230 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
December 13, 1890. 
dedicated to her in the name of Our Lady’s Mint, and 
in Italy was known as St. Mary’s Mint. An old writer 
described it as refreshing to head and memory. 
Pennyroyal was a Mint, also a native of Britain, of 
much smaller habit, however, than the other Mints. 
Its taste was very peculiar and to not a few people 
objectionable. Old women herbalists praised it highly 
as a blood purifier. In Italy children put it in their 
cots on Christmas Day, in the belief that the exact 
hour and minute when Christ was born it put forth its 
blossoms. Eosemary, a native of Southern Europe, was 
useful in relieving headache. Its chief value was as a 
perfume, and in making a lotion for the hair. Sage, a 
perennial and a native of the warmest parts of Europe, 
had been for a long time cultivated in Britain, where 
it first made its appearance in 1597. In medireval 
times it obtained the name of Officinalis Christi. It 
was supposed to be a good tonic, and, as a gargle, was 
a valuable remedy for inflammation of the throat. 
Of Savory, the summer variety was introduced into 
Britain in 1562, and the winter in 1797. Its leaves and 
young shoots were used for flavouring. Tarragon, a 
native of Siberia and Tartary, was extensively used for 
seasoning ; the leaves also made an excellent pickle. 
Thyme, a native of Southern Europe, was a perennial. 
The common Thyme was introduced into England in 
1548, or perhaps later. The leaves were used for 
seasoning soups. To the Greeks it was the emblem of 
activity, and the ladies of chivalrous times embroidered 
on the scarves presented to their knights the figure of 
a bee hanging over a sprig of Thyme. 
Dealing with the culture of herbs, Mr. Dean said 
many were raised from seeds, and of those so raised the 
most in demand were Balm, Sweet Basil, Fennel, 
Hyssop, Sage, and Sweet Marjoram. The culinary 
herbs in a garden were often plafited in out-of-the-way 
places, where they did not receive the attention re¬ 
quired. The best soil for herbs was good yellow, light 
loam, and he advised their being grown in small beds 
in quantities according to the demand. Each patch 
should be kept distinct from the other. To keep herbs 
in good condition they should be renewed by cuttings, 
or by division of the roots once in two or three years, 
as required. Old plants became exhausted and lost 
their vigour, and did not then produce the succulent 
shoot3 prized for culinary purposes. The ground 
should be kept clear of weeds, and cleanliness was pro¬ 
moted by planting fresh beds in other ground. 
Mr. Dean then went through the list of herbs, 
suggesting the best methods of culture in each instance. 
As to cutting'them the best time to do this was when 
they were in the highest perfection, nearly of full growth, 
and coming into flower. They should be cut during 
dry weather and spread out or hung up in a dry, cool, 
airy place. It was when the first flowers of herbs were 
open that they were found to contain more of the 
essential oil, on which their flavour depends. 
-- 
THE FLOWER SHOW SEASON. 
Like thousands more of your readers the sounding of 
your timely leader on the above has awakened many 
thoughts in my mind. That these institutions play an 
important and powerful influence in the development of 
gardening, cannot he disputed but as they do now exist 
there is something very naturally wrong about them. 
Societies can scarcely be blamed for this either. They 
have formulated rules laid down for the guidance of 
exhibitors, which are for . honesty of purpose unim¬ 
peachable, and I have every reason for believing are 
meant to be respected. We find this is not always 
done. These rules are as often infringed as the 
anniversary of a flower show comes round, and 
generally in a way that the rules of a society cannot 
reach the transgressors. The framers of rules before 
now, I am sure, have fe.lt this more keenly than any 
person, and, moreover, feel that if extreme measures 
be resorted to the number of exhibitors will be 
materially lessened, which, of course, means disaster 
to the show. It will be therefore apparent that 
societies are content to tolerate little transgressions for 
the sake of keeping the flower show afloat. 
