APPENDIX 171 



(Red) Dock (Eiimex aquatkus). 

 Tormentil {PoteuHlla Torrmntilla). 



The autliur is indebted to Mr. Holmes fur kind permiHsioii to ([uote the 

 foregoing li^ts. Reprints of his paper may be obtained from Mr. Holmes 

 (Ruthven, Sevenoaks, Kent). Bulletin 78 of the West of Scotland Agri- 

 cultural College, written by ^Mr. Hosking, may be perused with profit by 

 all who are interested in medicinal plants. 



Ill a lecture delivered before the Royal Society of 

 Arts on 2nd May, 1917, Mr. J. C. Slienstone has given ns 

 some useful hijits with regard to the policy whicli we 

 should pursue in the near future in order to make herb 

 growing profitable in this country and safe from the 

 attacks of foreign competitors. Just as the cultivated 

 strawberry has been derived from the wild strawberry 

 by careful cultivation, so it is probable that an increase 

 in the percentage of the active principles of our drug 

 plants could be obtained by their careful cultivation 

 under optimum conditions. It is not to be expected thdt 

 this will be possible without State aid, for, financially, the 

 experimental cultivation of drug herbs is certain to be 

 conducted at a loss, and it is fitting that the State should 

 pay for results that would benefit all growers. Mr. 

 Shenstone instances how the alkaloidal value of cinchona 

 bark was greatly raised by cultivation, A still more 

 remarkable instance of the effect of cultivation is sup- 

 plied by the fact that English henbane is very much 

 richer in alkaloids than the same plant grown in Ger- 

 many. This plant appears to be very erratic in its growth, 

 sometimes refusing to grow altogether, and the few 

 gi'owers who have discovered the secret of the condi- 

 tions of its growth prefer not to disclose them. Again, 

 it has been found that foxglove growing on a hot sandy 

 bank, protected by a wood, gives digitahs of the higliesl; 

 physiological \'alue. TJiere can be little doubt of tht 



