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 Thepropagation
ofmedicinal
plants*
FRED A. MILLER

An understandingof the best methodsofpropagatingmedicinal

plants is essential to their successfulcultivation. Their cultiva-
tion or commercial production is not a new industry,in fact
certain phases of it are extremelyold, though poorly developed.
However long some of them have been continued under cultiva-
tion, thereare still many phases of theirpropagationwhich have
neverbeen investigated. Repeated crop failuresin the production
of henbane in England have occurredduringthe past thirtyyears,
and still the most recent reports continue to mention the un-
certaintyof germinationwithoutany attemptat explanation.
This condition is now changing,and the last few years have
seen a more general and widespread interest in the thorough
investigationof a rather selected list of drug plants than was
hithertoexperienced. The organized effortsof the United States
Department of Agricultureare conducive to the continuationof
this interest. England, Germany,and Austriahave not been slow
in followingthe example of the United States, and are now ad-
vocating the national support of comprehensive drug plant
investigations.
The success of these investigationsmust of necessity depend
upon the readiness with which supplies of seeds and plants can
be obtained,and the ease withwhichtheymay thenbe propagated.
The means of propagatingmedicinalplants need not differin the
main fromthose employed forothereconomicforms. Seedsmen,
nurserymen, floristsand gardenersall have theirspecial and well-
perfectedsystems of propagation for their respective classes of
plants. The questions involved in these systems are not only
those forincreasingthe numberof individualplants,but also those
involvingthe blooming and fruitingperiods, harvests, markets,
special crops, improvements,and breeding operations. Any
* A Thesis presentedto Purdue Universitytoward the degree of Master of
Science.
105
106 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

method of propagationwhich does not augment these conditions

is soon abandoned. Also, in the case of medicinal forms,the
problems of propagation, though essential of solution, are only
supplementaryto other more valuable and interestingones. The
improvement of drug plants through selective breeding and
hybridization,their successful cultivation upon a commercial
scale, with the involved questions of practical and economic pro-
duction, are more attractive,but in the end are all dependent
upon successfulpropagation.
With medicinal plants it is many times difficultto obtain
sufficient materialsfromwhichto propagate. Isolated, restricted,
and many times unknownregionsof production,make it almost
impossible to obtain either seeds or plants. Even syndicates
and sometimes governmentcontrol have so monopolized these
regions that they are practically inaccessible to the individual
investigator. In an effortto obtain sufficientmaterialwithwhich
to evolve certainproblemsupon the cultivationand improvement
of the morevaluable drugplants,difficulties were soon encountered
in locating reliable sources of supply. Any study of the methods
of propagation must thereforeconsist of, first,the obtaining or
locatingof suitable materialsand, second, the various methodsby
which these may be successfullypropagated and perpetuated.
The firstpart of this discussionwill, therefore,deal with probable
sources of seeds and plants and the second with theirpropagation.
A thoroughsearch has been made in an effortto locate the
best and most probable sources for these materials. The results
are given under the followingfivedivisions:
I. Commercialsamples and shipmentsof crude drugs.
II. Crude drug merchants.
III. Individuals living in or near producingregions,or others
carryingon investigationswith similarplants.
IV. Public and private botanical gardens,experimentstations
and other institutions.
V. Commercialseedsmenand nurserymen.
A discussion of these sources togetherwith results obtained
followsin the foregoingorder.
 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS 107

From commercial samples and shipmentsof crude drugs in

whichthe aerial parts of the plants are used, germinableseeds are
often obtainable. Many.lots of drugs must be examined, how-
ever, and large numbers of questionable seeds examined and
tested. In addition to furnishingmaterial for planting, this
procedurealso servesas a valuable means of accuratelyidentifying
some crude drugof questionable origin. The age of seed fromthis
source is always unknownand considerabletime must be allowed
for possible failuresin germination. Among the formsof which
seed may be obtained in this manner are American wormseed
(Chenopodium ambrosioides), angelica (A ngelica atropurpurea),
anise (Pimpinella Anisum), arnica (Arnica montana),belladonna
(Atropa Belladonna), broom tops (Cytisus scoparius), buchu
(Barosma betulina), cannabis indica (Cannabis sativa), capsicum
(Capsicumfastigiatum),caraway (Carum Carvi),cardamom (Elet-
taria Cardamomum),castor bean (Ricinus communis),celery seed
(Apium graveolens),cevadilla (Schoenocaulonofficinale), coca (Ery-
throxylumCoca), colchicum (Colchicum autumnale), colocynth
(Citrullus Colocynthis),conium (Conium maculatum),coriander
(Coriandrumsativum), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), goats' rue
(Galega officinalis),grains of paradise (A momum Melegueta),
henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), jumbul seed (Abrus precatorius),
larkspur (Delphinium Consolida), Levant wormseed (A rtemisia
pauciflora),lobelia (Lobelia inflata),nux vomica (StrychnosNux-
vomica), parsley seed (Apium Petroselinum), passion flower
(Passifloraincarnata),poppy heads (Papaver somniferum), scullcap
senna (Cassia acutifoliaand C. angustifolia),
(Scutellarialateriflora),
serpentaria(A ristolochia Serpentariaand A. reticulata),staphisagria
(DelphiniumStaphisagria),stramonium(Datura Stramonium).
Germinationtestshave been made upon a numberof the above
formsas follows:
Americanwormseed.
Angelica................ Fair germination.
Anise.
Arnica................. Three tests. No results.
Belladonna.............. About 50 per cent. germination.
Broom tops............. No results.
Buchu.................. 5 per cent. germination.
108 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

Cannabis indica......... ioo per cent. germination.

