48 



THE HERB-GARDEN 



whose shoots we watch for are strangers to us ! 

 Few, I imagine, have the least idea what Dill, 

 Coriander, Caraway, or Anise look like when 

 growing. Yet these four aromatic Herbs, although 

 of Eastern origin, do well in English gardens if 

 given a sunny place. They grew quite happily in 

 my breezy garden, where they flowered and went 

 to seed. 



Dill, Anethum graveoleiis, turned out to be a 

 lively-looking upright sort of plant, with umbels of 

 pretty yellow flowers. The taste of the seeds is an 

 odd blend of different spices. The name Dill is 

 said to be derived from a Norse word that means 

 to 'dull,' or from the Saxon verb dilla, to 'lull,' 

 because the seeds are soporific, and used to be 

 given to little babies to make them sleep. 



Dill, for infants, is still in fashion. Our village 

 chemist tells us he is always selling it in ' pennorths ' 

 for mothers to keep their babies quiet with ; but if 

 I set up a still to make Dill- water for them myself, 

 I shall be prosecuted ! In cookery, the leaves may 

 be added to fish or mixed with pickled cucumber 

 to 'give the cold fruit a pretty spicie taste.' Of 

 old it was a favourite herb in magic : 



' Here holy Vervain, and here Dill, 

 ""Gainst witchcraft much availing."* 



