Anise-Seed
ANISETTE. -Anise belongs to a class of plants, including carraway or carvy, cumin, dill, and coriander, which are supposed to have a carminative virtue. It is therefore much prized in nurseries where the infants suffer from flatulence. It is also supposed to increase the supply of milk in mothers. The French seem to prize greatly the liqueur known as Anisette of Bordeaux, Appetite Doubtless it has its virtues, but it has a sickly taste, and may well be left among the medicine bottles of the nursery.
The most admirable employment of anise-seed in England is in simulating the odour of a fox. To vary the amusement of foxhunting and to make sure of a good run, the huntsman goes forth in the morning dragging after him a bag of anise-seed, and choosing the best line across country for an exhilarating and not too easy ride. The hounds are afterwards put upon the scent, and follow it as a genuine fox to the finish.