THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
203 
many of our articles Rave been reprinted in English journals, while the Continental 
Press has done us the honour of presenting translations of them to French and 
German readers. This is a compliment of which any paper might be proud, and we 
trust to be excused a little self-congratulation upon the circumstance. While we are 
grateful that our efforts have been so well received, it shall be our earnest endeavour 
to “ better the instruction” which experience and the growth of pharmacy may 
bring to us, and to maintain our position as the recognised organ of pharmacy 
throughout Australasia, meeting the demands upon us created by the increase in the 
importance of the interests which we have the honour to represent with ever 
increasing exertions and a liberal expenditure. 
THE CULTIVATION OF MEDICINAL HERBS. 
In our last issue Mr. D. M‘Alpine gave a very interesting account of his visit 
to Messrs. W. H. Slater and Sons’ medicinal herb grounds. And, we take it, 
the results achieved by the Messrs. Slater at Mitcham Grove, Box Hill, as 
recorded by Mr. M* Alpine, are such as, not merely the proprietors, but the 
community at large are to be heartily congratulated upon. It would appear that 
the enterprise in question is of limited extent, but that there is every promise of 
its development into a considerable and profitable industry is very conclusively 
shown. It is surely noteworthy that so competent an authority as the writer 
named should adopt the statement that the colonial-grown oil of lavender “ has 
been considered superior to the finest grown anywhere.” And Mr. M ‘Alpine's 
report speaks in scarcely less favourable terms concerning the many other plants 
used in the production of perfumes and medicines which have been successfully 
experimented upon at Messrs. Slater’s estate. The report appropriately makes 
mention of M. Piesse’s complimentary reference, in the Encyclopedia Britamiica , 
to the superiority of the Australian climate over even that of Southern France for 
the purposes of flower-growing. And, says Mr. MAlpine, “I think it deserves 
to be put on record that it is equally adapted for the growth of a variety of 
medicinal plants.” Messrs. Slater’s chief difficulty would seem to have related 
to the procurement of labour; but, if this trouble would also occur in localities 
further removed from the metropolis, there is an important compensation in the 
fact that the expense and difficulty attending the handling and carriage of the 
products of medicinal plant culture would be very trifling, as compared with 
that of ordinary farm or garden produce. Very opportunely, our last New 
Zealand letter referred to the circumstance that the fields and roadsides of 
Northern Auckland abound with pennyroyal, showing the suitability of the 
climate and soil of the district named to the cultivation of herbs of medicinal 
value ; and our correspondent somewhat anticipated these remarks in recommending 
the industry in question to the earnest attention of farmers and horticulturists. 
But the matter is of such moment that we make no apology for reiterating what 
has been already said upon it ; and, indeed, are right glad of this opportunity 
of giving further publicity to what cannot be too widely known, and the 
dissemination of information concerning which we believe to be a public duty. 
Mr. MAlpine’s report gives much valuable information of a practical nature 
concerning the growing of the herbs and flowers from whence medicines and 
perfumes are extracted, and of the manures which have proved to be efficacious 
in their production; and we have no doubt that the gentleman referred to will 
willingly supply any further information which may be desired. To quote Mr. 
M ‘Alpine’s remarks, in concluding his valued contribution to our May number— 
“ The success which has attended Mr. Slater’s efforts, with all the difficulties 
