THE MAKING OF HERB-BEDS 155 



very often not to be found when wanted ; and 

 if they are, time and patience are probably 

 exhausted in hunting them up when wanted in 

 a hurry for flavouring. Quite a pleasing feature 

 might be made in even a small garden of the herbs 

 were they only brought together and arranged in 

 order. The best position for herbs is in beds, and 

 these may be made from two or four feet wide, with 

 foot alleys between them, and the length at the 

 least one-third more than the width. This disposi- 

 tion in beds is so much more convenient and better 

 in appearance than rows at regular intervals, which 

 remind one more of herb-growing for medicines or 

 perfumes, not of gatherings and snippings for 

 culinary purposes. In small gardens one entire 

 bed will not be needed for any one herb, and 

 in them several may be grown together in one bed, 

 such for instance, as common and lemon thyme, 

 pennyroyal, and marjoram in one ; fennel, sage, 

 and tarragon in another ; and basil, summer savory, 

 and golden purslane together. Mint should have a 

 bed to itself, as mint sauce is always in demand, and 

 almost everyone likes it with lamb and for flavour- 

 ing peas. Chervil, too, is often required for salads. 

 Some may also desire to reserve a bed for angelica, 

 for the luxury of its young shoots candied in sugar. 



