Book VI. PLANTS FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES. 875 



been cultivated with success both in England and Scotland ; though the quality of the 

 root produced is considered ))y the faculty as inferior to that of the Russia or Turkey rhu- 

 barb, probably, as Professor Martyn thinks, owing to the moisture of our climate, and 

 the imperfect mode in which it has been dried. 



5519. In the culture of this plant, if bulk of produce be the object, then a deep, rich, loamy sand, should 

 be chosen ; but if flavor, then a dry, warm, somewhat calcareous sand. Prepare, as for liquorice, and 

 sow the seeds in patches of two or three seeds, in rows four feet apart, and the same distance in the rows. 

 Transplanting from seed-beds may be adopted ; but the roots are never so handsome and entire. As soon 

 as the plants appear, leave only one in a place. The plants will now stand in the angles of squares of four 

 feet to the side ; and the after-culture consists in horse-hoeing and deep stirring, both lengthways and 

 across; in ploughing in the same directions; in never letting the flower-stems rise higher than two 

 feet, or shew flowers or seed, unless some is v/anted for propagation; and in removing the decayed 

 haulm every autumn. The plants having stood three or four summers, may be taken up, and their main 

 roots dried in a very slow manner by any of the following modes: The common British mode of 

 curing or drying the rhubarb, after cleaning the roots, is to cut them into sections, an inch or more in 

 thickness, string them and dry them in airy lofts, laundries, or kitchens, in a gradual manner. This has long 

 been the practice of private gardeners who grow the root for their own use, and has also been adopted by 

 cultivators for the druggists. The rhubarb is cured in Tartary by being thoroughly cleaned, the smaller 

 branches cut off, and then cut transversely into pieces of a moderate size ; these are placed on long 

 tables or boards, and turned three or four times a day, that the yellow viscid juice may incorporate 

 with the substance of the root. If this juice be suffered to run out, the roots become light and unservice- 

 able ; and if they be not cut within five or six days afterthey are dug up, they become soft and decay very 

 speedily. Four or five days after they are cut, holes are made through them, and they are hung up 

 to dry exposed to the air and wind, but sheltered from the sun. Thus, in about two months, the roots are 

 completely dried, and arrive at their full perfection. The loss of weight in drying is very considerable ; 

 seven loads of green roots yielding only one small horse-load of perfectly dry rhubarb. 



5520. The Chinese in curing rhubarb, after having cleaned the roots, by scraping off the outer bark, as 

 well as the thin yellow membrane underneath, cut them in slices, an inch or two in thickness, anddry them 

 on stone slabs, under which large fires are kindled. They keep continually turning these slices on the 

 warm slabs ; but as this operation is not sufficient to dry them thoroughly, they make a hole through 

 them, and suspend them on lines, in a place exposed to the greatest heat of the sun, till they are in a con- 

 dition to be preserved without danger of spoiling. A copious account of all the experiments made in 

 Britain for the culture and curing of the rhubarb up to 1805, is given by Professor Martyn, in his edition 

 of Miller's Dictionary, art. Rheum ; and of the Turkey, Russian, and Chinese rhubarb, in Thomson's 

 Dispensatory, 2d edit. 1822, p. 469. 



5521. The lavender {Lavandula spica, L. Jig. 599 d) is a dwarf odoriferous 

 shrub of three or four years' duration, grown in the fields in a few places round Lon- 

 don, and chiefly in Surrey, for the spikes of flowers used by the druggists, perfumers 

 and distillers. The soil should be a poor dry calcareous gravel ; the seeds beino- sown 

 in a garden in spring, may be transplanted in September or March following, in rows 

 two feet apart and kept free of weeds. The second season they will yield a few flowers, 

 and a full crop the fourth, after which the plants will continue productive for five or six 

 years. The spikes are gathered in June,, dried in the shade, and sold in bundles to the 

 herbalists, druggists, &c. 



5522. Thyme, ivormwood, marjoram, savory, and some other aromatics, are cultivated 

 in the same manner, and for similar purposes. Being usually smaller plants, they 

 should be planted closer, but to have much flavor the soil must be dry and calcareous. 



5523. Chamomile {Anthemis nobilis) is a creeping perennial, grown for its flowers* 

 It only requires to be planted on a poor soil, in rows a foot apart and hoed between. 

 It will produce abujidance of flowers annually from June to September, which are 

 gathered, and dried in the shade. They are sold by weight to the druggists and apotheca- 

 ries. The double-flowered variety is, from its beauty, that commonly cultivated ; but the 

 single possesses more of the virtues of the plant according to its weight. 



5524. The mints {Mentha), and especially the peppermint {Mentha jnperitis),w[Q creep- 

 ing rooted perennials, cultivated on rich marshy or soft black moist soils for distillin'j-. 

 The plants are grown in beds with trenches of a foot or more in width and depth 

 between, so as to admit of irrigation. The sets are obtained from old plantations and 

 planted in rows across the beds at six inches distance every way, in March or April. 

 No produce is obtained the first year worth notice, but a full crop the tliird, and the 

 shoots will continue to produce five or six years. Tlie spikes of flowers, and in some 

 cases the entire herbage, is cut over in June as soon as the flowers expand, and carried 

 immediately to the druggist's still. Some growers distil it themselves. 



5525. The common valerian {Valeriana ojjicinalis, L.) is sometimes cultivated for its 

 roots for the druggists. It is a native plant, and prefers a loamy soil. In Derbyshire 

 it is planted in rows twelve inches apart, and the plants six inches asunder, which are 

 either procured from the offsets of former plantations, or from wild plants found in 

 wet places in the neighboring woods. Soon after it comes up in the sprino' the tops are 

 cut off, to prevent its running to seed, which spoils it. At Michaelmas, the leaves are 

 pulled and given to cattle, and the roots dug up carefully, and clean washed, and the 

 remaining top is then cut close off, and the thickest part slit down to facilitate 

 their drying, which is effected on a kiln, after which they must be packed tight, and 

 kept very dry, or they spoil. The usual produce is about ]8 cwt. per acre. This croi> 

 is manured in the winter, of which it requires a great deal. 



5526. The orchis or snlep plant {Orchis mascula, L.) is a tuberous perennial, which 

 grows plentifully in moist meadows in Gloucestershire, and other parts of the country. 

 It flowers in May and ripens seeds in July. It has been proposed to be cultivated for 



