PHARMACAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 
47 
21. Marrubium.— A very common California weed. Can be grown 
anywhere. Cultural methods much as for mints. Market limited and 
price per pound low. 
22. Poppy. — The opium poppy thrives exceedingly well. Grow 
directly from the seed, as it can not be transplanted with success. The 
petals and heads are marketable. The opium can not be obtained, 
profitably, by the Oriental method, on account of the cost of labor. 
Some years ago it was suggested that the juice be expressed from the 
entire plant and then evaporated. Such opium contains from one to 
four per cent of alkaloids, as determined in the laboratories of the Cali- 
fornia College of Pharmacy. Others declare that the alkaloidal yield 
of such opium is practically nil. Further experimenting is necessary. 
There is apparently no reason why opium should not lie manufactured 
in this new way. It would, of course, be necessary to change (lower) 
the alkaloidal standard. 
The poppy must be grown from seed, as the seedlings are transplanted 
with great difficulty. Sow the seed (drill) in rows about two feet 
apart, and thin out to suit when seedlings are well established. Cul- 
tivation is simple and easy. 
23. Medicinal Rhubarbs. — Do well in the State. Can be grown 
much like the culinary rhubarbs, which are very extensively cultivated 
in the San Francisco Bay region. The start must be made from seed, 
after which the lateral shoots are used for transplanting. Three- to 
six-year-old roots are gathered, peeled, cut, dried, and marketed. 
The medicinal rhubarb could no doubt be grown very profitably on 
the shaded or northern moist slopes of the coast hills. Forced culti- 
vation is not desirable, as it deteriorates the drug. (See Dispensatories 
and English cultural reports.) 
24. Rosemary. — Thrives well and is easily cultivated. The grower 
should also manufacture the oil. Can lie grown with such labiates as 
marrubium and other herbs which do not require very moist soil. 
25. Sage.— Easily cultivated, common everywhere. Can be grown 
with other garden herbs. 
26. Scopola.— Used as a substitute for belladonna, having closely 
similar properties and uses. The market demand for the drug is, how- 
ever. uncertain, belladonna having the decided preference. As far as 
known, this plant has not yet been grown in this State, but there is no 
reason why it should not do well in the same localities as belladonna, 
under the same methods of culture. 
27. Squill.— Thrives exceedingly well in the immediate coast 
region, in moist, sandy soil. The bulbs grow to large size. Well known 
to Californians. 
