MINT, OR SPEARMINT 



437 



Culture. — This plant is usually propagated by division 

 in spring. It prefers a cool moist soil, and a plantation of it will 

 last for several years, if the stems are cut off close to the ground 

 every autumn, and a layer of good soil or compost placed over the 

 plants. 



Uses. — The leaves and the ends of the shoots are used for 

 seasoning and for Mint sauce, which, in England especially, is 

 considered indispensable for some dishes. 



PEPPERMINT 



Mentha piperita, L. Labiates, 

 French, Menthe poivree. German, Pfeffermiinze. Danish, Pebbermjmte. 



A native of North Europe. — Perennial. — A plant with a creeping 

 stem, which readily takes root. Leaves stalked, oblong or 

 lanceolate-acute ; flowers in a cylindrical-oblong spike and of 

 a red-violet colour. This species does not produce seed. 



Culture. — The Peppermint-plant is grown in the same manner 

 as the Common Mint or Spearmint. Although, in the wild state, 

 it is usually found in parts of meadows which are wet and almost 

 under water, it nevertheless succeeds well in moist, deep garden soil. 

 It is always propagated from cuttings of the stems, which take root 

 with the greatest readiness. 



Uses. — The leaves and stems are sometimes used for seasoning, 

 but they are chiefly employed for the distillation of the essence of 

 peppermint. 



Japanese Mint. — Introduced from Japan, it is very like the 

 Peppermint, but differs from that by its flowers being situated at 

 the axils of its leaves instead of being produced in terminal spikes, 

 and also by being reproduced by seed. Its cultivation is the same 

 as that of the Peppermint, except for the fact that it can be raised 

 from seed. The uses of both are the same. Like the Peppermint, it 

 contains menthol, but in larger quantity. 



PENNYROYAL 



Mentha Pulegium, L. Labiates. 



Menthe pouliot. 



Native of Europe. — Perennial. — A plant with prostrate stems, 

 which readily take root, bearing round-oval, slightly hairy leaves 

 of a gray-green colour. Flowers small, lilac-blue, in rounded 

 whorled clusters rising one above another in tiers on the stem, 

 sometimes to the number of ten or twelve ; seed exceedingly fine, 

 oval, and of a light brown colour. The whole plant gives out a 

 very agreeable odour, which is somewhat more powerful than that 



