BASIL 



23 



in the flowering season, with multitudes of small clusters of rosy- 

 white flowers, which agreeably contrast with the intense green of 

 the foliage. 



Compact Green Bush Basil. — The distinctive characteristic 

 of this variety is the very great number of stems and leaves which 

 it produces, causing each plant to present the appearance of a 

 round mass or ball of verdure, close and compact. It is, conse- 

 quently, far better suited for forming ornamental vases or pots of 



'Green Bush Basil Q natural size). Compact Bush Basil. 



greenery than the Common Bush Basil. It develops rapidly, and 

 is generally preferred to all other sorts by market gardeners in the 

 south of France. 



Purple Bush Basil.— A plant of a deep violet colour in all 

 its parts, except the flowers, which are of a lilac-white. It forms a 

 small, very compact, bushy, and leafy clump. 



Compact Purple Bush Basil.— A dwarf form of the Purple 

 Bush Basil ; very bushy and compact, and covered with small 

 purplish bronzy leaves, borne on numerous threadlike stems. It is 

 specially suitable for pot cultivation. 



East Indian, or Tree Basil {Ocymum gratissimum, L.). — The 

 plant which is commonly found cultivated under the name of Tree 

 Basil does not appear to be the true Ocymum gratissimum, L., but 

 rather O. suave, Willd. It is an annual, with an upright stem, 

 branching from the base, and forming a pyramidal bush from 

 20 in. to 2 ft. high, and from i ft. to 16 in. in its greatest diameter. 

 Leaves oblong, pointed, toothed ; flowers lilac, in irregular spikes 

 at the ends of the branches. The plant has an agreeable perfume, 

 but it is late-growing and more suited for a warm climate. 



