December  23,  1897. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
60:^ 
replanting  when  necessary  the  formation  of  beds  3  or  4  feet  wide  at 
right  angles  of  the  walk,  supposing  a  border  to  be  devoted  to  the 
purpose,  •  with  narrow  alleys  between,  is- probably  the  best  method; 
and  whether  the  whole  space  be  much  or  little,  a  thorough  prepara¬ 
tion  by  cleaning  and  enriching  it  will  eventually  give  the  best  results, 
and  save  trouble*among  those  perennials  requiring  no  disturbance  for 
several  seasons.  Our  list  may  Avell  include  such  herbs  as  are  thought 
Avorthy  of  being  found  in  a  first-class  garden,  although  the  virtues  o' 
some  are  purely  medicinal.  Apropos  of  this,  I  recollect  Avith  pleasure 
an  episode  Avhich  occurred  Avhenmy  herb  border,  i)reviously  mentioned, 
was  flourishing.  This  was  an  application  made  by  an  old  tiame,  who 
had  trudged  some  miles  across  country  for  a  few  sprigs  of  certain  herbs 
now  rarely  met  with,  but  dear  to  the  heart  of  old-fashioned  people. 
Sage  must  not  be  overlooked,  an  infusion  of  this  being  still  n  high 
repute  as  a  gargle. 
Common  Thyme  and  Lemon  Thyme,  seeds  of  both  of  Avhich  Avill 
produce  a  more  vigorous  stock  than  from  cuttings  or  division,  may, 
with  most  herbs  of  perennial  habit,  be  sown  in  their  permanent 
position,  to  be  subsequently  thinned  out;  .and  it  may  here  be  remarked 
that  the  most  satisfactory  Avay  of  establishing  a  herb  border  is  to 
j  obtain  a  collection  of  seeds  from  any  good  seedsman,  which  will 
:  generally  prove  to  be  as  reliable  as  they  are  cheap.  The  same  may  be 
said  of  aromatic  plants,  and  any  difficulty  Avhich  some  experience  in 
establishing  plants  of  eitlier  is  removed  by  the  power  of  seedlings  to 
adapt  themselves  to  a  change  of  soil  or  position. 
Tarragon,  which  holds  a  rather  prominent  place  among  pot  herbs. 
“  If  they  were  to  be  had  anywhere  I  should  have  them  ;  ”  and  I  had, 
to  our  mutual  satisfaction. 
The  choice  of  position  may  be  giAum  to  any  border  fronting  a  AV'all 
with  a  south,  south-west,  or  south-east  aspect.  Commencing  our  list 
in  the  order  of  merit,  such  merit  being  merely  a  matter  of  what  is  in 
most  demand — Mint  may  be  first  mentioned.  Both  Spearmint  and 
Peppermint,  being  of  such  vigorous  habit  of  groAvth,  it  is  perhaps 
surprising  that  any  difficulty  is  encountered  in  their  culture,  yet  there 
are  instances  of  such  being  the  case,  this  proceeding  from  a  Avant  of 
replanting  in  fresh  soil  Avhen  deterioration  is  in  evidence.  To  increase 
the  stock,  root  pieces  or  cuttings  taken  in  early  spring  and  inserted 
under  glass  protection  Avill  give  good  plants  for  the  IMint  bed  a  little 
later,  and  some  old  potting  soil  or  Mushroom  bed  refuse  Avorked 
into  the  soil  Avill  insure  success  for  two  years  .at  least,  after  which 
replanting  or  a  good  top-diessing,  if  exhaustion  is  imminent,  Avill 
maintain  the  supjdy. 
Sage  is  so  freely  produced  from  seed  that  no  better  method  can  be 
employed  if  the  stock  is  Avorn  out.  Although  the  green-leaved 
variety  is  mostly  in  demand  for  culinary  purposes,  a  feAv  roots  of  red 
and  where  the  necessary  stock  cannot  be  obtained  by  division,  Avill 
give  the  best  results  by  raising  seedlings  under  glass  early  in  the 
season,  deferring  planting  outside  until  the  plants  are  fairly  strong  and 
the  Aveather  genial.  Marjoram  under  its  two  perennial  forms, 
commonly  known  as  Pot  Marjoiain  and  SA\-eet  ]\Iarjoram,  is  of  easy 
propagation  by  division  ;  the  more  tender  variety  knoAim  as  Knotted 
Marjor.am  may  be  included  in  our  spring  sowings  of  those  herbs  Avhich 
are  either  annuals  or  treated  as  such. 
Basil  plays  rather  an  important  part  in  high-class  cookery,  and  the 
tAA'o  varieties  in  general  use  being  annuals,  it  is  not  easy  to  supply  the 
SAA’eet  variety,  this  being  in  most  demand  through  the  winter  in  a 
green  state.  The  seed,  AA’hilst  germinating  freely,  has  a  trick  of  dis¬ 
appointing  the  groAver  during  the  dark  days  of  Avinter,  and  1  have 
known  the  time  Avlien  more  hopes  and  fears  Avere  concentrated  in  a 
pan  of  Basil  than  in  the  Avhole  catering  of  supplies  at  this  season. 
lloAvever,  a  couple  of  ])aus  or  shalloAV  boxes  thinly  sown  and  very 
carefully  tended,  especially  in  watering,  will  usually  meet  all  require¬ 
ments,  although  in  respect  to  its  “miffy”  character  it  is  as  well  to 
have  two  strings  to  one’s  boAv  by  placing  one  sowing  in  a  cool 
