Lad's Love and Old 

 Man, vied with Bergamot and Rosemary. 



Horehound, Tansy, Camomile, Wormwood, and Rue are 

 bitter herbs — Wormwood with the possible exception of Rue, is 

 the bitterest known and is the basis of absinthe. Bitters and 

 tonics are often compounded from these plants Wormwood is 

 useful in keeping away moths, and Rue should be planted in 

 poultry yards as it is a recognized poultry remedy. Hore- 

 hound is invaluable for winter coughs. 



IN REGARD to kitchen herbs, there are a number which 

 are used for garnishing and giving pungency to salads. 

 Parsley and Chervil are closely related; then there is Chicory, 

 and Chives, the refined little cousin of the Onion. Chives are 

 excellent border plants; the tender tops being sheared off as 

 needed for use in soups or salads. Water Cress and Land Cress, 

 known as Pepper Grass, have many kitchen uses; they are es- 

 pecially valuable in spring when the salts which they contain 

 are much needed by the sluggish system which has been over- 

 loaded with rich food through the winter. Water Cress is rep- 

 uted to contain iron supposed to make it helpful to rheumatic 

 patients. This is the true Nasturtium, but the name has been 



transferred in popular parlance, because of similarity of peppery 

 taste to the Tropaeolum which has its place among the vege- 

 tables as well as in the flower garden, for the spicy leaves are ex- 

 cellent for salads when combined with blander material, or as 

 sandwiches. The seeds are used in making a relish, or pickled 

 as a substitute for capers; and the flowers, each filled with a 

 rounded ball of cottage cheese, are very dainty and appetizing. 



IN THE drying and storing of herbs great care should be taken, 

 for unless this work is properly done the flavor and keeping 

 qualities are apt to be impaired. In the case of herbs whose 

 leaves are to be saved, gathering should always be done in the 

 middle of a fine, dry day just before bloom commences, for the 

 sap is up then; or if seeds are to be gathered the best time is just 

 before they are ready to fall, that is before they are fully ripe. 

 If left too long many are lost by scattering and the flavor is not 

 so strong when they remain on the stalk until over ripe. 



Place the leaves of such herbs as Catnip, Sage, Thyme, Hore- 

 hound, and Mint to dry in a cool place away from the direct 

 sunlight; if dried in the hot sun the strength is drawn out. When 

 perfectly crisp the leaves may be powdered and stored in wide- 

 mouthed, well-corked bottles. Mint and Parsley may, of 

 course, be similarly treated, but they are to be had outdoors 

 until late and a small pot of each in a sunny kitchen window is a 

 joy all winter. 



Housewives of Continental Europe understand the process of 

 blending different herbs, and some very old books go rather 

 deeply into the subject; experimentation in this fine kitchen art 

 would undoubtedly reveal new and desirable flavors. 



Another use of herbs is the "sweet jar" in combination with 

 rose leaves or other flower petals. A pot-pourri is a constant 

 delight through the winter. There are many formulas for 

 compounding these jars, according to the dominating odor 

 desired. 



No portion of the garden will afford more real pleasure than 

 the little herb plot, while the taller growing aromatic herbs 

 placed judiciously among the flower borders give just the note 

 of gray-green color needed to set off flowers whose foliage is not 

 plentiful. Finally, they draw the bees, particularly the great 

 bumblebees, which every garden needs to make it complete. 



WINTER PANSIES 



LOUISE DRISCOLL 



THE dancing wind in my garden, 

 Flinging her skirts of snow, 

 Pirouettes over the pansy bed 

 That is hidden, safe and low. 



COVERED with little quilts of straw 

 Away from the winter skies, 

 While the wind is dancing above 

 They mix their wonderful dyes. 



OH, NEVER a ship from Tyre 

 That sailed on the middle sea, 

 Had purple and gold more precious 

 Than pansies find for me! 



AND when I see the bluebird 

 l\ Come by on iris wings, 

 And when, on my bare plum tree, 

 The first song sparrow sings, 



I'LL lift the woven blanket 

 That sheltered them from cold, 

 And watch the delicate, humpbacked, 

 Fragile buds unfold. 



THE whirling wind in my garden 

 Plays with a scarf of snow, 

 She dances over the pansy bed 

 That is hidden, safe and low. 



