CHAPTER IX. 



MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



In the olden times, when barbers exercised the 

 art of phlebotomy, and gardeners were the 

 " cullers of simples " and administrators of phy- 

 sic, medical herbs were much more attended to 

 in private gardens than at present. A few, how- 

 ever, are still found deserving cultivation even 

 in these, while hundreds of acres are dedicated 

 to this article of produce, for supplying the 

 faculty with the majority of them. A consider- 

 able trade is also carried on by itinerant herbal- 

 ists, who find a ready market for those of indi- 

 genous growth. 



Chamomile (AnthemisnobilisL.) belongs to the 

 natural order Composite, sub-order Anthemi- 

 dese, and to the class Syngenesia and order 

 Superflua in the Linnaean arrangement. Indi- 

 genous to many parts of Britain, growing gene- 

 rally in gravelly pastures. There is a double- 

 flowering variety, in general cultivated in gar- 

 dens; it is much more ornamental than the 

 single, but much less efficacious as a medicine. 

 In many parts of England the peasantry have 

 what they call a chamomile seat at the end of 

 their little gardens, which is constructed by 

 cutting out a bench in a bank of earth, and 

 planting it thickly with the double-flowering 

 variety of this plant, on which they delight to 

 sit, and fancy it conducive to health. The flower 

 is also sometimes used in the manufacture of 

 bitter beer, and, along with wormwood, made 

 to a certain extent a substitute for hops. The 

 flowers, which are the only part used of the 

 single-flowering variety, have long been in high 

 repute, both in the popular and scientific Mate- 

 ria Medica, and give out their properties by in- 

 fusion in either water or alcohol. This plant 

 delights in a poor, light, sandy soil, fully exposed 

 to the sun, and is increased by dividing the 

 larger or older plants into small pieces, which 

 will readily grow if small portions of the roots 

 be taken with them. March, April, or May is 

 the proper season for planting, although, with 

 a little care, the operation may be performed at 

 almost any other season. The young plants 

 should be set in rows 8 or 10 inches asunder, 

 giving a little water until they take root; or they 

 may be planted as edgings to walks, or employed 

 to cover a poor barren bank. One plantation 

 will last from five to eight years in a productive 

 state. The flowers should be gathered when 

 fully expanded, choosing a dry day, and, when 



gathered, laid thinly on a piece of clean canvass, 

 in a dry, airy, partially shaded place for a day 

 or two ; afterwards placed in a warm apartment 

 to dry thoroughly ; after which they should 

 be placed in paper bags, or, better, in wide- 

 mouthed glass bottles, tightly corked, and kept 

 for use. 



The French call it Camomille; the Germans 

 and Dutch, Kamille ; the Italians, Camomilla ; 

 the Spaniards, Manzanilla ; and the Portuguese, 

 Macella. 



Hyssop {Hyssopus officinalis L.) belongs to the 

 natural order Labiatse, tribe Satureineae, and to 

 the class Dydynamia and order Gymnospermia. 

 It bears nearly the same name in most of the 

 European languages, which signifies a holy herb, 

 or herb for purifying holy places. From the 

 frequent mention made of it in Scripture, we 

 may infer that it grew wild in Syria and Egypt. 

 It was long in considerable repute as a popular 

 medicine, but its use now in this respect is 

 chiefly confined to domestic administrators. In 

 French and Italian cookery, the tops of the 

 young shoots are sometimes used in soups, but 

 its principal use is for medical purposes. 



It is readily propagated by seed, which should 

 be sown in March or April, upon a dry warm 

 border— the plants to be afterwards transplanted 

 in June or July, either as edgings in small gar- 

 dens, or in rows a foot apart, setting the plants 

 8 inches asunder. It is in general, however, in- 

 creased by cuttings or slips, which should be 

 taken off in April or May, and placed under a 

 hand-glass in a somewhat shaded place. By 

 August or September they will have struck 

 root, and should then be planted out as above. 



The plants bear cutting with advantage, and 

 therefore should be pruned back as soon as the 

 flower spikes, with a portion of the current 

 year's growth, are cut off for drying ; and this 

 should be done when the flowers are abofit ex- 

 panding. Tie them up in small bunches, and 

 dry them as recommended for thyme, &c. The 

 plant delights in a dry soil, and is quite at 

 home when established on top of an old wall — 

 which habitation can readily be secured for it 

 by sowing the seeds between the joints of the 

 stones or bricks. It is called Hysope in French ; 

 Isop in German ; Isopo in Italian ; Hysop in 

 Dutch ; Hisopo in Spanish ; and Hyssopo in 

 Portuguese. 



