142 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
prefer to purchase by the cwt. or ton, and buy by sample, requiring 
the bulk to be up to sample, so far as regards appearance and 
quality. 
In the case of herbs in the green state, these should be gathered 
late in the afternoon, so as to be sent off by night train and arrive 
at their destination next morning, or they would be apt to heat and 
ferment and lose colour. They are usually packed loosely in \ cwt. 
bundles, and when possible in quantities of a ton or more, so as to 
fill a railway truck. Under present conditions, owing to the delay in 
railway traffic, they should be sent labelled through to their ultimate 
destination, and marked " Plants for Medicinal Use, Urgent." 
Supplies of fresh medicinal plants are usually contracted for in April 
and delivered in June and July. Dandelion root, however, is usually 
delivered in autumn. 
It must be borne in mind that the trade in medicinal plants is a 
very curious one. Some herbs are required in quantities of many 
tons, and some only in a few cwts. But there are herbs used in 
proprietary preparations, which perhaps only one firm uses, but, 
although that one might require a dozen cwts. only, or a dozen tons, 
it would not buy them through the ordinary trade channels, but from 
special growers, or in the way best calculated to keep its secret. It 
must also be remembered that every country has medicinal plants 
that cannot be so profitably grown elsewhere. Thus Anemone 
Hepatica, which grows on limestone hilly districts, is wanted at 4%d. a lb. 
for the dried leaves (which means 4 lb. of fresh leaves for that price). 
This can be done where the plant grows wild like a weed, but not 
otherwise. Similarly Hydrastis canadensis, which grows wild in Canada, 
and American Ginseng root (Panax quinquefolium) , both of which 
fetch a high price, do not succeed well in this country, and even in the 
United States the cultivation is so difficult that the price is accordingly 
very high. We must be content to recognize that there are certain 
medicinal plants that cannot profitably be cultivated in England, and 
that these must be left to our Colonies to cultivate where the climate 
and conditions suit them. 
If I may venture to offer a few suggestions to the members of the 
Herb-growing Association, they would be as follows : 
There must be a Central Depot where all parcels of dried herbs 
can be received, graduated as to quality, and put up in uniform 
parcels of 7, 14, 28, or 56 lb. I believe such an arrangement is now 
being made. 
There must be in connexion with the Depot a Bureau in touch 
both with producers and buyers, where it would be possible to take 
orders and execute them, and arrange prices and date of delivery. 
There needs to be published each month a Calendar of herbs procurable 
during the month, indicating the parts of the plants required, and 
containing directions how to grow or propagate such herbs as might 
be grown in small gardens. An Exchange column would also be useful 
for those who wish to exchange or purchase plants and seeds. The 
