RUE
                                        ===

                                    CULTIVATION:
     Rue  is  a aromatic semi-evergreen shrubby  perennial. It grows to about 2
     feet   in   height.  Rue  has  masses   of   leaves  and  is  topped  with
     greenish-yellow flowers.

     Rue needs full sun, but will also tolerate light shade. Grows best in well
     drained  and  alkaline soil. Rue seeds are  slow to geminate and should be
     sown  in  spring  in  a light soil.  Divide  rue  in  spring, or take stem
     cuttings  in  late summer. The plant last  for several years and will keep
     their  bushiness  if the flower heads are  pinched out each year. Thin and
     transplant  to 18 inches apart, and prune  in late spring. In sever winter
     give  it  some  protection.  Rue  can also  be  grown  indoors  in a sunny
     location. Pick young leaves just before flower starts to open.


                                  CULINARY  USES:
     Rue  leaves taste bitter, but very small amounts give an unusual muskiness
     to cream cheese, egg and fish dishes. Mix with damson plums and wine for a
     delicious  meat  sauce. Leaves may be used  with discretion in salads as a
     flavoring.

     RUE  VINEGAR : Rue leaves added to  vinegar will give it extra flavor. Use
     1/2  pint of white wine or vinegar, and  3 fresh rue leaves and a pinch of
     coriander  seed.  Mix  the ingredients and  pour  into a screw-top bottle.
     Place  in  a sunny location, shaking the  bottle every day for 3 weeks. By
     which time the vinegar will have taken up the flavor of the rue.

     Because  of its rather bitter flavor, rue  should be used sparingly in the
     kitchen  but  it  is a useful herb in  some  dishes  and it also acts as a
     general  stimulant to the appetite. Infuse  the seeds with lovage and mint
     and use as a marinade for partridge.

                                   MEDICAL USES:
     Use  rue as a tonic with sedative qualities, in colic, and for amenorrhea.
     An  infusion  would be about 1 teaspoon of  dried  rue to 1 cup of boiling
     water.  Taking  such  a  quantity in the course  of  a  day  in doses of a
     tablespoonful.  Externally the laves of fresh rue are irritating, and thus
     can  be used as a counter-irritant to be rubbed on the forehead in case of
     a  headache.  Rue  may also be of  some  use  in certain autonomic nervous
     system disorders.

     A  strong  infusion is made by pouring  a little boiling water on dried or
     fresh  rue leaves. This can be dabbed  on insect bites to bring relieve. A
     weak tea made from rue leaves can be sipped or used cold as an eye-wash to
     ease  eye strain. It is the ingredient  called Rutin contained in the herb
     which is believed to help the eyesight.

                                      WARNING:
     Take care when handling rue plants because they can produce a painful rash
     similar to nettle rash. The oil of rue is toxic, and should be use only by
     medical  personnel. Must not be used at all  by pregnant woman as it is an
     abortifacient.

                                    OTHER USES:
     Dried  leaves  contain a powerful germ  killer and insecticide, crush some
     leaves  and  sprinkle as an insect  repellent. Insect dislike the smell of
     rue so an indoor plantis helpful in keeping a room free of ants and flies.

                                  COSMETIC  USES:
     Rue  leaves  can  be  used  to bath tired  eyes.  The  oil  is used in the
     perfumery industry.