Rosemary -plants,oil and cultivation

Cultivation:

Rosemary is a dense, woody evergreen perennial that grows up to 3 m. It has bushy stems with cracked grey bark. The young shoots are covered with narrow aromatic, hard leaves which are dark and shiny above and greyish beneath. Small blue flowers on short racemes appear in early summer.

This herb rarely produces seed except under the most favourable conditions, so that it will be necessary to obtain plants or rooted cuttings to start. They are planted in well-drained, alkaline soil, in an exposed area. The plant will make a dense shrub 2 feet in diameter and about 3 feet in height by the end of the second season. Blooming generally begins when the plants are 2 years old or older. Some protection is necessary to prevent winter injury in localities where low temperatures are frequent. The growth can be pruned back several inches once or twice each season after the plants become large enough. The herb from the prunings should be dried on a screen and the leaves stripped from the stems and stored in closed containers.

Commercial Uses: Rosemary has a very pungent flavour and it should be used with discretion. It is a traditional flavouring for lamb dishes, but is used with most other meats and fish as well. It is an important component in most combinations of mixed herbs and is invaluable in the stuffing for the Christmas turkey. Rosemary is also used as a tea and an infusion of the leaves has always been popular as a hair rinse. Sprigs of rosemary are worn on Anzac Day "for remembrance". Old diggers talked of rosemary growing wild on the Gallipoli battlefield and how the perfume of its crushed leaves evoked powerful memories.: In addition, it has recently been found to possess antimicrobial activity. Leaves have medicinal properties and are used for treating depression, migraine, and disorders of the liver and digestion. Leaves made into ointment is useful against neuralgia, rheumatism, eczema and minor wounds. They are also used as hair rinses and mouthwashes.

Rosemary Oil:

Rosemary contains about 0.5 - 2.0% volatile oil. Major components found are a-pinene, d-linalool and camphene