MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS 113 
The following discussion will consider not only the propagation of 
this material, but also such related problems as continued growth, 
productivity, commercial value, hardiness, habitat, and ease of 
transplanting, cultivating, and harvesting. 
The methods of propagation have been those of standard use. 
Corbett (4) divides these methods into the natural and artificial. 
The natural methods include reproduction by seeds, spores, root- 
stocks, stolons, suckers or root sprouts, bulbs, corms, and tubers. 
The artificial methods consist in reproduction by cuttings, layering, 
grafting, and budding. Necessary adjuncts to all of these methods 
are suitable greenhouses, cold frames, hot beds, and open field 
accommodations. 
Propagation from seeds has been practiced wherever possible, 
and must in nearly all cases precede other methods. Seed propa- 
gation, however practical it may be, will not serve all purposes. 
In breeding experiments and improvement selections, it is often 
very desirable to multiply individual specimens by other means. 
Inbreeding for the purpose of obtaining uniform strains is often 
a long and laborious method, while vegetative reproduction would 
give the same results in a shorter interval of time. Latent 
tendencies are more quickly and accurately eliminated, necessary 
seed production is avoided, as well as the saving of much time in 
seeding and transplanting. 
Open field methods of seeding have been found impracticable 
and in many cases impossible with many medicinal forms. This 
condition necessitates a wide deviation from most normal methods 
of cropping and leads to the necessary development of specialized 
Systems. Little of an agricultural nature has been developed with 
these forms. Farwell (8) says that belladonna, henbane, digitalis, 
and aconite can be grown as easily as potatoes. Turner (23) gives 
directions for growing henbane, which are too general to be of 
any value. Saunder’s (19) statements on the germination of seeds 
data. Henkel (10) says that digitalis offers no difficulties in culti- 
vation, and advises sowing in the open field or in seed beds. True 
(22) advocates open field planting of digitalis. Kraemer (13), in his 
brief notice on seed germination, discourages open field sowing. 
Open field sowings of henbane, belladonna and digitalis have been 
