PHARMACAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTORE. 
44 
much used as a domestic remedy, as a tonic diaphoretic and to check 
diarrhoea; particularly useful in bowel and stomach complaints of 
children. It has a very pleasant odor, recalling apple blossoms. There 
is no reason why this should not displace the German camomile. Easily 
cultivated, in quite dry, sandy, and loamy soil. No irrigation required. 
8. Crocus. — This liliaceous plant requires rich, moist soil. The 
chief difficulty in its profitable culture is the cost of labor. A care- 
fully watched commercial experiment carried on for one or two years 
would make it possible to determine whether or not the culture of this 
plant could be carried on profitably. Is successfully grown in Pennsyl- 
vania. It could no doubt be cultivated in association with colchicum, 
and perhaps connallaria, which require similar soil conditions. 
9. Dandelion. — This plant grows in every country. A common 
lawn weed. The profit in dandelion culture is doubtful, because of 
the low price for the drug and because of high-priced American labor. 
Gathering the roots will prove costly. 
10. Dill and Related Plants. — Thrive exceedingly well in Cali- 
fornia. Ordinary soil will serve. Conium, caraway, fennel, and celery 
are closely related to dill, similar in appearance and may be similarly 
cultivated. Cultivation is quite simple. Sow broadcast on good soil 
kept free from w 7 eeds. 
11. Eriodictyon. — This popular native drug plant could no doubt 
be grown profitably on waste hillside lands. Quite common on the 
coast hills of middle and northern California. Seed can be obtained 
from the wild-growing plants. Clear the hillside land and sow 7 the seed 
broadcast. 
12. Foxglove.— Very common as an ornamental plant (both the 
English and the German). It requires fairly rich soil with ample 
moisture. Plant in row 7 s three feet apart, eight inches apart in the 
row. Leaves can easily be removed by stripping from the stalks. Has 
escaped from cultivation and occurs spontaneously along the coast 
region of California and as far north as Vancouver Island. Accord- 
ing to reports (G. H. P. Lichthardt of Sacramento and IT. K. Mulford 
Co. of Philadelphia), the California-grown digitalis is rich in active 
principles. 
13. Ginseng.— This plant ( Aralia quinquef olia) has been grown at 
Sunnyvale and several other places in California. It requires artificial 
shading and very rich, moist soil. The successful cultivation of this 
plant requires special knowledge, a long wait for the first crop (four 
to six years), special cultural methods and careful collecting and drying. 
Most of the wild-growing ginseng in the United States has been exter- 
minated by collectors, though it may still be found from Canada south- 
