MEDICACEOUS HERBS. 



693 



all the indigenous species, and those which are edible, and those which are 

 poisonous, particularly pointed out. See also Descrizione dei Funghi Man- 

 gerecci piu comuni dell' Italia e de velenosi che possono c omedesimi confon- 

 dersiy del Dottor Carlo Vittadini. Milano^ 1835. 



Sect. XII. — Odoraceous Herbs. 



1581. 77ie odoraceous herbs, or perfumery herbs, cultivated in British 

 gardens in the present day, are, with the exception of lavender and pepper- 

 mint, applied to very little use. 



1582. The lavender, Lavandula spica L,, is a labiaceous under-shrub, a 

 native of the South of Europe, a few plants of which are cultivated in every 

 garden for their powerfully aromatic flowers. These are gathered with a 

 portion of the stalk attached, and tied up in little bundles, dried, and 

 placed among linen to perfume them and to deter the moth. They are also 

 used for scenting rooms, wardrobes, and for a variety of similar purposes, 

 and for affording by distillation lavender-water. It is propagated by seeds 

 or cuttings, and thrives best on dry calcareous soils, in which it will last five 

 or six years. L. latifolia Ehrh., and L. viridis Herit., are cultivated in 

 some gardens instead of the common sort, or along with it. 



1583. The rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis L., is a labiaceous evergreen 

 under-shrub, a native of the south of Europe, and like the lavender highly 

 aromatic. The flowers are used like those of the lavender, and for distilling 

 Hungary-water ; and the sprigs are sometimes used as a garnish. It is 

 readily propagated by seeds or cuttings in dry calcareous soil, and a plant 

 will last six or seven years. 



1584. The peppermint. — Mentha piperita L., is a labiaceous creeping- 

 stemmed perennial, a native of England in watery places. Its only use is 

 for distilling peppermint- water, for which purpose it may be propagated like 

 the mint (1567), and planted in a soft, rich soil, moist either naturally or by 

 art. The stalks are gathered when they are in full flower, and taken at 

 once to distil. The plantation, from its travelling-roots, requires to be 

 renewed every four or five years. 



Sect. XIII. — Medicaceous Herbs. 



1585. The medicinal herbs enumerated in this section, are still found in 

 a number of gardens, though very little use is made of them. 



1586. The medicinal rhubarb, Rheum palmatum L., may be cultivated 

 like the tart rhubarb, and after standing three or four years, the plants 

 may be taken up and their larger roots dried for use. After taking up 

 and cleaning the roots and cutting off the lateral fibres, cut them into sec - 

 tions an inch or more in thickness, make holes in them, and string them, 

 and hang them up to dry in an airy loft, laundry, or kitchen, gradually, till 

 the}^ are fit for being bruised into a powder, or cut into pieces about the size 

 of peas, to be taken as pills. Till about the commencement of the present 

 century, it was customary for almost every gardener in Scotland to grow 

 enough of rhubarb, and of chamomile, for his own family ; and also, if he 

 had children, a certain quantity of wormwood and rue as anthelmintics. 



1587. The chamomile, Anthemis nobilis L., is an anthemideous creeping 

 perennial, a native of England in gravelly pastures, and cultivated for its 

 flowers, which are bitter and stomachic, and much used as chamomile tea. 



1588. The wormwood, Artemisia Absinthium L., is an anthemideous 



