Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-05-14
By ". II. Yonngman,

pTaCClCeQ as seems desirable. HERDS
border as many Of the plants that ,
poses. .Chives, the very useful mild-f
is attractive in foliage and flower. s;
many enjoy in turkey dressing, is an
Thyme, with its evergreen mats of !
foliage and purple flowers, is a
highly useful plant Parsley foliage
is excellent in a semishaded damp
situation.
In most cases only a plant or two
are needed to provide supply Of
havoring materials. And, since 1t
only takes q very few plants to pro-
vide wide range Of herbs, they At
easily into the average flower Dor
der or bed. However, where they are
used for an edging more OF them
will be used for garden effect than
will be needed for fiavoring.
Some herbs are adapted to poor
dry soils, while others like rich moist
soils. Many do well under average
garden conditions. The arranging
of the plants according to their
needs is desirable if they are to grow
satisfactorily.
Many cooks seem to lack the
knowledge or incentive to use these
flavorings that used to be looked
upon as an art and essential to good
cookery. Even If a cook makes use
Of them today it is so easy to pur-
chase a 10-cent package at the store
rather than to turn to the garden or
flower border. However, when 1t is
realized that these useful plants
contribute to the beauty and interest
Of the flower border, then perhaps
we will be encouraged to grow our
own herbs.
While many Of the herbs can be
used fresh or dried, the work of dry
ing is comparatively simple and
need not brighten the inexperienced.
Leaves are usually spread out to
dry in shady situation. Air circu-
lation should be avoided in drying
as 1t robs the herbs of much of
their aroma. Seeds may be dried in
the bright sun although they, too,
should not be cured too rapidly or
a part of their value will be lost.
Here is q list of culinary herbs
suitable for the flower border:
Parsley (Petroselinun): Biennial,
but best treated as annual; 6 to 8
inches tall; no flower; grown from
seed in shaded, rich, moist soil. Will
grow indoors or out. Plant seed
depth of 1s inch, space plants 6
inches apart.
Sage (Salvia ofiicinalis): Peren-
NAL, IL to 10 inches tall No flower
Raise from seed or plants; does well
in sun, in sandy, lime soil. Plant
seeds outdoors to depth of ls inch,
space plants "a inches apart.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Peren-
NAL, about 10 inches tall. Purple
bloom. Raise from seed or plants;
| thrives in sun, in loose, dry, lime
soil. Start indoors, sowing seed very
shallow, spacing plants to 10
inches apart.
Minis (Mentha spicata): Peren-
NAL, II to 10 inches tall. Purple
flowers. Raise from root cuttings;
soil. \
Marjoram tMarjorana hortensis):
Annual or perennial, but best
treated as an annual; grows "a
inches tall. Purplish flowers. Best
grown from seed started indoors In
chalky, dry soil; plant very shallow.
Does well in sun. Space plants IL to
is inches apart.
SavOry (Satureia alpina): Annual,
grows to height of 10 to IL inches.
No bloom. Plant seed outdoors to
depth of Il inch, in sun, and poor,
gravelly soil. Space plants 6 to
inches apart.
Chives, (Allium schoenoprasum)
Perennial, grows to 10 inches in
height. Purple bloom. Grow from
seed or division in medium rich soil.
Plant seed indoors at very shallow
depth. Space plants to inches
apart. Thrives in sun.
Basil (Ocimun basilicum): An
nual, about II inches tall. White
blossom. Sow seed very shallow in
doors, in medium dry soil. Plant
in sun, spacing plants IL inches
apart.
Tarragon (Artenisia dracunculus)
Perennial, TO IL inches tall. No
flower. Grown best by division, in
sunny, sandy, poor dry soil. Space
plants II inches apart.
Dill (Anethum graveolens): BIZ
ennial, but best treated as annual;
"a to 80 inches in height. Yellow
flower. Sow seed 70 inch deep in
garden, in sunny, fertile ground.
Space plants Is inches apart
While most of the herbs listed
above are comparatively easily
grown from seed, it may pay the
gardener who has need for but one
or two plants, especially of the
perennials, to purchase them from
grower rather than to take the
time and effort to start them from
seed. Some, such as the mints, are
best started from roots. A few, such
as savory and dill, do not trans
plant readily and must be sown
where they are to grow.
Parsley, marjoram and dill are
biennials or perennials that are COM
monty treated as ANIMALS. Since
they will live over winter if ported
up, many gardeners delight in pot
ting up plant or two to keep in