MEDICINAL HERBS : CULTIVATION AND PREPARATION. 143 
expense of such a publication should be met as far as possible by 
advertisements of sellers. 
An expert competent to determine if the herbs sent in are rightly 
named and sufficiently dried, and in a saleable condition, is necessary. 
Lastly, I would suggest that there is a large demand for culinary 
herbs, such as sage, mint, angelica, basil, thyme, and other sweet 
herbs in a dried state. 
The only two possible ways, it appears to me, in which herb culti- 
vation in small gardens could be made to pay would be, first, by 
increasing the quantity of any one culinary herb that suits the soil, 
drying it, and forwarding it to the Central Warehouse, where it 
could be used to form the large bales for wholesale trade. There is a 
far larger demand for dried and powdered culinary herbs for winter 
use than the public is aware of. 
Secondly, by cultivation for seed. Thus, in a chalky garden, a few 
plants of Belladonna might be grown in a shady corner for the seed, 
and where Henbane will succeed it would be well worth while to save 
the seed from the largest plants. Similarly the seed of the Dalmatian 
insect-powder plant (Pyrethrum cinerariaefolium) should be saved for 
sale, also white poppy seed and some others, and where Chamomile 
produces double flowers it should be propagated for the sale of 
cuttings. 
Questions put to the Lecturer, and his Answers. 
1. If not in possession of a kiln or other special apparatus of the 
nature mentioned in the lecture, what should be used ? 
Ans. Any drying-place will do, provided it has a current of hot air, 
such as an ordinary stove with hot air issuing from the top. 
The important point is rapidity, for the quicker the process 
of drying the better the colour of the product. A tempera- 
ture from 8o°-90° Fahr. up to 140 0 is sufficient for roots. 
2. When, where, and how can seeds of Belladona and Henbane be got ? 
Ans. It is impossible to get seeds now, though April is a good month 
to sow them when they are obtainable. Seeds must be 
collected in the summer and autumn from the wild plants. 
3. Should dried herbs be kept in air-tight vessels ? 
Ans. Yes, or in paper in a dry room if the colour is to be preserved. 
If exposed to the ordinary atmosphere after drying they 
turn brown, and the absorption of moisture is as much as 
12 J per cent. 
On this occasion the Society was honoured by the presence of Mr. 
Henry Cust, Chairman of the Central Committee for National Patriotic 
Organizations, at whose instance the lecture had been prepared. In 
moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Cust, Lieut.-Col. Sir Albert Rollit 
said: 
