D. M. Ferry & Co-s Descriptive Catalogue. 



45 



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General Cultural Directions. — Most of the vari- 

 eties thrive best on rich, sandy soil, which should be 

 carefully prepared and well cultivated as the young 

 plants are for the most part delicate and easily choked 

 out by weeds. Sow as early as the ground can be made 

 ready, in drills sixteen to eighteen inches apart; or they 

 may be planted as a second crop — the seed sown in beds 

 in April, and the plants set out in June. Most of them 

 should be cut when in bloom, wilted in the sun, and 

 then thoroughly dried in the shade. 



Anise, (^Pinipinella Atiisiiin). Fr. Anis. — Ger. Anis. 

 — A well known annual herb whose seeds, which have 

 an agreeable aromatic odor and taste, are used for dys- 

 pepsia and colic and as a corrective of griping and un- 

 pleasant medicines. Sow early, and thin to three 

 inches apart in the row. 



Balm, {Melissa officinalis^. Fr. Melisse. — Ger. 

 Melisse. — A perennial herb. The leaves have a fra- 

 grant odor, similar to lemons, and are used for making 

 balm tea for use in fevers, and a pleasant beverage called 

 balm wine. Plant early, and thin to ten inches apart. 



Bene, {Sesamutn I?tdicu7n). Yr.Bene. — Ger. Bene. — 

 Much used at the south, but too tender at the north. 

 The seeds are used for food, and furnish an oil which 

 does not easily become rancid, and is used for softening 

 and whitening the skin. The leaves, if immersed in a 

 tumbler of water, will convert it into a mucilaginous 

 drink very beneficial in cases of cholera infantum, diar- 

 rhoea, etc. Do not plant until settled warm weather, 

 and allow the plants to stand two feet apart. 



Borage, {Borage officinalis). Fr; Bourrach. — Ger. 

 Boretsch.—h. hardy annual, used as a pot herb, and for 

 bee pasturage. The leaves immersed in water, give it 

 an agreeable taste and flavor. Sow in April, and thin 

 to eight inches apart. In some places this becomes a 

 troublesome weed. 



Carav/ay, {Carum carui). Fr. Carvi. — Ger. Ku»t- 

 mel. — Cultivated for its seeds which are used in confec- 

 tionery, cakes, etc., and the leaves are sometimes used 

 in soups. If sown in August, the plants will give a fair 

 crop of seed the next season. Plant in drills, and thin 

 to six inches apart. 



Improved Thick Leaved Dandelion. 



Catnip, {Nepeta calaria). Fr Nepeta. — Ger. 

 Katzenkraut. — A hardy perennial, well known as a 

 valuable mild nervine for infants. The plant should be 

 pulled up by the roots when in full flower, and dried in 

 the shade. The seed may be sown in drills twenty 

 inches apart, either in fall or spring. 



Coriander, {Coriandrumsativtini). Fr. Coriandre. 

 — Ger, Koriander. — A hardy annual, cultivated for 

 its seeds which have an agreeable taste, and are used 

 in confectionery and to disguise the taste of medi- 

 cines. Sow early in the spring, and gather on a dry 

 day, bruising the stems and leaves as little as possible, 

 as when injured they have a disagreeable odor, which 

 they impart to the seed. 



Dandelion, {Taraxacum dens-leo?iis). Fr. Pissen- 

 lit. — Ger. Loivenzahn. — Iviproved Thick Leaved. — 

 Those who only know the Dandelion as the persist- 

 ent weed of our roadsides and lawns, know no more 

 of its real value than one who has only seen the poi- 

 sonous wild parsnip or carrot, knows of the value of 

 these vegetables. The itnproved variety Jtiakes one 

 of the earliest and best greens in cultivation. For 

 this purpose sow early in the spring, on very warm, 

 rich soil, in drills eighteen inches apart ; thin the 

 young plants to five inches in the row, and cultivate 

 well, and they will be fit for cutting the next spring. 

 It is also grown extensively for its roots'; for this pur- 

 pose, sow in September, and cultivate well during the 

 fall and the following season, and the roots will be fit to 

 dig in October. 



Dill, {Anethuvi graveolens). Fr. A neth. — Ger. Dill. 

 — An annual, cultivated for its seeds which have an 

 aromatic odor, and a warm, pungent taste. They are 

 good for flatulence and colic in infants, and are some- 

 times added to pickled cucumbers to heighten the flavor. 

 Sow early in spring, and keep clear of weeds. 



Horehound, {Marrubium vulgare). Fr. Mar- 

 rube. — Ger. Andorn. — A perennial herb, with a 

 strong, aromatic smell, and a bitter, pungent taste. It 

 is a tonic, and enters largely into the composition of 

 cough syrups and lozenges. Will thrive in any soil, but 

 ^s stronger if grown on light, poor land. 



Hyssop, {Hyssopus officinalis). Fr. Hyssope — 

 Ger. Isop. — A hardy perennial with an aromatic fla- 

 vor, and warm, pungent taste. It is a stimulant 

 and expectorant, and is used in asthma and chronic 

 catarrh. The flowering summits and leaves are the 

 parts used. It likes a dry, sandy soil, and the plants 

 should be thinned to eighteen inches apart. 



Lavender, {Lavendula 7'era). Fr. Lavande. — 

 Ger. Wohlriechende spicke — A hardy perennial. 

 Its long spikes are used for the distillation of laven- 

 der water, or are dried and used to perfume linen. 

 The flowers should be picked before fading, and 

 dried quickly. 



Rosemary, {Rosemarinus officinalis). Fr. Ros- 

 marin. — Ger. Rosmarin. — A hardy perennial with 

 fragrant odor, and a warm, aromatic, bitter taste. 

 May be easily raised from seed, but does not reach 



