THE 
AUSTRALASIAN 
a£ Pha rmavg. 
No. 5.] 
©viigimtl mxX IVvlivUsu 
A VISIT TO MESSRS. W. H. SLATER & SONS’ MEDICINAL 
HERB GROUNDS. 
It was with a certain amount of satisfaction the present writer learned that 
among Victorian industries the growth of medicinal herbs found a place, 
although not in sufficiently large quantity to figure in the statistics. And while 
that sense of satisfaction was somewhat marred by the fact that only one spot 
in this large colony contributed to that result, it was somewhat gratifying to 
know that the first, the only one as yet who had attempted it on a commer- 
cial scale, had made it a success so far. The industry may therefore be 
regarded as established, although in its infancy, giving promise of future develop- 
ment and inherent capabilities of expansion. 
The grounds are at Box Hill, and the place is appropriately named Mitcham 
Grove, after Mitcham, in Surrey, where, as is well known, some of the larges* 
concerns of this kind in the world are carried on. The proprietors are Messrs. 
Slater and Sons, the former of whom has had the benefit of sixteen years’ 
experience at Mitcham, where not only the most approved methods and the 
most modern appliances are adopted, but in some cases the finest strains of 
medicinal plants are to be had. It will thus be evident that Mr. Slater was 
specially fitted, both from training and experience, for introducing such an 
industry into the colony, and from the connection he still maintains with his 
former employers he is able to introduce from time to time any new medicinal 
plant that may be worth trying here. 
There is usually conjoined in the same establishment with the growth of 
medicinal plants the distillation of the essential oils, or attars, and the manufac- 
ture of perfumes. The distillation of eucalyptus oil has been carried on at 
Mitcham Grove for the past eighteen years, as well as that of other oils used 
m perfumery. But as it is with the medicinal herb branch we are concerned at 
present this need not be further noticed. The object of our visit, in fact 
was to see what medicinal plants had been tried to be grown on a commercial 
scale, and how they had succeeded in their new home. To cultivate such plants 
successfully required special skill and knowledge of their requirements, and, after 
all, the heat and moisture, the soil and climate, might not have proved quite •• 
to their liking. It is only after actual trial that success can be predicted,'**' 
an m this paper I will point out the more important and profitable medicinal 
plants which have stood the test and done well in this part of Victoria. 
It is but fair to add that Mr. Slater received us with true English hospi- 
ta ity, and his readiness to impart information was only equalled by '’his ability 
to o so. He would like to see the industry take root in the colony and 
ecome established as one of the minor industries. There are just now plenty 
MAY, 1886. 
[VOL. I. 
