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a soil they are less odorous and compact. Rich yellow soil is still less adapted 

 to the culture, as in it the plants die quickly. Rich land near manure 

 heaps produces a large quantity of plants, but the roots then are worth 

 nothing: they possess little fragrance, and when dried shrivel up and 

 become unsaleable. The altitude of the plantation is of little importance, 

 though the best ground is usually found on hill-sides. Orris, however, 

 also grows high up in the mountains, but snow and ice make the cultivation 

 very difficult there, and in such high situations the root takes a few years 

 more to reach its full growth. The best plan is to prepare the soil for 

 orris root by spring seeding with some variety of leguminous plant, and 

 then to plough it deeply. The best months for planting are August and 

 September, but orris may be planted as late as the first half of October. 

 As, however, the plant begins to grow immediately upon being placed in 

 the ground, the first two months mentioned are the best time. The best 

 method of planting is to begin at the bottom of the hill and make holes 

 with a hoe about 16" apart. The soil should be well hoed in May and 

 again in September, but irrigation is not beneficial to the plants, as the 

 roots become less compact in moist soil and there is a dangerous tendency 

 towards fermentation — a condition which is also frequently brought about 

 by manuring. If the production of a large number of plants (for planting 

 out) is desired, a system of fertilizing with rich soil can be adopted. The 

 best fertilizer is the seed of Lupinus alius, which, after having been pre- 

 viously baked in an oven, is placed in small quantities round each plant 

 at the September hoeing of the first year. If the field is to be replanted 

 with orris root, the soil should be well fertilized, and grass, maize or 

 some other crop grown upon it for 3 or 4 years previously. The gathering 

 of the crop begins in the second half of June, and is carried out in the 

 following manner: — Some of the gatherers hoe out as many entire plants 

 as can be handled during the following day, because the plants dry quickly 

 when exposed to sun and wind. The plants are taken to a shelter, where 

 the bulbous part of the root is carefully detached, care being taken to 

 leave enough runners attached to the plant to make it possible for it to 

 grow again in the following year. The bulbous root is then scraped, 

 cleaned, and washed in running water. This work is paid at the rate of 

 6 centesimi per kilo for root weighed after the washing-water has been 

 dried off. The roots are dried in the sun, with provision for covering against 

 rain. It is well to spread out the roots before sunrise, in order that they 

 may receive the bleaching effect of the morning dew. After 8 days' ex- 

 posure to a strong sun the roots can be packed and stored. Artificial 

 drying in ovens or in any other manner injures the root and makes it 

 less white. In drying the root loses about one-third of its weight. The 

 yearly production in the province of Tuscany is about 1 320 000 lbs., and 

 the principal growing districts are Bagno a Ripoli, Figlino Valdarno, 

 Incisa Valdarno, Pelago, Pontassieve, Rignano suH'Arno, Reggello, Lam- 



