42 PHARMACAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



Cascara culture could be carried out very successfully in the north- 

 ern portions of the State, but only by an owner of large holdings and 

 who was in possession of considerable wealth. To start a forest which 

 would, in time, yield profitable quantities of cascara bark requires a 

 vast amount of money. 



Attar roses could no doubt be grown successfully in the southern 

 portions of the State, with sufficient capital and intelligent and experi- 

 enced energy. The necessary preliminary experience must be obtained 

 in Turkey, Bulgaria, France, and other countries yielding attar of 

 rose. 



Laurel and cinnamons thrive in the State, but whether they could 

 be cultivated profitably is doubtful. Ginger, cardamoms, aloes, etc., 

 thrive in southern California. 



Some persons appear to be greatly disappointed on being informed 

 that the stories about there being big money in cultivating drug plants 

 are not all reliable. However, what has been done in Austria, (Jor- 

 many, Spain, France, and England can be done in the United States, 

 particularly in California. 



We shall now cite a few of those drug plants which can be grown 

 successfully and profitably within the State of California. This assump- 

 tion is based upon experimental evidence and numerous other data 

 which has been gathered from time to time. 



1. Absinthium. This and related plants thrive exceedingly well. 

 It is a rank-growing herbaceous plant, which can be cultivated with 

 comparatively little care. Requires rich, moist soil. Any of the low- 

 lands along the coast or of any of the interior valleys would do. Must 

 be grown on a large scale to secure any profits. The grower should 

 also be manufacturer of the oil. The market for oil and herb should 

 be carefully looked into before beginning culture on a commercial 

 scale. 



2. Aconitum. Aconite appears to be scarce, and much that is now 

 on the market is adulterated. Several species are substituted for the 

 true medicinal aconite (A. napellus) . The herb is quite common in 

 California as an ornamental flowering plant. It is extensively culti- 

 vated in England and other European countries, where it has become 

 naturalized. 



It will no doubt thrive in any of the valley lands of California, 

 requiring rather light, rich soil, with ample soil moisture. In the 

 southern portions of the State, irrigation would no doubt be necessary. 

 In fact, more or less irrigation is desirable in all parts of California, 

 excepting, perhaps, in the extreme northern sections. Plant in rows 

 three to three and one half feet apart. Cultivate like ordinary field 

 crops. We would strongly advise cultivating the officinal aconite for 



