MARJORAM. 



69 



front to back, if there be severe frost. The earth should be 

 within eight inches of the glass, to keep the plants as near the 

 light as possible. The best sorts are the Early Cabbage and 

 Royal Cabbage. Plant them eight to ten inches apart, each 

 way, and alternately opposite. Give occasional watering, pick- 

 ing off all decayed leaves. If the Winter proves very severe, 

 surround the frame or pit with dry leaves from the woods ; 

 this precaution can nearly always be conveniently adopted ; 

 leaves being everywhere plentiful, a store should always be at 

 hand. In all the southern States, every variety of the Let- 

 tuce is perfectly hardy, and can be grown in perfection from 

 October to May. The varieties of Cos heart freely, if tied as 

 recommended for Endive, and are greatly benefited by that 

 simple operation. 



MARJORAM. 



Origanum. Majorana. — Marjolaine, Fr. — Marjoran^ G-er. 



Sweet Marjoram is a native of the South of Europe. It 

 has a pleasant odor, and a warm, aromatic, bitterish taste. It 

 is used for seasoning soups, and other matters of cookery, and 

 considered a wholesome ingredient, and beneficial in nervous 

 complaints. There are two varieties, the Sweet and the Pot 

 Marjoram ; the former, an annual, and the latter an herba- 

 ceous plant, or a plant that lasts from year to year. 



Culture. — Marjoram seed is of the very smallest descrip- 

 tion, and has to be sown early in April. On ground finely 

 prepared, make a mark along the line with the point of a stick, 

 merely to show where the seed is to be dropped, which do 

 very thinly and evenly, then cover up with the back of the 

 rake. The rows should be ten inches apart. As soon as the 

 plants appear, thin them out to two inches apart. When the 

 plant offers to bloom, cut the stems and dry them in the shade. 



