214 
Digitalis  Purpurea. 
Am.  Jo'T.  Pharm. 
April,  1919. 
weeds,  seeding  directly  in  the  field  would  be  a  satisfactory  method 
of  procuring  the  plants. 
Effect  of  Fertilization  upon  the  Growth  of  Digitalis. 
Formerly  there  was  considerable  discussion  concerning  the  rela- 
tive alkaloidal  activity  of  the  wild  and  garden  grown  leaves  of 
digitalis.  Several  investigators  were  of  the  opinion  that  digitalis 
grown  wild  in  its  natural  habitat,  had  a  higher  activity  than  that 
which  was  cultivated.  On  this  phase,  Hall  (6)  concludes  that  there 
is  not  necessarily  any  difference  in  the  activity  of  wild  and  garden 
grown  digitalis.  In  determining  the  effect  of  various  inorganic 
fertilizers  upon  digitalis,  Miller  (10)  found  no  appreciable  differ- 
ance  in  the  activity  in  plants  which  received  fertilizers,  and  in  the 
controls.  With  regard  to  digitalis  seed  bed,  Borneman  (5)  states 
that  the  soil  for  seeding  should  be  well  prepared,  having  been  limed 
and  well  mulched.  Holm  (7)  says  that  fox  gloves  grew  best  in 
well  drained  loose  soil,  which  is  mixed  with  leaf  mold,  but  it  does 
not  grow  in  calcareous  soil. 
TABLE  II. 
Showing  the  Effect  of  Inorganic  Fertilizers  upon  the  Growth  of 
Digitalis  in  a  Clay  Loam  Soil. 
Fertilizer  Application  3 
Wt.  of  Plants,  Grs. 
Average.  Grs. 
I.  No  fertilizer   , 
  7-0 
  8-5  . 
7-7 
  II. 0 
  10.7 
10.8 
5.  Complete  fertilizer— Ca  (H2P04)22H20 
.....  9-3 
6.  Complete  fertilizer— Ca (H2P04)22H20 
....  10.3 
9-8 
  9-0 
  1 0.0 
9-5 
8.2 
10.  Complete  fertilizer — NaN03   
.....  8.5 
8.3 
  1 0.0 
12.  Complete  fertilizer — CaCO,   
8.0 
9.0 
An  experiment  testing  the  effect  of  various  fertilizers  upon  the 
growth  and  development  of  digitalis  in  soil  was  determined.  Ordi- 
nary 5-inch  flower  pots  were  filled  with  1,000  Gm.  of  a  clay  loam 
soil,  taken  from  the  premises  of  the  Mulford  Biological  Labora- 
3  Complete  fertilizer— i ,000  lbs.  CaC03,  800  lbs.  Ca(H2P04)22H20,  400 
lbs.  K2S04,  600  lbs.  NaNO,  and  100  lbs.  MgS04  per  acre  of  2,000,000  lbs. 
