MEDICINAL HERBS. 



333 



ferred by the Chinese to their own tea, that they willingly 

 exchanged two boxes of it for one of sage. 



Southernwood, {Artemisia Abrotanwn^) is a hardy ever- 

 green, with fragrant, finely-divided leaves, nearly allied to 

 wormwood, both being species of the same genus, and 

 similar as to medical properties. Like that, it has a grate- 

 ful odor, but it is not much used in medicine from its 

 nauseous taste. As an ornamental evergreen, it is worth 

 cultivating. 



For culture, see " Hyssop." 



Tansy, (Tanacetum vulgare,) is a hardy, Composite- 

 flowered perennial, a native of Europe, long cultivated 

 in gardens. It was formerly used to give flavor to pud- 

 dings and omelets. 



Its medicinal properties are tonic and stomachic. It is 

 also a vermifuge. It was formerly of very general use in 

 the preparation of alcoholic bitters. 



Divide the roots, and set out a few slips in autumn or 

 spring. After it is well rooted, be careful you do not get 

 too much of it. There are two varieties, the common 

 and the curled. 



Wormwood, (Artemisia Absinthium,) is a native of 

 Europe, and is a hardy, Composite-flowered perennial, 

 cultivated much in gardens. Its odor is strong and fra- 

 grant, and its taste aromatic, but intensely bitter. It is 

 cultivated for the tops or extremities of the branches. Its 

 properties are tonic and diuretic, and it is a vermifuge. 



Wormwood likes a calcareous soil, and may be raised 

 either by cuttings, seeds, or dividing the roots. Culti- 

 vated same as hyssop, the roots being eighteen inches apart. 

 A dry, poor soil is necessary to bring out the peculiar 

 virtues of this plant. 



Roman Wormwood, (A. JPontica,) is less nauseous than 

 the preceding, and generally preferred. 



