The Herb Garden 
Here in my wreath bestowing. 
Then Balm and Mint help to make up 
My chaplet, and for trial 
Costmary that so likes the Cup, 
And next it Pennyroyal. 
Then Burnet shall bear up with this. 
Whose leaf I greatly fancy ; 
Some Camomile doth not amiss 
With Savory and some Tansy. 
Then here and there I’ll put a sprig 
Of Rosemary into it. 
Thus not too Little nor too Big, 
’Tis done if I can do it.” 
Another name for the herb garden was the olitory ; 
and the word herber, or herbar, would at first sight 
appear to be an herbarium, an herb garden ; it was 
really an arbor. I have such satisfaction in herb 
gardens, and in the herbs themselves, and in all 
their uses, all their lore, that I am confirmed in my 
belief that I really care far less for Botany than for 
that old-time regard and study of plants covered by 
the significant name, Wort-cunning. Wort was a 
good old common English word, lost now in our use, 
save as the terminal syllable of certain plant-names; 
it is a pity we have given it up since its equivalent, 
herb, seems so variable in application, especially in 
that very trying expression of which we weary 
so of late- — herbaceous border. This seems an 
architect’s phrase rather than, a florist’s ; you always 
find it on the plans of fine houses with gardens. To 
me it annihilates every possibility of sentiment, and 
it usually isn’t correct, since many of the plants in 
these borders are woody perennials instead of an- 
