A HERB GARDEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 283, 3 December 1935, Page 4

A HERB GARDEN

HYSSOP FOR HEALING. Three years ago, in a garden on Mount Pleasant, Christchurch, Miss Milliccnt Jennings examined seed packets with interest, planted specimens in pots and dreamed of a herb garden. To-day, on Linwood Avenue, that herb garden is an acomplished fact, ft is open to visiters on two days of the week, and on Saturday a sucession of interested guests examined hyssop, looked respectfully ou rue, admired coriander and finally sampled balm tea, and pronounced it good and sothing to the heart (states a Christ church paper). There is magic in herbs. They have never gone out of fashion, though nowa days they are mostly hidden beneath a mass of learned pharmaceutical taik. In Miss Jennings’ garden all the old herbs flourish. Here is camomile, valued by the ancients for its curative properties, but grown by Miss Jen nings for its yellow flowers, which make excelent hairwash for blondes. Camomile obligingly begins to flower in December, and does not cease its benevolent endeavours till well after Easter. It is a crop that takes some harvesting. Hyssop came in for some comment. “Hyssop was a remedy esteemed in bygone days,” Miss Jennings told her audience. “It has deep purple flowers and is ornamental as well as useful.” ’Tarragon, from which Miss Jennings makes her own tarragon vinegar, caraway, which produces the hom-ely caraway seed, coriander, and tansy, which moves every Yorkshireman to poetry, all came in for their share of attention. It is a pleasant place this garden of Miss Jennings. The hvrbs are all planted in beds, each in the spot it likes best, and all flourish with good intent. Even the dock is not over looked, and after hearing something of its healing virtues from Miss Jennings, the visiters regarded it with the respect due to an old and honoured acquaintance. The majority of the herbs grown

I said Miss Jennin-, come seas, some from far l® !1 ‘ ; of the rare Vipers iwas found near i it flourishes gratefully i® I Vipers Buglo-. bv the 1 bcr of the borage ' books say it is inval«a ble £M pulmonary cutn rh. Just , passing by?