CULTURE AMD PROPAGATION OF HERBS. 
3-15 
Pliny mentions the use of these means as prevailing in his day, and 
he considered the juice to be a good remedy in case of being stung 
by either bees or wasps. Virgil recommended the use of the juice 
to entice back a swarm that had strayed, supposing it to be capable 
of effecting that object. It is a native of the south of Europe, 
whence, according to the best authority, it was introduced into this 
country, in 1573, Our old English herbalists, speak highly of its 
medicinal properties, but it has nearly fallen into disuse, except in a 
decoction which is drank in fevers, &c. Dr. Whitlaw, in his “ Me¬ 
dical Discoveries,” mentions it as good for hypochondriac and hys¬ 
terical complaints, as well as for palpitations of the heart. 
Propagation and Culture .—It is propagated by a division of the 
roots, or by slipping a single stem from the root. The former 
method may be adopted either in spring or autumn. Plant, in com¬ 
mon light soil, both slips and roots, in rows one foot apart, and the 
plants eight inches apart in the rows, giving a little water if they 
should require it, and they will soon grow very freely. 
To Gather for Drying, choose a fine day, just before the plants 
come into flower, for at that time they possess the most strength. 
Dry this herb in the shade, as rapidly as possible, or it will partially 
lose both its quality and colour; an heated oven which affords a good 
warmth will serve the purpose well; perhaps nothing answers better 
than a small press. When dry, wrap it up in white paper, and keep 
it in a drawer till wanted for use. 
Basil. —There are about twenty different species of Basil, but 
only two are cultivated in our gardens for domestic purposes, viz. : 
the sweet or common (Ocymum basilicum) which grows to the 
height of a foot or more, and the O. minimum, or least, which sel¬ 
dom attains more than six or eight inches. They are both annuals, 
natives of India, and consequently tender. The former was intro¬ 
duced in 1548, and the latter in 1573. The generic name, accord¬ 
ing to Mathiolus, is derived from the Greek word ozo, to smell, al¬ 
though others think it was named after Ocymus, who first ordained 
the combats in honour of Pallas. It was also called Basilicum, and 
hence the latter name is by our modern botanists referred to the 
common species. The whole genus apjDears to have been held in 
great abhorence by many of the ancients. An opinion generally 
prevailed, that if pounded and put under a stone, it would breed ser¬ 
pents. Chrysippus condemned it 200 years before the Christian era, 
as being hurtful both to the sight and to the intellects. Hollerus 
related that an Italian had a scorpion bred in his brain, by only re¬ 
peatedly smelling of Basil. The Africans believed that if any per- 
