CARAWAY. ANISE-SEEDS. 81 
91. CARAWAY is a small well known seed, produced by 
an umbelliferous plant (Carum carui), with smooth and double 
winged leaves, narrozo leaflets, and small white, or pale flesh- 
coloured flowers, of which the petals are bent inward, so as to 
become heart-shaped. 
The seeds of caraway have a pleasant spicy smell, 
and a warm aromatic taste. They are much used by 
pastry-cooks and confectioners in cakes, and for other 
purposes. Incrusted with sugar, they are called cara- 
way comfits. They are also distilled with spirituous 
liquors, to improve their flavour ; and are recommended 
as a medicine in several disorders. An essential oil 
and a spirit are also prepared from them. In the spring 
of the year the leaves are sometimes used in soups, or 
boiled with pot-herbs. The roots may be converted 
into an agreeable pickle ; and, if simply boiled, they 
are said by Parkinson to be better than parsnips. 
This plant grows wild in several parts of England, 
but particularly in meadows and pastures near Bury St. 
Edmunds, in Suffolk. It is much cultivated in Essex 
and Kent, sometimes alone, and sometimes mixed with 
teasel (53) and coriander (88), The season for cutting 
it is about the beginning of July ; and it is threshed 
in the field on a cloth, in the same manner as rape- 
,seed (187). 
92. ANISE-SEEDS are the production of an umbelliferous 
annual plant (Pimpinella anisum), which grows wild in Egypt, 
Syria, and other Eastern countries. They are roundish and 
striated, flatted on one aide, and pointed at one end ; and of 
pale colour, inclining to green. 
Attempts were made more than two hundred years 
ago to cultivate anise in this country, but the summers 
of our climate are seldom warm enough to bring the 
plant to perfection. It has consequently been found 
necessary to import the seed from Malta and Spain, 
where it is cultivated to considerable extent. 
Anise-seeds have an aromatic smell, and a pleasant 
warm taste, accompanied with some degree of sweet- 
5 
