(archangelica Officinalis Hoffm)

a biennial or perennial herb of the natural order Umbelliferae, so called from its supposed

medicinal qualities. It is believed to be a native of Syria, from

whence it has spread to many cool European climates, especially Lapland

and the Alps, where it has become naturalized.





Description. Its roots are long, spindle-shaped, fleshy, and sometimes

weigh three pounds; its stems stout, herbaceous, fluted, of en more than

4 feet tall, and hollow; its leaves long-stalked, frequently 3 feet in

length, reddish purple at the clasping bases, and composed, in the

larger ones, of numerous small leaflets, in three principal groups,

which are each subdivided into three lesser groups; its flowers

yellowish or greenish, small and numerous, in large roundish umbels; its

seeds pale yellow, membranous-edged, oblong flattened on one side,

convex on the other, which is marked with three conspicuous ribs.



Cultivation. Since the seeds lose their vitality rapidly, rarely being

viable after the first year, they should be sown as soon as ripe in late

summer or early autumn, or not later than the following spring after

having been kept during the winter in a cold storeroom. The soil should

be moderately rich, rather light, deep, well drained, but moist and well

supplied with humus. It should be deeply prepared and kept loose and

open as long as tools can be used among the plants, which may be left to

care for themselves as soon as they shade the ground well.



In the autumn, the seeds may be sown where the plants are to remain or

preferably in a nursery bed, which usually does not need protection

during the winter. In the spring a mild hotbed, a cold frame or a

nursery bed in the garden may be used, according to the earliness of

planting. Half an inch is deep enough to cover the seeds. The seedlings

should be transplanted when still small for their first summer's growth,

a space of about 18 inches being allowed between them. In the autumn

they should be removed to permanent quarters, the plants being set 3

feet apart.



If well grown, the leaves may be cut for use during the summer after

transplanting; the plants may not, however, produce seed until the

following season. Unless seed is desired, the tops should be cut and

destroyed at or before flowering time, because, if this be not done, the

garden is apt to become overrun with angelica seedlings. If the seeds

are wanted, they should be gathered and treated as indicated on page 28.

After producing seed, the plants frequently die; but by cutting down the

tops when the flower heads first appear, and thus preventing the

formation of seed, the plants may continue for several years longer.



Uses. The stems and leaf stalks, while still succulent, are eaten as a

salad or are roasted or boiled like potatoes. In Europe, they are

frequently employed as a garnish or as an adjunct to dishes of meat and

fish. They are also largely used for making candied angelica. (See

below.) Formerly the stems were blanched like celery and were very

popular as a vegetable; now they are little used in the United States.

The tender leaves are often boiled and eaten as a substitute for

spinach. Less in America than in Europe, the seeds, which, like other

parts of the plant, are aromatic and bitterish, are used for flavoring

various beverages, cakes, and candies, especially "comfits." Oil of

angelica is obtained from the seeds by distillation with steam or

boiling water, the vapor being condensed and the oil separated by

gravity. It is also obtained in smaller quantity from the roots, 200

pounds of which, it is said, yield only about one pound of the oil. Like

the seeds, the oil is used for flavoring.



Angelica candied. Green says: The fresh roots, the tender stems, the

leaf stalks and the midribs of the leaves make a pleasing aromatic

candy. When fresh gathered the plant is rather too bitter for use. This

flavor may be reduced by boiling. The parts should first be sliced

lengthwise, to remove the pith. The length of time will depend somewhat

upon the thickness of the pieces. A few minutes is usually sufficient.

After removal and draining the pieces are put in a syrup of granulated

sugar and boiled till full candy density is reached. The kettle is then

removed from the fire and the contents allowed to cool. When almost cold

the pieces are to be taken out and allowed to dry.



TTITLE Anise



(Pimpinella Anisum, Linn.), an annual herb of the natural order

Umbelliferae. It is a native of southwestern Asia, northern Africa and

south-eastern Europe, whence it has been introduced by man throughout

the Mediterranean region, into Germany, and to some extent into other

temperate regions of both hemispheres, but seems not to be known

anywhere in the wild state or as an escape from gardens. To judge from

its mention in the Scriptures (Matthew xxiii, 23), it was highly

valued as a cultivated crop prior to our era, not only in Palestine,

but elsewhere in the East. Many Greek and Roman authors, especially

Dioscorides, Theophrastus, Pliny and Paladius, wrote more or less fully

of its cultivation and uses.



From their days to the present it seems to have enjoyed general

popularity. In the ninth century, Charlemagne commanded that it be grown

upon the imperial farms; in the thirteenth, Albertus Magnus speaks

highly of it; and since then many agricultural writers have devoted

attention to it. But though it has been cultivated for at least two

thousand years and is now extensively grown in Malta, Spain, southern

France, Russia, Germany and India, which mainly supply the market, it

seems not to have developed any improved varieties.



Description.--Its roots are white, spindle-shaped and rather fibrous;

its stems about 18 inches tall, branchy, erect, slender, cylindrical;

its root leaves lobed somewhat like those of celery; its stem leaves

more and more finely cut toward the upper part of the stem, near the top

of which they resemble fennel leaves in their finely divided segments;

its flowers yellowish white, small, rather large, in loose umbels

consisting of many umbellets; its fruits ("seeds") greenish-gray, small,

ovoid or oblong in outline, longitudinally furrowed and ridged on the

convex side, very aromatic, sweetish and pleasantly piquant.



Cultivation.--The seeds, which should be as fresh as possible, never

more than two years old, should be sown in permanent quarters as soon as

the weather becomes settled in early spring. They should be planted 1/2

inch deep, about 1/2 inch asunder, in drills 15 or 18 inches apart, and

the plants thinned when about 2 inches tall to stand 6 inches asunder.

An ounce of seed should plant about 150 feet of drill. The plants, which

do not transplant readily, thrive best in well-drained, light, rich,

rather dry, loamy soils well exposed to the sun. A light application of

well-rotted manure, careful preparation of the ground, clean and

frequent cultivation, are the only requisites in the management of this

crop.



In about four months from the sowing of the seed, and in about one month

from the appearance of the flowers, the plants may be pulled, or

preferably cut, for drying. (See page 25.) The climate and the soils in

the warmer parts of the northern states appear to be favorable to the

commercial cultivation of anise, which it seems should prove a

profitable crop under proper management.



Uses.--The leaves are frequently employed as a garnish, for flavoring

salads, and to a small extent as potherbs. Far more general, however, is

the use of the seeds, which enter as a flavoring into various

condiments, especially curry powders, many kinds of cake, pastry, and

confectionery and into some kinds of cheese and bread. Anise oil is

extensively employed for flavoring many beverages both alcoholic and

non-spirituous and for disguising the unpleasant flavors of various

drugs. The seeds are also ground and compounded with other fragrant

materials for making sachet powders, and the oil mixed with other fluids

for liquid perfumes. Various similar anise combinations are largely used

in perfuming soaps, pomatums and other toilet articles. The very

volatile, nearly colorless oil is usually obtained by distillation with

water, about 50 pounds of seed being required to produce one pound of

oil. At Erfurt, Germany, where much of the commercial oil is made, the