TRANSACTIONS OK SECTION K. 507 



Professor A. C. Seward was of the opinion that, from the economic point 

 of view, the chemical investigation of coal was of greater importance than the 

 purely botanical examination, the results of which, he was afraid, would, from 

 a utilitarian standpoint, be comparatively meagre. 



2. Discussion on the Collection and Cultivation of Medicinal Plants. 



The discussion was introduced by Professor H. Ct. Greenish, of the Pharma- 

 ceutical Society of Great Britain. 



After pointing out the shortage which had been produced by the state of 

 war, and to which attention had been drawn so early as 1914 by the Board of 

 Agriculture, he proceeded to give an account of the efforts that had been made 

 to remedy this by fostering home production. In the autumn of 1915 the 

 Herb (irowing Association, which had sprung into e.xistence for this purpose, 

 made serious attempts to organise on co-operative lines, but they had the 

 misfortune to lose their drying-shed by fire, and the Central Committee of the 

 National Patriotic Organisation came forward to endeavour to place the new 

 industry on a sound basis. 



To this end a circular letter was issued, urging landowners to devote a 

 portion of their land to medicinal plants, and a leaflet with lists of plants and 

 hints for drying, &c. A conference was then held, at which the Central 

 Committee, the Herb Growing Association, and the Agricultural Organisation 

 Society were represented, and as a result a scheme has been drafted for the 

 establishment of the herb industry on a proper footing. 



Only the future can show whether this industry can be made a financial 

 success, but, notwithstanding the pessimistic views which have been expressed. 

 Professor Greenish was of the opinion that the high quality of the home-grown 

 and dried article would command a price suflicient to warrant the trial. There 

 is scope also for research and experiment on the production of plants of higher 

 yield or greater medicinal intensity. 



The President then read a paper sent by Mr. E. M. Holmes, F.L.S., F.E.S., 

 also of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, on the cultivation of 

 medicinal plants and the collection of wild herbs in Britain. 



The author suggested the collection of herbs by instructed children, the 

 establishment of public drying-houses, and the cultivation of certain plants. 

 Belladonna, Henbane, Digitalis, in the particular place in which they flourish. 



The industry can only be extended to an export trade by establishing the 

 supeiioritxj of the British-grown article. The Colonies are attempting to grow 

 their own herbs on account of the inferior material exported to them from this 

 country. 



From the scientific point of view, which is naturally that of the British 

 Association, there are several matters in connection with the cultivation of 

 medicinal plants that deserve serious consideration. 



1. The possible improvement in the alkaloidal value of the plants. 



2. The possible improvement in the yield of essential oils, and especially the 



increased percentage of the more valuable constituents of the oils. 



3. The most favourable conditions of cultivation for each particular species. 

 Some experiments have been already made by the Agricultural Departments 



in tfie United States, in Germany, Austria, and other countries on these lines, 

 but two mistakes have been made by these Departments : 



(a) They have not sought the best outside expert advice. 



[b) They have published too soon such results as they have obtained, on a 

 small scale, without comparing them with results obtained elsewhere by practical 

 men working on a large scale with the plants, and without stating the com- 

 parative conditions of soil, climate, and general environment. 



Thus an' American experimentalist states that the Biennial Henbane does 

 not revert to the annual form, whereas I could show him in my own ground 

 all stages between the two in different soils and with different treatment. 



1. With regard to the possible improvements in' the alkaloidal value of 

 important medicinal plants, I may mention a few of the points that seem to 

 me to demand careful experiments. 



