DRYING HERBS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 7, 10 November 1883, Page 4

DRYING HERBS.

Hibbs should be gathered as soon as they begin to open their flowers. In drying them two methods are employed. One ia to tie them into bunches as soon as cut and hang them up in a room or shed. The other is to first lay them out in the sun to dry. By both these methods the quality is deteriorated. If fermentation takes place sufficient to discolour the leaves—such as occurs more or less when the herbs are tied up in bunches whilst green and sappy—their best properties are destroyed. In confirmation of this it is only necessary to point to the extreme care taken by the growers of lavender, mint, &c., for distilling. For such purposes they are not allowed to be together even for a few hours. If, on the other hand, herbs be exposed to the sun, much of their strength is dissipated, they become quite brown, and that fresh green appearance which they possess when the drying is well managed is destroyed. But when herbs have been improperly treated, loss of strength is not the worst result; there is always imparted to them a disagreeable flavour. In drying herbs an open shed or room where plenty of air can be given is necessary. Stretch out a piece of netting, such as is used for protecting fruit from birds, or wire netting if at hand ; on this lay the herbs (which should be cut when quite dry) thinly. Thus treated air acts upon them from all sides, and they dry quickly, which is the primary object, without losing their best properties. When perfectly dry put them loosely in white paper bags, tie them up, and hang them where they will be free from damp, or they will become mouldy. Herbs treated in this way will be found to be but little inferior to such as are fresh cut. Sage should now be propagated by slips, taking off middling-sized branches and inserting them moderately deep in the ground in rows where they are to be grown. If the weather becomes dry, give them plenty of water until they are rooted. The advantage of growing sage from slips or cuttings is that plants so produced have not such a disposition to flower as those raised from seed,