MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS 119 
during this second transplanting, while with those from the cold 
frames this loss was scarcely appreciable. 
The successful propagation of the belladonna plant was only 
a necessary preliminary procedure to other more important 
problems. It was desired to observe this form under cultivation, 
to study its commercial production and the possibilities of develop- 
ing a strain which would produce a uniformly higher yield of 
alkaloids than the ordinary commercial drug. 
The first of these problems was accomplished through seed 
propagation. No difficulty was experienced in obtaining an 
abundance of plants after indoor methods of propagation were 
adopted. Large luxuriant plants were obtained from seed 
sown March 8, 1912, and were flowering by July 12. It is 
interesting to note here that the plants which had been trans- 
planted directly from the seed pans to the poor soil in the cold 
frames were the first plants to commence flowering. The plants 
at this time (July 12) were from two to three feet tall, and much 
branched. Ransom (17) says that belladonna grown in England 
from seed sown in early spring produces little if any herb worth 
Cutting the first year. 
It is now believed that two profitable harvests can be obtained 
during one growing season, from plantings made January Ist of 
the same year. The belladonna plant is an herbaceous perennial, 
but on account of its susceptibility to winter killing in this climate, 
it may have to be grown as an annual. 1724 plants were left in 
the open without protection as a test for hardiness and as a 
means of obtaining individual plants of unusual hardiness from 
which to develop a strain more adapted to this climate. Septem- 
ber 24 the entire herbaceous portion was removed from 1414 of 
these plants, the remaining 310 being left undisturbed. Twelve 
clumps of roots were lifted November 7, 1912, and placed in the 
cold frames with no protection except the double glass sash. The 
sash was put on at this time, and left closed until March 31, 1913, 
when the plants were first observed. At this time they were all 
bearing Vigorous sprouts. Those left in the open were showing no 
Srowth on this date. These were again observed May 1, and the 
following conditions noted: 
Number of plants, from which herbaceous portion had been 
“emoved, showing growth, 44. 
