M E N 
thirty years, in which time I have not obferved 
them to change from one to another ; feveral of thefe 
I have propagated by feeds, and have found them 
keep to the kind from which the feeds were faved. 
The nr ft fort is what the gardeners cultivate to fup- 
ply the markets, and is ufed both as a culinary herb, 
and for medicine 5 it is generally called Spear Mint, 
and by fome Hart Mint ; Parkinfon and Gerard title 
it Roman Mint •, this is a plant fo well known, as to 
need no defcription. There are two varieties of this, 
one with a curled leaf, and the other has variegated 
leaves, but both thefe I have had run from the com- 
mon fort •, thefe are by fome preferved in their gar- 
dens for the fake of variety, therefore I have mention- 
ed them here. 
This herb is greatly efteemed for all diforders of the 
ftomach, lofs of appetite, and vomiting •, there is a 
fimple water, a fpirit, and compound lyrup, and a 
diftilled oil of it prepared in the fhops. 
The fecond fort hath fmoother leaves than the firft, 
and they are rather narrower, in other refpefts it 
agrees with that, fo that it is frequently cultivated in 
the gardens for ufe, without diftin&ion. 
The third fort grows naturally in England *, the 
leaves of this are fhorter, and broader in the middle 
than either of the former, the ferratures on their 
edges are more acute, and their under Tides are wool- 
ly, and very white. The ftalks divide more toward 
the top, fo are terminated by a greater number of 
fpikes, the lower part of which are interrupted. 
The fcent of this fort is very like that of the Gar- 
den Mint. 
The fourth fort hath longer and broader leaves than 
either of the former, which are woolly and white. 
The ferratures on their edges are farther alunder, and 
are very fharp pointed ; they fit clofe to the ftalks, 
which are hairy. The fpikes of flowers are {lender, 
feveral of them growing together at the top of the 
ftalk, which are hairy. This is the Mentaftrum, or 
wild Mint of the fhops, and is an ingredient in the 
Trochifci de Myrrha. 
The fifth fort grows naturally in moift places in feveral 
parts of England, it is titled Spiked Horfe Mint, or 
Water Mint. The ftalks of this are fhorter than 
thofe of either of the former, and are hairy, as are 
alfo the leaves, which are oval, fpear-fhaped, fawed 
on their edges, and of a pale colour. The flowers 
grow in fhort thick fpikes at the top of the ftalks, 
their (lamina being fhorter than the petal. 
The fixth fort is found growing naturally in fome 
parts of England ; I have found it by the fide of the 
river between Mitcham and Croydon, in Surry •, this 
hath fmooth purple ftalks *, the leaves are fmaller 
than thofe of common Mint •, they are fpear-fhaped, 
fawed on their edges, and of a darker green colour 
than either of the former ; their midrib and veins are 
purple, and a little hairy on their under fide. The 
fpikes of flowers are fhorter and thicker than thofe of 
the common Mint, and are broken or interrupted at 
the bottom •, they are of a dark purple colour, and 
their (lamina are longer than the petal. The whole 
plant has a hot biting tafte like Pepper, and a plea- 
fant fcent. There is a diftilled water of this plant 
kep : in the fhops, which is by moft people preferred 
to that of the common Mint, for all the purpofes 
which that is ufually prefcribed, and is efteemed an 
excellent remedy againft the ftone and gravel. 
The feventh fort was originally brought from Den- 
mark, where it was thought to grow naturally, but 
Dr. Linn$us fixes it as a native of Siberia. The 
ftalks of this fort are hairy, and rife about the fame 
height with the common. The leaves are heart- 
Ihaped, deeply indented on their edges, waved and 
curled, and fit clofe to the ftalk, they are of a light 
green. The flowers are purple, growing in thick 
interrupted fpikes at the top of the ftalks 5 their 
empalements are cut almoft to the bottom, and the 
ftyle of the flower is bifid, ftanding out beyond 
the petal. 