But while thus condoning a serious evil, no doubt 
with a good intention, they may forget that it is 
possible by so doing to encourage rather than diminish 
the evil. There can be no doubt but the dishonesty of 
the exhibitor is on the increase. Ample evidence as to 
this is, I am sure, addueible at every flower show, and 
why it should be so in an age of enlightenment like 
the present makes the fact tire more perplexing. I am 
afraid that enlightenment and morals do not grow 
apace. Moral laxity in very trivial things detracts 
from the social standing and integrity of a man, and on 
that account it is meet that W9 should be very careful 
to perform an action where our education of morals is 
not sufficiently lucid to guide us. If we do commit a 
breach of confidence willingly in direct opposition to 
the rules laid down for our guidance, then, of course, 
every sense of reason has given way to dishonourable 
tactics. Such a person is deserving of the greatest 
opprobrium. 
Admitting that, from a moral standpoint, the line of 
demarcation between right and wrong'is a difficult 
thing to fix, there can, however, be none in the case of 
an exhibitor’s course at a flower show. The rules 
clearly state his course—what to do and to avoid. It 
is an extremely melancholy thing to think that 
honour is so often sacrificed for the prize money of the 
flower show, and tactics of the worst character so com¬ 
monly substituted. 
A good many gardeners fail to see that any serious 
harm can arise from the introduction of a dish of 
Apples, Grapes, or a Melon from the fruiterer to the 
exhibition table to assist in completing a collection. 
It would be interesting to know, should any one of 
these be stolen from the collection by a miscreant in 
the crowd visiting the show, how would such persons 
view the matter? And yet this is exactly what the 
exhibitor is doing with regard to his opponent. The 
exhibitor who demeans himself by adopting such 
measures to gain the coveted prize or prizes, has in his 
bosom, we have every reason to believe, the material to 
defraud his neighbour on any scale. This inference we 
are bound to accept if we put any value on motives. 
The only thing deterrent to his accomplishing this is, 
as we all know, the fear of exposure —the fear of the 
hangman’s whip. And what pleasure can such persons 
have from the prize they acquire in an illicit way ? It 
must only help to aggravate the consciousness that it 
has been mis-awarded. 
It is impossible, however, that a being whose sense 
of morals is so low as to use unlawful means to gain 
his ends, can humour his mind to find some degree of 
satisfaction from it. 
A danger is brewing ahead from public inspection— 
an inspection which, if once begun, will not tolerate any 
dodging to prevent a culprit from being held up to 
public censure.—(?., Edinburgh. 
-■=-*•£<-<*—-—- 
LEEKS. 
The hardiness of Leeks commends them to growers in 
many respects, and yet there are many parts of the 
country in which they are not grown to that extent 
they might be, nor are they utilised to that extent to 
which their wholesomeness entitles them. No doubt 
their reputed odour prevents many from appreciating 
them, but if properly prepared by the art of the chef 
de cuisine, as they ought to be, there is nothing more 
objectionable about them than with Onions, which 
enjoy a wide toleration amongst the masses. Besides 
the various ways in which they may be used to advan¬ 
tage amongst other vegetables and articles of food, they 
may be and are used, to some extent, as a separate 
vegetable in some parts of the country. Their hardiness 
entitles them to some consideration, for the severest 
winter wa experience seems to have little effect upon 
them, and those who know and appreciate their value 
know how serviceable they prove in the late winter 
and spring months, when vegetables of most kinds are 
getting scarce. 
One of the hardiest varieties is the Musselburgh or 
Scotch Flag, which has long held a high reputation 
amongst gardeners, particularly in the north. It is of 
robust habit, with broad, deeply glaucous leaves, that 
show themselves off to advantage when grown alongside 
of other kinds. The stems also attain great length 
and thickness under good cultivation. The London 
Flag also enjoys great reputation amongst a wide circle 
of growers, and no doubt earns this esteem by the 
length and thickness of its stem—that is, the part 
which is bleached—but the leaves are considerably 
narrower than those of the Musselburgh Leek. It has 
the quality, however, of being of quick growth, and is 
therefore very suitable for early use, whereas the Mussel¬ 
burgh may always be depended upon for the main crop. 
The Lyon Leek is a comparatively recent acquisition, 
and considered to be the largest in cultivation. It has 
earned great popularity amongst exhibitors on account 
of the size it attains. The leaves are broad and 
glaucous, resembling those of the Musselburgh variety, 
but the whole plant is larger. When well cultivated 
the bleached portion sometimes attains a length of 
20 ins., and 9 ins. or more in circumference, while this 
portion weighs from 4 to 5 lbs. when grown to such 
surprising proportions. It is of good quality, mild in 
flavour, and therefore worthy of a trial by those who 
have not yet used it. 
