16 * 
THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
are so favourable for its production, there can be no doubt that, if its cultivation 
were gone into with energy and on an extensive scale in a suitable soil and 
situation, the results would prove satisfactory. 
Liquorice ( Glycyrrhiza glabra) is another crop which grows very well, but, 
as it requires a good deal of labour, it is only grown on a very limited scale. 
A good price is obtained for the roots, and when it is considered that an acre 
may sometimes yield three or four tons, the profit is undoubted. A fertile soil 
is required, and plenty of good manure. The roots contain the ordinary 
liquorice, or sweet juice, and in order to get them up deep digging is required. 
The land is trenched to a depth of three feet or so to reach the roots, which 
have sometimes gone to a depth of even seven feet at Mitcham G-rove— 
possibly showing that the supply of manure was deficient when they had to 
travel so far for plant-food. 
The supply of manure, as well as labour, is seen to be an important factor 
in the growth of these plants. Mr. Slater has not only experimented on the 
growth of particular plants, and found out for us those which thrive and those 
which do not, but he has tried the effect of different manures on various crops, 
and thus, by dear bought experience, acquired information which might prove 
valuable to others. The general results can only be noted now, but such experi- 
ments are well worthy of publicity in all their details, since they constitute a 
fund of information upon which those embarking in the business can always draw, 
and perhaps save needless expenditure. 
He found, for instance, with the plants I have selected, that bone-dust alone 
did not produce good results, but superphosphate did, while Peruvian guano and 
bone-dust together suited better still. Farm-yard manure was very valuable, but 
combined with Peruvian guano and bone-dust did best of all. These are only 
general results, without quantities, but they may prove of general interest, as 
showing that the railway may overcome the difficulty of procuring manure to a 
certain extent. With the cost of manure about double, and that of labour in 
some cases treble the amount at home, the aim should be mainly, for some 
time time to come, rather to supply ourselves than compete with others in a 
foreign market. 
There was much more learned from our visit than I can convey now to the 
reader, but this much will be patent— that our genial southern land is well 
adapted by nature for the growth of a variety of medicinal plants. The success 
which has attended Mr. Slater’s efforts, with all the difficulties incident to the 
starting and carrying on a new industry, proves what might be done were such 
efforts multiplied and extended. But even in such small beginnings I can 
foresee the promise of greater things, and it seemed to me somewhat suggestive, 
if not prophetic, of the future of Victoria that in what was not so long ago a 
wilderness, not only corn and wine, but oil, did abound— not only the celebrated 
oil from its native eucalyptus, but oil from such old favourites as the 
lavender and the peppermint. I felt as I turned my steps homeward that it 
would be well for the colony and its people to have dotted here and there 
over its vast expanse a few sucli spots as Mitcham Grove, but on a more 
extended scale, where the plants which minister to man’s luxury, or alleviate 
his pain, or infuse fresh vigour into him, might grow and flourish like the land 
itself. D. M‘Alpine. 
Theke are said to be 5000 patent medicines of American concoction nowon the 
market, and the trade amounts to 22,000,000 dollars per annum. Of this 10,000,000 
dollars are expended in advertising, and the net profits are set down at 5,000,000 
dollars. 
