Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  ) 
September,  1920.  ) 
Belladonna  Cultivation, 
627 
The  limit  of  the  U.  S.  P.  for  belladonna  leaves  is  "not  more  than 
20  per  cent,  of  ash" — for  belladonna  root  "not  more  than  7  per  cent, 
of  ash." 
The  standard  suggested  by  the  American  Drug  Manufacturers^ 
Association  for  belladonna  herb  is  "not  more  than  iS'per  cent,  of 
ash." 
These  standards  may  need  to  be  changed  to  meet  the  condition 
of  cultivated  belladonna,  especially  so  when  cultivated  upon  soils 
containing  a  considerable  content  of  lime  and  potash. 
Belladonna  seedling,  pot  grown. 
Cultural  Experiments. — Concurrently  with  other  growers^ 
we  have  attempted  to  increase  the  alkaloidal  content  of  belladonna. 
The  experiments  have  shown  that  the  use  of  lime  is  a  possible  fac- 
tor. It  is  well  known  that  in  England  chalk  soil  is  particularly 
adapted  to  the  growth  of  this  plant. 
Attempts  have  been  made  to  take  advantage  of  the  great  varia- 
tion in  the  alkaloidal  content  in  individual  plants,  with  a  view  of 
developing  plants  high  in  alkaloid,  either  from  the  seed  or  crown 
of  those  plants  which  ran  high  in  alkaloidal  content.  Work  of  this 
character  is  surrounded  with  great  difficulties.  It  has  been  found 
that  a  slight  variation  in  the  condition  of  growth  would  cause  a 
marked  change  in  the  characteristics  of  the  plant.  Only  in  rare 
instances  would  the  seeds  or  crowns  carry  forward  the  character- 
istics of  the  parent  plant.    Cross-fertilization  between  plants  high 
