DIGITALIS 127 



ration and become a thick roadside plant, growing 

 luxuriantly near Cloverdale, and in such abundance as 

 to have led to its consideration as a commercial crop. 

 To Dr. Walter F. Brown, of that city, we are indebted 

 for nice specimens of the leaf, and photographs showing 

 the flower-spikes over nine feet high. He writes as 

 follows, (1912): 



"1. As near as I can find, digitalis has been growing 

 here for twenty years. It was confined to a few spots 

 for several years, but it is now found all over the south- 

 ern half of the county. 



"2. It is supposed to have been brought here by 

 pioneers, and cultivated for its flowers. 



"3. The dairymen claim that some cows will eat it in 

 early spring, when the leaves are tender and other for- 

 age is scarce. It has no noticeable effect on the animals 

 that eat it, but they eat very little of it. 



"4. I have used the infusion and the tincture for 

 about fifteen years, and of late years I have used digi- 

 talin to some extent. 



"5. People in this locality make no use of the plant, 

 looking upon it as a despicable weed that takes their 

 hillside pastures." 



Other than for the high price of labor in this country, 

 there is no reason why digitalis should not be American 

 cultivated, and in localities suited to its growth, such 

 as Oregon, produce an abundance sufficient to supply 

 all our needs. 



The leaf of the second year's growth of digitalis is 

 generally directed to be used, but in our opinion this 

 limitation to the second year's crop is ill-advised and 

 unnecessary. The mature leaves of either the first or 

 the second year's crop are superior to immature or 



