PHARMACAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 43 



medicinal use, as the genuine drug is rather scarce. The market, 

 though limited, is constant. 



3. Anise. This rank-growing herb thrives exceedingly well in 

 California. Has escaped from cultivation, and is a troublesome weed 

 in places. The grower should also manufacture the oil. 



4. Belladonna. This plant requires rich, moist soil, with ample 

 atmospheric moisture in the form of low fogs. The immediate coast 

 region of California is suitable, particularly from Santa Barbara north- 

 ward. It has been grown experimentally in Los Angeles (Mr. Geo. 

 Hill), in Golden Gate Park (Garden of Medicinal Plants), Berkeley 



I' Diversity Experimental Gardens, and at the writer's home), at 

 Salinas, Fruitvale (Chas. Bixby), and on a commercial scale at Castro 

 Valley. 



The seeds are started in cold frames in October, the seedlings are 

 cared for in the cold frames that winter, and the spring and summer 

 of the season following, and transplanted in the following winter. Two 

 and three crops can be gathered in one season, with or without irriga- 

 tion. The roots are taken up at the end of the third or fourth season. 



The alkaloidal content of the California-grown belladonna is remark- 

 ably high, in both stems and leaves (0.35 to 0.82 per cent). The entire 

 herb is marketed. For further details as to culture in California, etc., 

 see PROC. A. PH. A., v. 57, pp. 833-843. 1909. 



5. Calamus. A marsh or bog plant which could no doubt be grown 

 profitably in the wet, marshy soils of California, along with mints. Like 

 the mints, it has perennial runners or rhizomes, and, after once being 

 started, takes care of itself. The rhizomes can be secured from the 

 notheastern United States, where it is native. 



6. Cannabis. This tall, rank, fiber plant thrives exceedingly well 

 in California. It may be grown as a fiber plant or for medicinal pur- 

 poses, or for both purposes. It thrives best in rich, moist, sandy loam. 

 It should be culturally tried out in the irrigated desert lands of south- 

 eastern California, as the probable ideal country for its culture (near 

 Yuma, Imperial Valley, Chucawalla Valley) . The cultural possibilities 

 of the plant are unlimited, because of the value of its fiber. Only 

 the dried flowering tops of the pistillate plants are used medicinally. 

 The prospective grower must decide whether culture is for medicinal 

 purposes, for manufacturing purposes as a fiber plant, or both. (See 

 DISPENSATORIES and standard works on MATERIA MEDIC A, PROC. A. PH. 

 A., v. 57, pp. 843-845. 1909. STATE AND U. S. GOV'T. REPORTS ox 

 HEMP CULTURE, etc.) 



7. Camomile. The several recognized medicinal species thrive 

 exceedingly well. A native camomile (matricaria discoidea D. C.) is 



