ROSES IN THE HERB-GARDEN 



17 



sweetness, and are banished in these days, when, 

 owing a good deal to the demands of Flower- shows, 

 size, form, and colour are put before fragrance. 

 Who is going to make a pound of pot-pourri 

 (worth having) out of a whole tentful of fashion- 

 able Roses ? In the Herb-garden we would have the 

 Moss-Rose, the Damask-Rose, and the Cabbage- 

 Rose. The Cabbage-Rose makes the best rose- 

 water, and the Wild-Briar, or Dog- Rose, is one of 

 the most valuable for its curative qualities. Musk 

 is another plant it is difficult to find nowadays with 

 the same lovely scent that once made it so refresh- 

 ing and delightful. We might try to secure some 

 Musk of the right sort, and give that, too, a safe 

 corner in the Herb -garden. And why should we 

 not have Sweetbriar ? If we do, we must re- 

 member it hates formality and confinement. Give 

 it the wildest and most open place ; Sweetbriar 

 makes a good hedge. 



The size and shape of the garden are points which 

 no one but the owner can decide. It may be said, 

 however, that no Herb-garden is too small to be 

 interesting, and none too large to be easily filled. 

 That good old gardener, Parkinson, in the year 

 1656 wrote wisely on this head : * Yet I persuade 

 myself that gentlemen of the better sort and quality 



3 



