Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-29
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

lady abbess. Many Of the laxatives in
but quite potent, for all that. The word
vegetable" has nice, pleasing, mild
sound-we Immediately think Of car
rots, peas, beans, and scarcely ever OF
plants which have acrid properties Of
such power as to cause the stomach
and intestineS to cast them forth Is
speedily as possible.
The seeds Of most herbs, sweet and
medicinal, as they are sometimes called.
are planted in the Spring, when the
ground is thoroughly warm. It will do
no harm to plant in cold weather, but
no good, either, as the seed will Just lie
there. Most cultural directions call for
transplanting to about 4 inches apart
when the plants are several inches high.
Some herbs are grown for their seed,
others for their leaves. Mostly the seed
must be planted, but some seed houses
now make speciality Of supplying
plants Of "the most popular herbs. y
These, as given in one catalogue, are
balm, chives, horehound, hyssop, laven-
der, peppermint, rosemary, sage, COM
mon savory, thyme.
mails. In the former class belong aniSe,
basil, borage, coriander, marjoram,
Summer savory. The perennial herbs
include balm, caraway, catnip, fennel,
horehound, hyssop, lavender, rosemary,
sage, thyme, wormwood.
Many of these words occur In our
greatest literature, notably the Bible
and Shakespeare. Thyme" Is q favor
ite in many Of the Elizabethan plays.
Hyssop" and "wormwood" come down
from Bible days.
Anise is used for fiavoring and gar
nishing. The leaves Of the balm have
a fragrant odor and are used medici-
nally. Sweet basil Is used sometimes
for f1avoring soups. Borage Is O favor
lite of the bees and is often planted for
their benefit. Caraway seeds are used
in confectionery, and some people, no
tably old-timers, chew them.
Catnip. Of course, is the cats favor
lite. Every house cat should have q
it. The seed of it Is very dificult to
get, as you will know If you have ever
tried to secure any of 1t. This is prob
ably due to the fact that there Is little
demand for 1t. Yet catnip tea Is one
Of the old remedies, and in some quar-
ters seems to be returning to poou-
larity.
Coriander seeds are used in confec-
tionery. The seeds Of the dill are
largely used in pickles, hence the IA
vorite dill pickles. Horehound flavor
functions mostly in candy, and drops
Lavender yields its essential oil, used
in medicine, but nowadays mostly as q
perfume in toilet articles. It Is q IA
vorite scent with women the world over,
owing to its dainty qualities, which
make 1t admirable to give o clean, fresh
fragrance to linens.
Common mint Is q favorite every
where. Like most Of these herbs, one
has but to start q small bed to have
plenty Of 1t ever afterward. While its
glass, mint also makes q nice garnish-
ing for Spring lamb and other meats.
Sage IL more used perhaps than any
other herb for dressings and season.
ing. A veal loaf does not taste exactly
right without sage In it. It helps make
chicken and turkey dressing the JOY
they are to the average taste.
Without these herbs much Of our
everyday eating and very life would
tend to be fiat, and in sense unin-
teresting They awaken strange men,
cries. Although We may not be exactly
aware Of them, they take US back To
the Middle Ages, past vitchcraft to the
very dawn Of history. No doubt the
Egyptian kings ate confectionaries
favored with anise. Sweet, spicy
smells are o heritage to mankind, In q
world Of many bitter things. It Is pleaS-
ant to plant and tend o herb garden,
or, lacking that actuahty, to read about
one. We may walk in spirit with Kris
tin and note with satisfaction that her
garden Of simples had q hedge around
It, strong hedge Of thoffiy briar roses,
which at once helped to beautify the
place and to keep out unappreciative