Better Herbs 73 
GSidetui 
Grow Home-Grown Herbs 
A tiny patch, a few plants in the wild garden or rock garden, an 
elaborate “knot garden” of home'grown herbs—it makes no differ* 
ence how many or how few—they are a source of constant delight 
and invigoration. And the herb gardener has always ahead of him 
the zest of fresh discoveries, pungencies of taste and smell, and of 
steeping his senses anew in the rich lore of earth. 
Herbs for Color in Modern Gardens 
The perennial herbs are used more and more frequently as color or 
form accents and texture in the regular garden, bringing into it the 
green and gray notes so much needed. Also the fragrance which the 
modern garden so often lacks. 
Those varieties marked with an (*) are annual herbs. 
MINTS 
Applemint. Mentha rotundifolia. A tall plant 4 to 5 ft., with lovely, gray, 
woolly, round leaves and spikes of late-blooming lavender flowers. Distinctly 
apple-scented, fruity flavor, an addition to iced tea. 25c each; $2.50 per doz. 
Curlynunt. Mentha crispa. Crinkly, heavily veined, broad leaves, excellent 
in lemonade. Very aromatic foliage. 35c each; $3.50 per doz. 
Peppermint. Mentha piperita. A decorative, dark green mint with showy, 
stout spikes of flowers. The whole plant is very aromatic, and used to flavor 
foods, beverages, candy, and medicines. 25c each; $2.50 per doz. 
Peppermint, Curtis. Mentha piperita curtisi. A blue-flowered form of pep¬ 
permint with delicate flavor. 30c each; $3.00 per doz. 
Peppermint, Gray Leaved. Mentha piperita tomentosa. Attractive, gray- 
green, aromatic foliage. 25c each; $2.50 per doz. 
Spearmint or Lambmint. Mentha spicata. Clean, smooth, dark green 
foliage spreading by root-stalks. Flowers pale lavender, borne in axils of 
upper leaves and in clusters at tips of tall stems. Most pungent of all mints, 
used for flavoring in all branches of cookery. 25c each; $2.50 per doz. 
Spearmint, Anise-Flavored. Mentha spicata anisatus. Faint flavor of anise, 
used for salads and especially good for iced drinks. 30c each; $3.00 per doz. 
♦Parsley. Petroselinum hortense. Small, fern-like, much-cut leaves. Excellent 
for a temporary broad, low edge. Leaves used for garnishing meat or fish. 
20c each; $2.00 per doz. 
Rosemary. Rosmarinus officinalis. A tender woody shrub with narrow, gray- 
green leaves, tiny bright blue flowers and spicy, nutmeg odor. An herb 
well-loved since early days. Used in potpourris, cooking, and medicine. 
30c each; $3.00 per doz. 
Rue. Ruta graveolens. A woody, 3-ft. shrub with lovely bluish green leaves 
and yellow blossoms. The foliage can be trimmed into a graceful hedge 
plant. As an accent in the perennial border this “clean” shrubby perennial 
is invaluable. Leaves used sparingly in cooking. 25c each; $2.50 per doz. 
Santolina, Green. Santolina viridis. A dwarf compact green plant excellent 
for edgings. 30c each; $3.00 per doz. 
Sage, Garden. Salvia officinalis. A gray-green shrubby perennial with very 
aromatic leaves and blue flowers. Invaluable in cooking. 30c each; $3.00 per 
doz. 
Sage, Meadow. Salvia pratensis. Pungent, dark blue, spring-flowering sage 
Not of culinary use. 25c each; $2.50 per doz. 
Savory, Alpine. Satureia alpina. Fragrant, mat-like plants used for ground 
covers in sunny spots. 30c each; $3.00 per doz. 
Savory, \Y inter. Satureia montana. A woody, dwarf plant with stiff leaves 
which remain nearly evergreen. Clipped, it makes a good border herb. 
Flowers white. Not as much used as summer savory in cooking. 30c each; 
$3.00 per doz. 
Snakeroot, Black. Cimicifuga raceinosa. An old medicinal herb used chiefly 
as a nerve sedative. Effective in the shady garden. 25c each; doz., $2.50. 
Sorrel, Garden. Rumex acctosa. A European pot herb frequently used for 
greens, salads, or soups. Leaves large and tender. Red flowers on long stems 
ascending from the crown of leaves. 25c each; $2.50 per doz. 
