The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-08-19
OLD.FAsHIOAED herb GARDEN.

Among the many old country Gus
toms redivivus, none can show more
reason from either q gastronomic,
medicinal or esthetic standpoint for
its reinstatement in popular favor
than the ol2-fashioned herb garden of
our grandmothers.
Fifty years ago she was q shiftless
housekeeper, indeed, whose kitchen
garden did not boast its corner sacred
to sage, summer savory, thyme, parse
ley, tarragon and all those other sea-
soning herbs whose distinctive 6avors
lent themselves so admirably to those
savory
Country messes
Which the neat-handed Phyllis
dresses. -
The garret, come late autumn, was
redolent with the pungent, delightful
odor of vegetable cure-alls and SIM
pies, hanging in dry bunches from the
rafters.
Then the custom fell into disuse
and American cookery suffered there
by. Dependent upon drug store or
corner grocery for all such things, the
delicate seasoning of stews and soups
went too often by default. Not so VIII.
the French housewife, whose ragouts
and soups are culinary " dreams, for
her seasonings are always at hand and
cost her nothing, as she raises them
herself. If she has no garden, pots on
tle window ledge answer the purpose.
So it is with the Italians.
A bed of sweet herbs is not at all
hard to cultivate, even in the circum-
scTibed quarters Of a city back yard.
It is an especially good plan to start
such bed near; a country cottage, for
the reason that the country store or
vegetable dealer seldom thinks to add
any Of the seasoning herbs to his stock
in trade.
The most useful herbs to raise in
the garden are parsley, chives, sage,
summer savory, tarragon, thyme, car
away, mint and chervil. @
CherviI possesses a most delicate
favor, besides making pretty salad
garnish. It comes up quickly from
the seed and grows rapidly. 1t is de-
licious in salads, and combined with
tarragon, chives and cress, 1t makes
the famous mince of herbs used by
French cooks to season cold sauces
and salads.
Tarragon is hardy prennial which
must be purchasd by the root TO start
with. It maks a delicious vinegar,
and lends itself to hot cookery as well
as salads
Sage is also perennial and besides
furnishing its we'll known favor to
ss stufHngs'' and sausage, it is time
honored and useful remedy in home
nursing.
Hot sage tea will break up cold if
the patient will remain in bed. buried
under a heap OF blankets. That is
what our erandmothers prescribed.
They also used sage leaves to clean.
their teeth, and applied it to old. sup
pnrating wounds.
Caraway is another old timer that
once started, goes on growing forever
Who can ever forget grandmother's
caraway seed cakes, now happily re-
vived. or her green apple pie, well
sprinkled with the same aromatic seed?
Thyme and summer saVory, the
favorite seasonings Of the English
housewife, should be raised from seed
each year, as also the most useful Of
ali seasonings and garnishes-p parsley.
With parsley to fall back upon in an
emergency, the housewife may de
corate her meat platter and
dress her table. Parsley. sweet
ems the breath, and takes away
the odor of onions. IF wanted in early
spring, parsley, which is biennial,
may be sowed in September in a
moderately fertile soil. During cold
weather the plants should be covered
nearly tothe top with leaves, held IN
place with brush.
The French herb, the pimperLel,
known in this counry as garden
burnet, is another plant that deserves
an honored place in the herb garden
or kitchen window box. 1t COWS wild
in many parts Of this country and
Canada, where it was introduced by
the French settlers. It has mild,
cucumber-like taste. which makes it,
when finely minced, delicious ad-
dition to salads.
A few punches of chives and borage
add much to the culinary value OF
the herb garden.
Lavender, balm and basil cultivated
in the garden or in pots, furnish, leaf
or. bloom, the delicious fragrance for
family linen chest.-Washington Star.
Big Firm For Bishopyille.
ul uo4L RT,,,o,- NSor-o,1 10 10