The eighth fort grows naturally in many parts of 
M E N 
England ; this rifes with a flrong, four-cornered, hairy 
ftalk, about the fame height as the common Mint, 
branching out toward the top, and garnifhed with 
oval rough leaves fitting clofe to the ftalks j they are 
of a dark green, andcrenated on their edges. The 
fpikes of flowers grow in clufters at the top of the 
ftalks, which are fhort and clofe ; the flowers are of 
an herbaceous white colour, and their ftamina are 
ftretched out beyond the petal. 
The ninth fort is commonly called Orange Mint, 
from its fcent, which is fomewhat like that of the 
rind of Orange. This rifes with an upright fmooth 
ftalk about the fame height with the common Mint, 
but does not branch out like that j the leaves are 
much broader than thofe of the common fort ; the in- 
dentures on their edges are deep, and they end in 
acute points. The fpikes of flowers grow in clufters 
on the top of the ftalks, which are interrupted •, they 
are of a pale colour, and their ftamina are fhorter than 
the petal. It is commonly cultivated in gardens for 
its pleafant fcent. 
The tenth fort grows naturally at Aleppo, but is 
hardy enough to thrive in the open air in England. 
This hath {lender four-cornered ftalks, which are pur- 
ple at bottom, but woolly upward, feldom branching ; 
they are garnifhed with oblong indented leaves, which 
are downy on both fides, fitting clofe to the ftalks. 
The fpikes of flowers are Angle, and very (lender ; 
thefe do not often appear in England, bill when they 
do it is late in the fummer. It creeps much at the 
root, fo the only way to obtain flowers, is to confine 
their roots in pots. 
The eleventh fort grows naturally in ditches in moft 
parts of England, and is commonly known by the 
name of Water Mint. This hath hairy ftalks about 
a foot high, which branch toward the top, and are 
garnifhed with oval fawed leaves, ftanding upon 
pretty long foot-ftalks. The flowers grow in round- 
ifh fpikes at the end of the branches j they are 
of a purple colour, and their ftamina are longer 
than the petal. The whole plant has a very ftrong 
fcent, fomewhat like that of Penny Royal. This 
fort is fometimes ufed in medicine, and is reckoned 
hotter than the Garden Mint : it is carminative, ex- 
pelling wind out of the ftomach, and helping the 
cholick. 
The twelfth fort grows naturally in ditches in feveral 
parts of England the ftalks of this are purple, 
fmooth, and fhort, branching out on every fide ; the 
leaves are fmall, fpear-fhaped, of a dark colour ; 
they are but (lightly fawed on their edges, and ftand 
upon fhort foot-ftalks. The flowers grow in round- 
ifh heads on the top of the ftalks, they are purple, 
and their ftamina are longer than the petal. This fort 
has a warm biting tafte, but not quite fo hot as the 
Pepper Mint before defcribed, but is often ufed for 
it. There is a variety of this which fmells like Pen- 
ny Royal. 
The thirteenth fort grows naturally in arable land 
in moft parts of England, and is rarely admitted in- 
to gardens. This is the Water Calamint of the 
fhops, but is now feldom ufed in medicine. The 
ftalks of this fort rife about a foot high and are hairy, 
garnifhed with oval leaves' ending in acute points, 
and fawed on their edges. The flowers grow in 
very thick whorls round the ftalks ; they are fmall, 
of a purple colour, and their ftamina are fhorter than 
the petal. The plant has a ftrong fcent like Penny 
Royal. 
The fourteenth fort grows in watery places in many 
parts of England ; this hath weak trailing ftalks a 
foot and a half long, garnifhed with fmall oval leaves 
which are indented on their edges, and ftand upon 
pretty long foot-ftalks. The flowers grow in thick 
whorls round the ftalks, they are purple, and their 
ftamina are longer than the petal. 
The fifteenth fort grows plentifully on the fide of the 
road between Bocking andGosfield in Eiflex; the ftalks 
of this are much fmaller, and not fo long as thofe of 
the former j the leaves are fhorter and rounder, and 
8 Y an; 
4oS 