Another sort that has attained to some popularity as 
an exhibition variety is Ayton Castle or Ayton Castle 
Giant, which, like the previous one, is large and mild 
in flavour. Grown alongside of London Flag and the 
Musselburgh sort the Carentan Leek seems to hold an 
intermediate position for size and general appearance. 
The leaves are long and glaucous, but only of moderate 
breadth. Besides the above there are several other 
sorts in cultivation, but they are difficult to distinguish, 
and the above should satisfy all ordinary requirements. 
-«•>$<-»- 
ON KEEPING A GARDEN CLEAN 
AND TRIM. 
How to keep the garden clean and trim has probably 
been an important subject at all times, especially with 
those interested in horticulture, and even at the 
present time is none the less important, notwith¬ 
standing all that modern science has done to assist the 
horticultural fraternity in making the above operation 
an easier employment than in former times. Science 
has, no doubt, done a great deal to lighten the work 
of the labouring horticulturist in producing improved 
implements and tools of every description. Manures 
are manufactured that are said to grow anything in the 
garden, from a Cabbage stock up to a Vine ; and not 
only this, but w T esd killers that destroy instantly root 
and branch of the most noxious and detestable weed, 
that enemy of the garden which continually has the 
presumption to seek shelter within its walls. 
The uninitiated will naturally enough presume that 
it is no difficult matter to accomplish keeping a garden 
clean and trim at the present time, seeing the many 
advantages that the horticulturist of to-day has of 
which our forefathers were not possessed. But we 
doubt not the labouring horticulturist of to-day will 
admit, after all which science has done, that the 
above work, although a healthy occupation, and one 
that the greatest might be proud to be engaged in, is 
still a tedious and laborious occupation, and that the 
man who succeeds in keeping the garden clean and trim 
must ever be assiduous in his applications, use "elbow 
grease” freely, and never be afraid of a few sweat drops 
on hi3 forehead. No opportunity must be lost of 
destroying and cutting down everything in the shape 
of weeds or anything that does not add to the beau¬ 
tifying of the garden. If the latter is to.be kept clean 
and trim the Dutch hoe must be kept on the move for 
the greater part of the year at any rate, and any weed 
that this implement does not destroy by cutting should 
be rooted out at once, and should never be allowed 
quarter on any condition whatever. 
Annual weeds should be at all times cut down on 
their first appearance, otherwise they will be a con¬ 
tinual annoyance, as they grow and cast their seeds so 
rapidly ; hence the importance of cutting them down 
in their infancy. If left for any length of time they 
soon gain strength, and it becomes a difficult matter to 
conquer them. Old or strong weeds when cut down 
should always be gathered and carried off the ground, 
for if left there, although cut down, their seeds often 
ripen and spring up fast and thick again. Probably 
the carrying away of weeds off the ground would 
appear too much labour for some people, but we think 
it would amply repay the trouble. In the case of very 
tall weeds it would be judicious to gather them by 
hand. 
As every garden has its rubbish heap, so should it 
have its weed heap, which makes a capital mould when 
well rotted and mixed with lime, and may be us 3 d 
with great advancage for many purposes ; and anything 
that helps to enrich the soil should be carefully kept. 
In weed heaps of this kind, great care should be taken 
to keep out all bad kinds, especially those that will not 
rot when heaped up together. If possible, the using of 
fresh dung should be avoided, especially stable dung, 
as there are always more or less bad seeds in it, unless 
the dung be entirely rotten. It is of great importance 
to have the garden particularly clean and trim at the 
end of the season as well as at the beginning, as the 
weeds that are left growing all through the winter 
soon bear seed in the spring time. If the garden is to 
be kept clean and trim, every work connected with it 
must be done at fixed and proper times ; for the old 
proverb stands good in this case, that 11 A stitch in time 
saves nine.” Trees and bushes must be pruned in 
due time, hedges clipped, old flowers cut away, and 
tall ones tied up, decayed leaves of every description 
removed, lawns always kept bare, walks, flower beds 
and borders ever without a weed, &c.— A. Mackintosh, 
Erchless, Inverness-shire. 
