Am  Jour.  Pharm.)       Cultivation  of  Medicinal  Plants.  357 
August,  191o.     j  J  *J*J' 
"  We  have  some  digitalis  plants  growing  now  in  the  hot-house 
from  seeds  just  as  an  experiment,  to  give  us  some  experience  with  the 
plants.  We  also  have  belladonna  seeds  planted  under  similar  con- 
ditions, but  up  to  this  time  we  have  no  seeds  germinated.  With  this 
one  we  anticipate  considerable  difficulty." 
In  reference  to  Hyoscyamus  niger,  Mr.  Borneman  states  that  he 
has  found  it  difficult  of  cultivation,  owing  to  its  destruction  by  insects. 
He  does  not  think  it  will  pay  to  raise  these  plants  unless  it  is  possible 
to  bring  the  assay  up  to  the  standard  and  obtain  a  good  price  for  the 
drug. 
In  respect  to  Hydrastis  canadensis,  it  is  stated  that  the  cultivation 
is  very  simple,  and  he  believes  it  would  pay  to  cultivate  this  drug, 
owing  to  the  enhanced  price.  It  is  his  opinion  that  a  plant  raised 
in  the  woodland  makes  a  slower  growth,  and  does  not  make  nearly 
as  good  an  assay  as  that  raised  by  artificial  shade. 
Johnson  and  Johnson — 
In  a  small  and  large  way  Johnson  &  Johnson  have  been  inter- 
ested in  the  cultivation  of  belladonna  since  1899,  and  their  work 
has  been  more  or  less  continuous.  The  experiments  for  the  first  few 
years  were  confined  to  planting  in  rows,  and  in  various  classes  ol 
soil,  with  a  view  of  studying  the  effect  of  various  fertilizers,  in  con- 
nection with  which  assays  were  made  from  the  plants  at  various 
stages  of  growth,  as  well  as  horticultural  experiments,  with  a  view  of 
producing  larger  sized  plants.  These  experiments  were  extended  at 
one  time  to  a  fifteen-acre  plot. 
The  reports  of  their  work  have  been  published  from  time  to  time, 
an  important  part  of  which  has  been  to  the  effect  that  they  never 
succeeded,  in  the  climate  of  New  Brunswick,  in  securing  plants  direct 
from  the  planting  of  seeds  in  the  ground.  Their  work  included  exam- 
ination of  the  various  modes  of  curing  and  preservation,  as  well  as 
physical  and  chemical  observations  in  connection  with  their  labora- 
tory. 
In  all  of  their  work  it  was  found  that  the  tops  were  destroyed 
by  the  fall  frost,  and  the  entire  plant  killed  in  severe  winters.  A 
fairly  rich  ground  with  plenty  of  lime  gave  the  best  results,  although 
the  size  of  the  plants  might  be  increased  by  the  use  of  various 
fertilizers. 
Under  the  direction  of  Johnson  &  Johnson  experimental  plantings 
were  made  in  many  parts  of  the  United  States,  they  furnishing  the 
seeds  or  plants  for  this  purpose.    A  cultivation,  was  made  in  Con- 
