508 
SWEET KERBS. 
sown in pots and placed on a hotbed in March 
or April. They should be potted off into 
small pots, in light rich soil, as soon as the 
plants are large enough to handle, replaced in 
heat, and gradually hardened off as the warm 
weather approaches, so that they may be 
turned out into a warm rich border early in 
June, or sooner if possible. Water and shade 
them for a day or two, keep them clear of 
weeds, and continue to water should the 
weather prove very dry. They will soon 
afford leaves and tops for use, and pull the old 
plants for drying as soon as they begin to 
flower. 
The Tarragon {Artemisia Dracunculus) 
is a native of Siberia, but has been in cultiva- 
tion here since the middle of the sixteenth 
century. It is a rather strong growing pe- 
rennial plant, rising nearly two feet high, 
with narrow green leaves. The young leaves 
and shoots are used in soups, pickles, salads, 
&c. ; more so on the Continent than here. 
It is easily propagated by slips, or divisions 
of the root, and prefers a free loamy soil. 
The Tansy {Tanacetum vnlgare) is found 
wild in many parts of Britain, especially on 
the sandy and gravelly banks of streams and 
rivers. It is a strong growing perennial 
plant, attaining a height of three feet, the 
stems clothed with finely cut leaves, sur- 
mounted in July with corymbs of golden 
yellow flowers. Besides the common form 
of the plant, there is the curled leaved, and 
the variegated, both rather ornamental in 
shrubbery borders. It was formerly much 
used in puddings, cakes, and also in domestic 
medicine. It can be abundantly propagated 
in the same way as the last. 
The Common or Pot Marigold {Calendula 
officinalis) is a native of the South of Europe, 
and was introduced in 1573, or before. It 
is an annual, much branched plant, the ends 
of the branches being terminated by large 
yellow flowers, which are produced nearly 
all the year round, the plants standing through 
our ordinary winters, and flowering early 
in spring. It is now more grown for orna- 
ment than for any culinary use, although for- 
merly highly prized, the flowers in particular, 
fresh in soups and other dishes, and dried 
as an article of medicine. It sports greatly 
from seed, the flowers varying from single 
to very double, and also occurring in a pro- 
liferous state, similar to the hen and chickens 
daisy. The colour also varies through all 
the shades from light yellow to deep orange. 
Its culture is very simple ; indeed where once 
introduced it generally maintains its ground, 
seeding freely, and sending up repeated crops 
of young plants. 
The Borage {Borago officinalis) is a 
plant reputed a native of this country; but 
having been formerly held in high estimation 
as an ingredient in cool tankards, and as a 
medicinal plant, and also being generally 
found near old buildings, or in garden ground, 
it appears more likely to be only an intro- 
duced plant, and not a true native. It is 
generally found in most gardens, although 
seldom used now, but deserves a place for the 
beauty of its bright blue flowers. It may be 
almost left to propagate itself; for, like the 
last, it sheds its seed in such abundance, 
that more attention is generally required to 
keep it under as a weed, than to encourage 
its growth by any cultural appliances. 
The Costmart or Ai.ecost {Balsamiita 
vulgaris) is a plant allied to the tansy, a native 
of Italy, and introduced to England in 1568. 
It is a perennial plant, growing three-feet 
high, with ovate leaves, and yellow flowers, 
which expand in August. On the Continent 
it is used in salads ; and in this country was 
formerly an ingredient, like borage, in cool 
tankards. It may be considered as entirely 
out of use here as a culinary plant. It is 
easily propagated in the same way as mint, 
but prefers a drier soil. 
The five last described plants can hardly 
be considered as sweet herbs in the common 
meaning of the phrase, but being more or 
less of an aromatic or sweet flavour, and not 
much used in medicine at the present day, 
range tolerably well with those plants here, 
as they generally do in the garden. 
The directions for culture given are not 
very long, but one routine applies to all the 
perennial sorts ; perfect freedom from weeds 
during summer and autumn, and a good dig- 
ging in winter or spring, adding at such time 
a coat of dung. They should all of them be 
renewed every four or five years at farthest; 
so as to always have them in good health and 
luxuriance. 
CASTILLEJA LITHOSPERMOIDES. 
(Humboldt, Bonpland, and Kunlh.) 
THE LrrHOSPERMUM-LTKE CASTILf.EJA. 
This is a handsome herbaceous perennial 
plant, not hardy, but requiring the protection 
of a frame during winter, as it is liable to 
suffer from the dampness of our climate. It 
is a dwarf somewhat branching plant, growing 
from a foot to a foot and a half high, and hav- 
ing lanceolate-linear leaves, and dense spikes 
of flowers terminating the branches. The 
flowers are greenish white, and inconspicuous, 
but they are copiously surrounded by large 
leafy bracts, the upper half of which is of a 
bright deep scarlet, and gives the plant a very 
showy character. It is found in Mexico, near 
Real del Monte and Moran ; also in Quito, 
