MEDICINAL HERBS : CULTIVATION AND PREPARATION. 141 
Drying. 
There are many methods of drying. Ordinary herbs with fairly 
rigid stems, like Peppermint and Wormwood and Yarrow, are best 
tied loosely up into bundles, and hung on strings or wire, until the 
leaves are withered, but should be kept under cover in case of a shower. 
Artificial heat may then be used to dry the stems, and thus finish the 
operation. The bundles should be made as far as possible nearly 
equal in length, and uniform in size, for convenience of packing. In 
the case of flaccid herbs these should be thinly spread on a flat, dry 
surface, in a place freely exposed to a current of air and sunshine. 
This may be done in the open air in summer weather, provided an 
arrangement is made by the use of Wiilesden scrim or tarpaulin, 
supported on a roller, so that it can quickly be drawn over the herbs 
to protect them in case of a sudden shower. This is especially necessary 
in the case of Chamomile flowers, which soon turn brown if wetted. 
Smooth leaves like those of Belladonna, or sticky leaves like those of 
Henbane, require to be dried in a single layer at first, as they shrivel 
and become discoloured if treated in masses. The secret of all good 
drying is to deprive the leaves or other plant organs of moisture as 
rapidly as possible, and to see that the lamina or thin part of the leaf 
is fairly dry before using artificial heat to dry the stems. It must be 
understood that the majority of plants lose at least 72 per cent, of 
moisture in drying, and some leaves, such as Belladonna, lose 85 to 
90 per cent., so that it usually requires 4 lb. of fresh herb to yield 
1 lb. of dried, and in other cases 6 or 8 lb. to yield one. It must 
also be borne in mind that, after herbs, &c, are thoroughly dried, on 
exposure to the air they will absorb from the atmosphere about 12 
per cent, of moisture and become flexible, but leaves that are allowed 
to do this, although less brittle and therefore more convenient for 
handling, are apt to deteriorate in physiological action. In some 
cases, such as Digitalis and Ergot, this consideration is of the utmost 
importance. I have found, however, by experience, that, if kept 
chemically dry by means of lime, they retain their activity unimpaired 
for at least ten years, and probably much longer. I have placed on 
the table some specimens to illustrate these facts. This process 
has not as yet been generally adopted, but firms who use it have 
acquired an excellent reputation for the quality of their goods, espe- 
cially of Foxglove. It is in this direction, i.e. carefully dried and 
preserved herbs, that there is an opening for extending the market 
to other countries, since much of the cheap Continental supply is 
inferior in quality and often largely adulterated. 
Marketing. 
It must be distinctly understood that wholesale buyers are 
not willing to take small parcels from a number of sellers, but 
