MINTS—Mentha. Family: Labiatae. 
Users: Leaves used in sauces, tea, beverages and medicine. 
DEscRIPTION: There are many more useful and ornamental varieties 
of Mint than the popular Spearmint, Mentha spicata and Peppermint, 
M. piperita. American Applemint, M. gentilis, has smooth leaves 
streaked with gold. Wooly Applemint, M. rotundifolia, is of a more 
distinct apple-flavor and has rounded, grey, woolly leaves. It is one 
of the tallest and most attractive varieties reaching four feet in height. 
Orange Mint, M. citrata, of a distinct citrus tang, enhances iced tea 
and fruit cups. Pineapplemint, M. rotundifolia variegata, is easily dis- 
tinguished by its dwarf habit and light green leaves tipped and blotched 
with cream. The smallest but most pungent member of this diverse 
genus is Corsican Mint, M. requieni. Its tiny, shiny, round leaves flavor 
creme de menthe. 
CULTIVATION: True mints hybridize so readily. that they are usually 
propagated only by roots or stollens to keep them true to type. Inter- 
esting variants appear among species grown from seed which should 
be sown in a moist, shady location. Wooden or metal boundaries sunk 
below the surface of the ground will keep their nomadic roots from 
running over the garden. 
MUGWORT—RBeyfus, St. Johns plant. Artemisia vulgare. Family: 
Com positae. 
Uses: Leaves used for seasoning pork, goose and duck. Travelers once 
placed a leaf of this herb in their shoes to ward off fatigue. 
Description: Tall, hardy perennial with four-foot tall, purplish stems 
and segmented leaves, bright green above and covered. with a silvery 
down on the under side. Small yellow flowers in terminal panicles. 
A white-flowering variety, Artemisia vulgaris lactiflora, is often used 
in perennial borders. This form does not spread as rapidly by rooting 
underground stems as the weedy A. vulgare. 
CULTIVATION: May be grown from seed but is usually started from a 
division of rhizomes. Thrives in any soil in full sun. Take plants up 
every spring and thin out, lest it run rampant over the whole garden. 
16 
