46 
PHARMACAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 
17. Lavender.— Thrives well throughout the State. The grower 
should also manufacture the oil. 
No doubt, excellent oil lavender could be grown on the hillsides 
along the coast region of middle and southern California. 
18. Licorice.— It would appear that in certain parts of the State 
the conditions for growing licorice are ideal. It thrives best in fine 
soil in bottom lands, where there is abundant moisture during the 
growing season, but where the ground bakes hard during the late sum- 
mer months, which is favorable to the formation of the sweet con- 
stituents. The plants would have to be started from seed, but subse- 
quent propagation is from cuttings (waste) left from the harvesting 
process. Planted in rows four feet apart, four inches apart in the 
rows. Growth is slight the first and second year. Harvesting begins 
in the fall of the third or fourth year, after the first transplanting, 
and continues every year after that. A trench is dug between the 
rows, two to three feet deep, and all roots found removed. The dirt 
from the next trench is thrown into the first, and so on. This drug 
plant is well worthy of a trial. 
The California orange lands would no doubt prove ideal for licorice 
culture. We would also suggest the irrigated, alluvial, desert lands of 
southeastern California. Cultivation in a dry, hot atmosphere is said 
to increase the active constituents. The native species ( Glycyrrhiza 
lepidota glutinosa Pursh.) is a troublesome weed in places. It resembles 
the official species (G. glabra L.). 
19. Mints.— Peppermint is very extensively grown in Michigan, to 
a lesser extent in northern Indiana, in New York, and more recently 
also in Louisiana and California. Since the mint requires considerable 
moisture, we would suggest growing it in the drained marsh lands of 
the State. It would, no doubt, also do remarkably well in heavily- 
irrigated, desert, loam lands, where it could he grown much like alfalfa, 
cutting, perhaps, three or four crops each season. We would advise 
the prospective grower to visit the mint fields of Michigan, make the 
necessary observations, and secure the necessary rhizomes for starting 
the cultural operation in California. The grower must also he manu- 
facturer, as the oil is the marketable product. Data for setting up a 
still, etc,, is obtained by inspecting factories in operation. This can 
without doubt be made a most profitable enterprise in California. The 
climatic conditions are ideal. 
20. Marjoram. — We would suggest that some one grow this plant 
to supply the American spice market. Most of the marjoram of the 
market is adulterated. It requires fairly rich, moist soil. Could no 
doubt be grown more profitably in association with other labiates, as 
peppermint, spearmint, pennyroyal, marrubium, etc. 
