SAGE — SCURVY GRASS. 



145 



SAGE. 



Salvia officinalis. — Sauge, Fr. — Salbey, G-er. 



Is a native of the south of Europe, a perennial, and readily 

 increased by planting slips or cuttings in April. Sage has a 

 strong, fragrant smell, and a warm, bitterish, aromatic taste. 

 It was in ancient times considered as a remedy of general effi- 

 cacy in all diseases. At present, however, few practitioners 

 consider it as an article of much importance in medicine. 

 Although frequently employed as a sudorific, it seems to have 

 no advantage in this respect over many other plants. The 

 Chinese, who are said to have experienced the good effect of 

 Sage, value it highly, and prefer it to their own Tea. The 

 Dutch have long been in the habit of drying Sage leaves in 

 great quantities, and taking them out to China, where for 

 every pound of Sage they get in exchange four pounds of Tea. 

 It is much used in cookery of various descriptions. 



SCURVY GRASS. 



Cochlearia officinalis. — Cranson officinal, Fr. — Loffelkraut, Ger. 



Common on the sea coasts of Europe, and not unfrequent in 

 mountainous countries, far inland. It is biennial, and propa- 

 gated from seed sown in the Spring, or by parting the roots 

 and planting them in a light, moist soil This plant has a 

 warm, acrid, bitter taste, and a pungent, rather unpleasant 

 smell when bruised. It has been considered as one of the 

 most effectual of all the antiscorbutics, when eaten as a salad 

 with Water Cre3s, &c. 