Southernwood. Artemisia abrotanum. An old time, woody shrub, 4 ft. high 
with pungent, lacy leaves and insignificant flowers. Dried branches laid in 
closets will keep moths away. A charming perennial for the hardy border. 
40c each; $4.00 per doz. 
Spotted Deadnettle. Lamium maculatum. A lovely, old-fashioned medicinal 
herb with trailing stems and mottled leaves. Showy rosy purple flowers over 
a long period. 30c each; $3.00 per doz. 
Sweetflag. Acorus calamus. A liliaceous plant decorative around pools or in 
bog gardens. Pieces of the root-stock, when boiled in sugar syrup, are used 
as a confection. 25c each; $2.50 per doz. 
Tansy. Tanacetum vulgare. Tall plant with fern-like leaves and yellow flower 
heads. The strongly scented, bitter leaves were once used in cooking, medic¬ 
inally, and as a preserver of flesh. For the wild garden. 25c each; $2.50 
per doz. 
Tarragon. Artemisia dracunculus. Shrubby tender stems and leaves. It does 
not flower readily, but is reproduced by root divisions. A favorite anise- 
flavored herb used in salads, to flavor salad dressings and fish sauces. This 
is the true French strain. 40c each; $4.00 per doz. 
Thrift. Armeria maritima. Low, compact edging plants of mediaeval herb 
gardens. 25c each; $2.50 per doz. 
THYMES 
Citron or Lemon Thyme. Thymus serpyllum citriodorus. Mound of bright 
green leaves with sharp, lemon fragrance, and lavender flowers. 25c each; 
$2.50 per doz. 
Common Thyme. Thymus vulgaris. A stiff little shrubby plant with fragrant 
leaves, much used in cookery when dried. 25c each; $2.50 per doz. 
Crimson Thyme. Thymus serpyllum coccineus. Crimson flowers covering 
wide-spreading green mats. 25c each; $2.50 per doz. 
Mother-of-Thyme. Thymus serpyllum. Lilac flowers in spring rising from 
creeping mats of bright green. Tea brewed from the leaves beneficial in 
relieving headaches. 25c each; $2.50 per doz. 
Violet. Viola odorata. An ancient medicinal and culinary herb with fragrant 
pale purple flowers. This is the violet made famous in early English poetry 
and prose. Interesting for wild gardens. 30c each; $3.00 per dozen. 
♦Watercress. Radicula nasturtium-aquaticum. A favorite as a peppery 
“green” for salads or sandwiches. Must be grown in running water or wet 
mud. 20c each; $2.00 per doz. 
Woodruff, Sweet. Asperula odorata. A delicate 
ground cover with star-like leaves and early 
white flowers. The green foliage, fragrant when 
dry, is used in wine drinks to sharpen the 
aroma. 35c each; $3.50 per doz. 
Wormwood, Beach. A. stelleriana. Dusty Mil¬ 
ler of Cape Cod. A spreading, gray-foliaged 
plant, useful for wide edgings. 25c each; 
$2.50 per doz. 
Wormwood, Common. A. absinthium. Grayish 
finely cut, fragrant leaves. Use a spray in 
cooking roast goose. A hot tea brewed of dry 
leaves relieves colds. Useful in flower arrange¬ 
ments. 35c each; $3.50 per doz. 
Wormwood, Fringed. A. frigida. Delicate 
silvery foliage with delicious spicy odor. A 
charming herb to combine with rose-colored 
annuals. 25c each; $2.50 per doz. 
Wormwood, Roman. A. pontica. A low lacy 
herb with silvery, cut foliage. It spreads rapid¬ 
ly. Also useful in flower arrangements. 25c 
each; $2.50 per doz. 
Yarrow, Common. Achillea millefolium. Once 
this “weed” of today was in every herb garden, 
invaluable for medicinal use. 25c each; $2.50 
per doz. 
Yarrow, Woolly. Achillea tomentosa. Consid¬ 
ered by the western Indians, cooling to the 
skin and much used in their secret ceremonies. 
30c each; $3.00 per doz. 
The entrance to the mint garden. IVe are indebted to the Berkshire Garden Center 
of Stockbridge, Mass., for both of the herb garden pictures shown here. 
6 or more plants of one variety will receive the dozen rate 
