The plant is easily propagated by slips or cuttings in the spring.
Lavender.
424. Lavender, or Spike Lavender, (Lavandula Spica, L. ; Didynamia Gymnospermia ; Labiate, Juss.) is a na tive of the south of Europe, and has been cultivated in our gardens since the middle of the 16th century. The plant is shrubby, rising from two to four feet high ; the leaves linear, hoary, slightly rolled back at the edges; the flowers forming terminating spikes. There is a narrow-leaved and a broad-leaved variety. Lavender is rather a medicinal plant than one used by the cook. In every garden, how ever, a few plants are kept. The spikes of flowers being very fragrant, the ladies often make imitation scent-bottles of them. Frequently they are put in paper bags, and plac ed among linens to perfume them. In physic gardens, the plant is extensively cultivated for the sake of the flowers, from which lavender water is distilled. It is propagated by cuttings, or young slips, any time in the spring months. In large gardens it is sometimes used as an edging, but it is too bulky. If lavender be planted in a dry, gravel ly or poor soil, its flowers have a powerful odour, and the severity of our winters has little effect on it ; in a rich garden soil, although it grows strongly, it is apt to be killed, and the flowers have less perfume. In com mon garden soil, new plantations should be made every four or five years.
Coriander.
425. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum, L.; Pentandria Digynia ; Umbellifere, Juss.) is a native of the East, but has naturalized itself in Essex, near places where it has long been cultivated for druggists and confectioners, and is therefore figured in English Botany, t. 67. It rises about a foot high, with doubly pinnated leaves. It is not often raised in private gardens. Formerly the young leaves were used in salads, and in soups ; but they have a strong and scarcely agreeable scent. The seeds are now chiefly in request for medicinal purposes. If these be wanted, the seed should be sown in autumn, and the plants afterwards thinned out to five or six inches asunder.
Caraway.
426. Caraway (Carum carui, L.; Pentandria Digynia ; Umbellifer cc) is a biennial plant, a native of some parts of England, and figured in English Botany, t. 1503. The plant rises a foot and a half high, with spreading branches; the leaves are decompound ; the leaflets in sixes. In for
mer times, the tapering fusiform roots were eaten like parsnips, to which Parkinson gives them the preference. In the spring time, the under leaves are sometimes put in soups, But the plant is now principally cultivated for the seeds ; these are used in making cakes, and are incrusted with sugar for comfits; they are likewise distilled with spirituous liquors, and for this purpose large quantities are raised in fields in Essex. Nicol and others direct its being sown in the spring ; but it is much better to sow in autumn, soon after the seed is ripe ; the seedlings quickly rise, and, the plant being biennial, a season is thus gained. A moist rich soil answers best. 31::: seed is generally sown in rows ; and in the spring, the plants are thinned out to four or six inches apart. In the end of summer, when the seeds appear to be nearly ripe, the plants are pulled up, and set upright to dry, the seed being then more easily beat out.
Tansy.
427. Tansy (Tanacctum vulgare, Syngencsia ganzia superflua ; Corymbifere, Juss.) is a well known pe rennial plant, a native of most parts of Britain, generally growing on the banks of rivers ; it is figured in English Botany, t. 1229. In a cultivated state, it rises to the height of three or four feet ; the stem leafy, the leaves alternate, deep green, finely divided ; the flowers appear in terminating corymbs, and are yellow. It has long had a place in the garden, partly on account of its medicinal vir tues, being in high estimation as a vermifuge, and partly for the sake of its young leaves, which are shredded down, and employed to give colour and flavour to puddings. There is a variety with curled leaves, which is rather orna mental ; this is often called Double tansy. There is like wise a sort with variegated leaves, which is sometimes admitted into shrubberies. Tansy is extremely hardy, and will grow in any soil or situation. A few plants are sufficient ; and it is very easily propagated at any time by parting the roots. Tansy leaves may be procured very early in the spring, by laying two or three tufted roots of the plant upon a slight hot-bed about mid-winter, arched with hoops and covered with mats in severe weather. The young leaves may also be had throughout the summer, by cutting down the flower-stems close, so as to encourage a new growth.