8 
AMERICAN  AND  EUROPEAN  ACONITE  ROOT. 
The  solution  from  the  American  root  was  then  precipitated  by 
ammonia,  and  the  liquid  and  precipitate  washed  with  ether  to  re- 
move the  aconitia.  The  ethereal  liquid,  on  evaporation,  left 
the  aconitia  somewhat  gelatinous,  and  on  standing,  decided 
evidences  of  crystallization  were  manifested.  Most  of  the 
alkaloid  dried  in  a  resin-like  form  of  a  yellowish  color,  which, 
in  powder,  had  a  light  straw-color,  and  weighed  21  grs. 
It  now  remains  to  remark  on  the  feasibility  of  cultivating 
aconite  root  in  the  United  States  with  a  view  to  commercial  sup- 
ply. The  following  statements  are  derived  mainly  from  a  letter 
from  Messrs.  Tilden  &  Co.,  of  New  Lebanon,  Columbia  county, 
N.  Y.,  who  for  years  past  have  cultivated  this  plant  for  the 
leaves.  They  raise  aconite  from  the  seed  sown  in  drill ;  after 
the  first  year,  the  plants  are  separated  and  set  out  in  rows,  nine 
to  twelve  inches  apart,  in  good  soil.  It  has  been  found  most  suc- 
cessful to  reset  one-third  of  the  plants  every  year.  When  two 
years  old  the  tops  may  be  used  in  medicine,  but  the  roots  should 
not  be  employed  until  they  are  three  or  four  years  old.  The 
specimen  submitted  with  this  report  is  not  so  large  as  the  Euro- 
pean root  of  commerce.  One  of  the  average  roots  weighs 
only  forty  grains.  Supposing  that  forty  thousands  of  these  were 
raised  on  an  acre  of  good  soil,  (40000  X  40  —  7000  =  228) 
the  produce  would  be  only  228  pounds  avoirdupois.  But  it  is 
quite  probable  that,  with  more  age  and  favorable  conditions,  the 
yield  would  be  at  least  twice  as  large,  or  about  500  pounds  per 
acre,  as  in  the  sample  of  European  Root  used  the  roots  averaged 
nearly  80  grains. 
Aconite  has  fewer  enemies  among  the  insect  tribes  than  any 
of  the  ordinary  narcotics  or  sedatives,  not  being  preyed  on  by 
the  slug,  so  destructive  to  hyoscyamus  and  belladonna.  The 
soil  should  be  deep  and  well  manured  with  animal  manure,  and 
the  plantation  kept  clean.  The  roots  should  be  dug  late  in  the 
fall,  and  then  thoroughly  dried. 
From  the  foregoing  parallel  experiments,  it  would  appear  that 
Aconite  roots  grown  in  this  country  are  stronger  in  aconitia  than 
are  the  commercial  European  roots.  The  sample  of  European 
Aconite  used  was,  so  far  as  could  be  judged  by  external  appear- 
ance, a  fair  specimen,  and  medicinally  had  given  satisfaction.  In 
