THE HOT-COLD PEPPERMINT 73 



very distinctive, too, less sweet than the scent of 

 Balm, but much more refreshing. 



* The juyce of the gentler tops ' of this Mint, 

 mixed with orange juice and a little sugar, made a 

 favourite conserve. It is recommended by Cul- 

 pepper, who speaks of the plant as Orange Mint. 



Peppermint is one of the most popular Herbs in 

 the garden, for anyone need but pick a leaf and 

 smell it, and at once he knows what it is. If 

 people only knew how good the fresh green leaves 

 are, when bruised and laid upon the aching part to 

 cure nervous headaches, the plant would be liked 

 even better than it is. There is such a curious 

 hot-coldness about Peppermint ; it diffuses warmth, 

 yet with it a strange numbness which is soothing. 

 The flowery tops of all Mints contain a certain 

 portion of camphor. Peppermint is responsible for 

 that modern comfort, menthol — modern to us, that 

 is. The Japanese enjoyed its blessing two hundred 

 years ago, and carried it about in silver boxes 

 hanging from their girdles. Peppermint can easily 

 be distinguished at sight from Spear Mint by its 

 leaves being stalked, also by having a more purplish 

 tinge of colour. 



Water Mint, the commonest of our English 

 Mints, is often spoken of as wild Peppermint, and 



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