506 
SWEET HERBS. 
it grows, but, in Campbell's Island, covering 
the swampy sides of the hills in such profu- 
sion as to be distinctly visible at the distance 
of a full mile from shore." 
Dr. Hooker, speaking of this plant, makes 
the following remark : —" The specific name 
I have given in compliment to Sir James Ross, 
who during our two days' stay in this island 
brought to me, among many other new plants, 
one most luxuriant specimen of this, having 
three crowns of leaves from one root, and no 
less than seven racemes of flowers ; it was 
between three and four feet high. I much 
regretted the impossibility of preserving it 
whole, and the necessity there was of cutting 
it up into many fragments." 
The plant belongs to the natural order 
Asphodelea; (orLiliacea?); and is a desideratum 
for our gardens. For the annexed sketch, we 
are indebted to the Flora Antarctica; but our 
artist has shown the spike of flowers far too 
much embosomed in the leaves. 
SWEET HERBS. 
Previous to describing the plants which 
are commonly known by the above designation, 
it may be as well to remark that the majority 
of them are natives of the same countries, 
forming, indeed, with allied plants, a marked 
feature in the vegetation of that region. The 
countries in which they thus abound are those 
lying round the Mediterranean Sea; their 
range extending back from its shores, as the 
country is warm, rocky, and suited to their 
growth. Under these conditions the Labiate 
order of plants form a conspicuous part of the 
herbage and dwarf shrubs in that part of the 
world. 
The Spearmint (Mentha viridis) is a 
native of watery places in various parts of 
England, attaining a height of two feet, and 
flowering in August. There is also another 
native plant, found occasionally in similar 
situations (Mentha crispa), which, if in reality 
any thing more than a variety of the above, 
appears to possess the same flavour and 
properties. 
The Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is 
also indigenous in similar situations with the 
two above. It grows about two feet high, and 
flowers in August. 
The Pennyroyal (Mentha Pulegium) is 
also a native of Britain, and found in similar 
places with the others. It is much smaller in 
its growth, the shoots trailing on the ground, 
covered with smooth oval leaves. 
Of these various species of Mint, all are 
grown for medicinal uses, forming the basis 
from which the various distilled mint-waters 
are procured. The first and last are chiefly 
planted for culinary purposes. The propaga- 
tion of all of them is very simple, being gene- 
rally done by parting the roots, either in 
autumn, or as soon in spring as the weather is 
open enough. The border on which they are 
to be planted should be moderately well 
manured, and dug, and the parted roots should 
then be inserted in rows about a foot apart, 
and the plants at the same distance in the 
rows. They should be regularly watered 
until they have made good roots, and should 
also be kept free from weeds at all times. 
In taking the crop for distilling, the plants 
should be allowed to come partially into flower, 
and then on a dry day they should be cut clean 
over, and removed into a shed, or other place, 
for immediate use, as they become speedily 
exhausted for distilling, if allowed to wither 
too much after they are cut. To dry the 
leaves for winter use in the kitchen, it is 
usual to cut the stalks when just in flower, 
tie them in handfuls, and hang them up in a 
shed, where they dry gradually, and are ready 
for use at any period. But a far preferable 
method to the above was described in one of 
the early volumes of the Ga?-dener's Magazine. 
This was to gather the mint or other herbs 
wished to be dried, and strip off the leaves and 
tender points of the shoots, and gradually dry 
them under pressure in small boxes. This 
plan was carried out to a considerable extent 
in the state of New York, especially near 
Albany, and quantities of herbs so cured, and 
done up in sealed envelopes, were sent to 
Covent Garden, where they sold well, in con- 
sequence of the peculiar properties of the 
different herbs being better preserved than by 
the old method. 
As Spearmint is in request in a green state 
as long as lamb is in season, a supply should 
be potted up in pots, pans, boxes, or in any 
other convenient way, so that a proper suc- 
cession may be placed in any vinery, or other 
forcing house, as those previously forced be- 
come exhausted. It is as well to pot up a fresh 
stock every year, as the roots are hardly worth 
keeping after being once forced, and as the 
plants in the natural ground will become too 
thick at the root, and the produce not be strong 
after being three or four years planted, there 
will generally be roots enough to spare for 
forcing. 
The Sage (Salvia officinalis a native of 
the south of Europe, and appears to have been 
introduced before 1597. It forms a dwarf 
shrub, about two feet high, and retains its 
leaves all the winter, although they are some- 
times much cut in very severe weather. ^ It 
flowers in July. There are several varieties, 
as the common green, the red, the small-leaved 
"■reen, and the broad-leaved. The two first 
are generally grown for culinary purposes, the 
others as medicinal plants. 
The Sage prefers a dry warm exposure, 
where it will thrive for many years, although 
in "-eneral the plants become loose and mis- 
