. 
O MANY excellent books on herbs, their legend and lore, have been 
written recently that further words on the subject may seem un- 
necessary. However, frequent references to quaint quotations from 
early books on husbandry sometimes give the impression that herbs 
are too esoteric and mystical for part-time gardeners and homemakers. 
We have found these versatile plants so delightful and helpful 
in our garden and cookery that we wish to share some of our experi- 
ences and experiments in growing more than one hundred and fifty 
varieties of herbs. 
When one first becomes the proud possessor of a few packets of 
Anise, Basil or Savory, one is not much interested in recipes for 
pomanders and potpourris from “The Toilet of Flora’. The conditions 
they require for successful germination and how to dry and use the 
leaves or seeds seem more important. Sometimes the plain facts seem 
to be hopelessly obscured by amusing but impractical discourses on 
infusions for curing every ill including “wicked winds in the stomach”. 
With your herb garden well established you will enjoy reading 
about the Doctrine of Signatures, an old notion that plants showed 
their healing virtues by the color or shape of the leaves or flowers. 
Thus the Dandelion’s bright gold signified its efficacy for curing jaun- 
dice. Having grown thrifty Sage plants from seed it is even more 
fun to brew a cup of amber Sage tea to ward off a cold according to 
an ancient herbal recipe. 
| Perhaps this brief account of some of the herbs we have grown 
and loved may inspire you to discover for yourself the new fields of 
_adventure they have opened for us. 
You may gain a new enthusiasm for cooking with herbs at hand 
to enhance favorite dishes or transform less palatable ones. Botany 
and history come alive through the fascinating lore surrounding these 
age-old plants. In the gardens of the early colonies sweet herbs (for 
flavoring), pot herbs (vegetables) and simples (medicinal herbs) min- 
gled happily to provide savor, sustenance, and physic. 
Today their redolent foliage and pungent flavors can add to the 
charm and usefulness of every vegetable or flower garden. When the 
brown earth peaks through and the perennial urge to dig in the warm, 
moist soil creeps over you, we hope you will remember that it is easy 
to grow herbs. 
