nevertheless
that at Mitcham not a sprig of the fragrant herb is now grown. Some few
lavender fields are yet to be found beyond Carshalton, and round about
Wallington ; where likewise the humbler Peppermint gets a certain
sparse cultivation. As regards the Lavender-cutters of former days,
they are now nearly all old men. But quaint notions still possess their
minds concerning the scented spikes of their traffic ; thus, that a
spray worn inside the hat will commonly cure a headache ; and, again,
as to Lavender-water, " it be the finest drink there is,"—" to take a
sup of it afore coming to work in the morning does a mort o' good! " In
former days a pint of Lavender-oil (to produce from two to three pints
of which oil a wagon-load of the spikes would be needed) was worth
about seven pounds sterling ; but it will not fetch nearly as much now.
The distinctive title of " Lavender water, as simply thus, is a
misnomer in these times. The fragrant scent sold as such is a compound
of the essential oil of Lavender, with rectified spirit of wine,
rosemary, jessamine, bergamot, attar of roses, orange-flowers, and
musk. For this scent each manufacturing chemist has his own particular
formula. Lavender-tea made from the sprigs is an excellent restorative.
An old English rhyming verse tells of :—
" Rosemary green,
And lavender blue; Thyme and sweet marjoram, Hyssop, and rue."
"
Peace Pillows " are now made for promoting " sweet slumber," such as is
to be enjoyed in the fragrant noiseless recesses of a great forest. The
soft stuffing of these pillows is impregnated with balsamic wood oils,.
