44 PHARMACAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



much used as a domestic remedy, as a tonic diaphoretic and to check 

 diarrhoea; particularly useful in bowel and stomach complaints of 

 children. It has a very pleasant odor, recalling apple blossoms. There 

 is no reason why this should not displace the German camomile. Easily 

 cultivated, in quite dry, sandy, and loamy soil. No irrigation required. 



8. Crocus. This liliaceous plant requires rich, moist soil. The 

 chief difficulty in its profitable culture is the cost of labor. A care- 

 fully watched commercial experiment carried on for one or two years 

 would make it possible to determine whether or not the culture of this 

 plant could be carried on profitably. Is successfully grown in Pennsyl- 

 vania. It could no doubt be cultivated in association with colchicum, 

 and perhaps connallaria, which require similar soil conditions. 



9. Dandelion. This plant grows in every country. A common 

 lawn weed. The profit in dandelion culture is doubtful, because of 

 the low price for the drug and because of high-priced American labor. 

 Gathering the roots will prove costly. 



10. Dill and Related Plants. Thrive exceedingly well in Cali- 

 fornia. Ordinary soil will serve. Conium, caraway, fennel, and celery 

 are closely related to dill, similar in appearance and may be similarly 

 cultivated. Cultivation is quite simple. Sow broadcast on good soil 

 kept free from weeds. 



11. Eriodictyon. This popular native drug plant could no doubt 

 be grown profitably on waste hillside lands. Quite common on the 

 coast hills of middle and northern California. Seed can be obtained 

 from the wild-growing plants. Clear the hillside land and sow the seed 

 broadcast. 



12. Foxglove. Very common as an ornamental plant (both the 

 English and the German). It requires fairly rich soil with ample 

 moisture. Plant in rows three feet apart, eight inches apart in the 

 row. Leaves can easily be removed by stripping from the stalks. Has 

 escaped from cultivation and occurs spontaneously along the coast 

 region of California and as far north as Vancouver Island. Accord- 

 ing to reports (G. H. P. Lichthardt of Sacramento and H. K. Mulford 

 Co. of Philadelphia), the California-grown digitalis is rich in active 

 principles. 



13. Ginseng. This plant (Aralia quinquefolia) has been grown at 

 Sunnyvale and several other places in California. It requires artificial 

 shading and very rich, moist soil. The successful cultivation of this 

 plant requires special knowledge, a long wait for the first crop (four 

 to six years), special cultural methods and careful collecting and drying. 



Most of the wild-growing ginseng in the United States has been exter- 

 minated by collectors, though it may still be found from Canada south- 



