14 
PHARMACAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 
just prior to or at the time of the cessation of active seasonal growth, 
and, as is known to the plant grower, this period varies considerably. 
There are, however, some very notable exceptions to this general rule. 
Belladonna roots gathered from the blossoming and fruit-bearing plants 
(July, in the Eastern States and in Europe) are twice as valuable as 
those collected in March or in October. The roots of taraxacum, vale- 
rian, gentian, angelica, tormentilla and others, should be collected in 
the spring, although there is some difference of opinion with regard to 
taraxacum and valerian, some authorities stating that these roots should 
be collected in the fall. Aconite roots should be collected from the 
flowering plants. Roots and rhizomes of perennial herbaceous plants, 
as calamus, asarum, inula, licorice, hydrastis, ginseng should, as a 
rule, not be collected before the close of the third year or season. Roots 
of biennial plants should be collected in the fall of the second year. 
Barks should, as a rule, be collected in the fall, at the time of the 
cessation of the active seasonal growth. 
Leaves are generally collected at maturity, without any special ref- 
erence to the age of the plant from which they are obtained. However, 
there are notable exceptions. The best tea is made from the exceedingly 
young leaves and terminal branches. The best coca leaves are picked 
from the shrubs three to five years old. The first-year leaves of digitalis 
and hyoscyamus are not to be used, nor the young (dorsi ventral) leaves 
of eucalyptus. 
Collecting the Drug . — It is practically useless to attempt giving sug- 
gestions which will be of real value to the large grower of medicinal 
plants. It is very important that detailed information should be 
obtained from those who have been engaged for years in enterprises 
of a similar kind. The following are mere hints which may prove useful : 
Roots, rhizomes and other subterranean organs may be turned up by 
means of a plow, like potatoes. Picking and removing dirt must no 
doubt be done by hand, although various mechanical devices, as rake, 
hooks, etc., may be found very useful. It would be very desirable to 
invent a device for picking leaves and flowers. In some instances the 
entire plant may be cut and dried and the leaves removed by flailing, 
as is done in the case of Eriodictyon calif ornicum (mountain balm). 
This method could no doubt be employed with other herbaceous and 
shrubby plants having rather thick leaves which become very brittle on 
drying. Herbs can, of course, be cut by means of mowing machines. 
Flowers, fruits, and barks must be collected by hand. Seeds, like mus- 
tard, are collected by mowing the plants and threshing, as is done in the 
mustard fields of the Lompoc Valley, California. This method can also 
be used with umbelliferous fruits, as anise, confirm, caraway, fennel, 
etc. Some seeds and fruits can be removed from the plants by shaking 
and afterwards raked together or picked up by hand. 
