52 



CASSELL'S POPULAR GARDEXlXa. 



to a height of four oi' five feet, ha\ing very 

 ornamental and stately pinnate leaves, and heads of 

 greenish-white inflorescence. The whole plant is 

 highly aromatic. Occasionally the stems are blanched 

 and used in a similar manner to Celery. Moie 

 frequently, however, the stalks are cut down duiing 

 the month of May in each year, and are candied for 

 use as a preserve. AATien well grown, the plant is 

 ornamental besides. 



As its native home is invariably moist lowlands, 

 it thrives best in such a position. Seeds are best 

 sown during the month of August in a drill row. So 

 soon as the young plants are a few inches high, 

 transplant them into rich moist ground about three 

 or four feet apart. The whole of each plant should 

 be cut down to the ground-line annually early in the 

 month of June, when an abundant successional supply 

 of young shoots will form. 



'Angelica. 



Anise {PiuipineUa an'mcm). French, Anis; Qer- 

 m.a,n, A>/is ; Italian, Anice. — This plant is generally 

 grown in gardens for use in a similar manner to 

 Fennel, and for garnishing, being extensively culti- 

 vated in Spain for distillation, <tc. It is an annual 

 plant, originally introduced from Egj-pt during the 

 middle of the sixteenth century. 



Its culture is simple, though it will not transplant 

 readily. A warm sunny border should be prepared 

 for it, and the seeds sown about May 25th. Shallow 

 drill rows six or eight inches apart will best suit it, 

 covering the seeds over very thinly. So soon as the 

 young seedling plants are large enough, thin out all 

 the lesser ones from amongst them, lea\nng each 

 strong one to be retained, standing free and alone. 



Balm [Melissa ojjficinalis), French, Melisse; Ger- 

 man, 2[eUsse ; Italian, Melissa. — The Balm so popular 



in old English gardens, though seldom utilised for 

 purposes for which it used to be grown, nsvertheless, 

 as one of the most fragi'ant of all aromatic plants, 

 is still very generally retained in the herbar^'. It 

 is a hardy perennial, and a native of France and 

 Switzerland. To insure a constant supply, it is 

 only necessary to divide the plant each winter or 

 spring into as many parts as necessary, as every 

 division ha^'ing a iew roots attached will grow most 

 readily. It will thrive in any ordinary garden 

 soil. 



Basil Bush. {Ocymuiu minimum). French, Basilic ; 

 German, Ba!<Uikum ; ItaKan, Basilico. — This, the 

 Bush Basil, otherwise known as the Least Basil, is an 

 annual plant used much for flavouring, &;c. It is a 

 native of the East Indies. Seeds, to produce the 

 annual supply of plants, should be sown in pots or 

 boxes duL-ing the latter part of the month of March 

 in each year. The young plants therefrom, when 

 sufficiently grown and somewhat hardened by 

 moderate exposure, should be transplanted on to a 

 warm sunny site with i-ich soil, about six inches 

 apart. It is important that a little soil should be 

 maintained around the roots when transplanted, in 

 A-iew of which the young seedling plants may be 

 transplanted when very young into nursery boxes 

 to gi'ow them on, and sufficiently wide apart so to do. 

 They require watering ia, and slight shadiag for a 

 day or two subsequently. 



Basil Sweet [Oojmum Basilicum) is the larger 

 species of these culinary aromatics, and is the species 

 most generally in demand. Like the former, this also 

 is a native of the East Indies, and equally tender, 

 if, indeed, not more so than the former. The culture 

 of this species should resemble that given above. 

 As the leaves of this latter are much larger than the 

 " Bush " variety, it is certainly the most desirable to 

 grow. 



Both are gTOwn imtil they form and commence 

 showing flowers, which is diu'ing the month of 

 June or July, at which time they are pulled up by 

 the root and dried for winter use. An airy shed, 

 where too much sunshine does not penetrate, is the 

 best place wherein to diy them. 



Borage (^or(7^o officijialis). 'Frendh, BotirracJic ; 

 German, Boragen ; Italian, Borragine. — Borage is 

 strictly a perennial plant, though its more general 

 habit under generous culture often causes its succu- 

 lent growth to die away after the first summer. 

 Its uses are for inserting into cool tankard di'inks, 

 for garnishing, and the manufacture of nitre, kc. 

 It is one of the best plants also for growing to 

 afford bee-food. Its culture is of the very simplest. 



