Packs Up And Shuts Her Gaudy Shop
--John Cleveland
"On Phillis Walking before Sunrise"
"Youth! Youth! how buoyant are thy hopes! They turn
Like marigolds toward the sunny side,"
--Jean Ingelow
"The Four Bridges"
TTITLE Marjoram
Two species of marjoram now grown for culinary purposes
(several others were formerly popular) are members o
the Labiatae or
mint family--pot or perennial marjoram (Origanum vulgare, Linn.) and
sweet or annual (O. Marjorana). Really, both plants are perennials,
but sweet marjoram, because of its liability to be killed by frost, is
so commonly cultivated in cold countries as an annual that it has
acquired this name, which readily distinguishes it from its hardy
relative. Perennial marjoram is a native of Europe, but has become
naturalized in many cool and even cold temperate climates. It is often
found wild in the Atlantic states in the borders of woods.
The general name origanum, meaning delight of the mountain, is derived
from two Greek words, oros, mountain; and ganos, joy, some of the
species being found commonly upon mountain sides. Under cultivation it
has developed a few varieties the most popular of which are a variegated
form used for ornamental purposes, and a dwarf variety noted for its
ability to come true to seed. Both varieties are used in cookery. The
perennial species seems to have had the longer association with
civilization; at least it is the one identified in the writings of