Caraway.
Cardamom.............. Two tests. No results.
Celeryseed.
Cevadilla............... One test. About 25 per cent.
Coca ................... Four tests. No results.
Colchicum.............. Three tests. About 5 per cent. fromone.
Colocynth.............. Most testsgive from5-IO per cent. germination.
Conium................ 50 per cent. germinationor over.
Coriander.
Fennel.
Goat's rue.............. One test gave 5 per cent. germination.
Grainsof paradise.
Henbane................ Most testsgive 5 per cent. germination,or more.
Larkspur............... IOO per cent. frommost tests.
Levant wormseed........ . No resultsfrom2 tests.
Lobelia .
Nux vomica............. No resultsfrom5 tests.
Parsley seed.
Passion flower ........... One test gave 3 per cent. germination.
Poppy heads............ All tests gave ioo per cent. germination.
Scullcap................ One test out of threegave about 5 per cent. germination.
Senna.................. Most tests gave fairgermination.
Serpentaria............. No resultsfrom2 tests.
Staphisagria............. One test gave 3 per cent. germination.
Stramonium ............. All testsgave 50 per cent. germination,or more.

Large numbersof seeds were used in most of these tests, and

the conditionsgoverninggerminationwere varied to suit the re-
quirements,in so far as they could be determined. It is to be
noted that germinationin most cases was low. Table IV gives
details on most of these plants and on certain othermiscellaneous
drug plants.
II
Dealers in crude drugswill many timeslend valuable assistance
in searchingforand supplyingseeds and plants. Importerswith
foreignrepresentativesand the foreignmerchantsthemselveswill
sometimes request their agents and collectors to assist in such
matters. No great diversityof forms,however, can be secured
throughthese sources. They are restrictedto those of which the
seed constitutesthe medicinalpart, or to those in whichthe seeds
are likely to appear with other plant parts. The forms thus
obtainable are mostlyincludedin the precedinglist,thoughbetter
seeds are sometimesfurnishedby the dealers upon special request
forfreshmaterial.
 M ILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS 109

III
It is sometimes possible to locate individuals in different
countries who have become interestedin the collection of rare
seeds and plants. Such sources are extremely questionable.
While some individuals can furnishmuch good material, there
are others who, though expressing much interest, cannot be
depended upon to supplythe properspecies. Numerousinstances
of this have been recorded,an example of which may be noted
where an enthusiasticdruggistof Texas supplied finespecimens
of Monarda forhenbane,whichhe claimed was growingluxuriantly
in his sectionof the state.
Local drug collectorsmay be consideredhere ratherthan witn
crude drug merchants. More strictlyspeaking, they are a class
by themselveswith many peculiaritiesand limitations. They are
mostly illiterate persons, who take instructionspoorly and dis-
regard themwhen once in the field. A close personal association
withmanyof themhas revealedthe factthat theyare only capable
of accuratelyidentifying a very small numberof medicinalplants.
These usually occur among the monotypicgenera and, when two
or morecloselyrelatedspecies are in question,are usually collected
indiscriminately. One of the most intelligentcollectorsobserved
repeatedlybroughtin specimens of various species of Asclepias,
upon requests and instructionsfor Apocynumcannabinumand
A pocynumandrosaemifolium.A pocynumcannabinumwhenfinally
located was supplied upon requests for both of the two species.
Only recentlya negro quack, who is held in high repute by the
colored element of a considerable section, supplied Apocynum
androsaemifolium upon request forLeptandra virginica. Another
form supplied for Asclepias tuberosawill have to be grown to
maturitybefore it can be identified. One collector was shown
potted specimensof golden seal (Hydrastiscanadensis),and stone
root (Collinsonia canadensis), and failed to recognize either of
them. Twin leaf (Jeffersonia diphylla) is repeatedly offeredby
local dealers for genuine golden seal. Both the leaf and root
structuresof these formsare quite distinct.

IV
In so faras theircollectionswill permit,the botanical gardens
and other similar institutionsare of great value in supplying
110 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

materials. Usually theircollectionsof medicinalplants are com-

paratively small, but those which are obtainable are of high
quality, and correctlyclassified. The liberal spirit of some of
these stations is now restrictedin some instances by government
control. Such is the case with the buchu (Barosma betulina) of
South Africa. To obtain seeds of this formdirectfromthe Trans-
vaal a longand tediousroutineof grants,permits,etc., is necessary
beforethey are allowed to be sent out of the country. On the
otherhand, such places as the Jamaica Public Gardens, Jamaica,
theKew Royal Gardens near London, England, theRoyal Botanic
Garden of Calcutta, India, the Botanic Garden and Museum of
Natural History of Para, Brazil, the Botanic Garden at George-
town, British Guiana, and many others in foreign localities
are usually willingto exchangeor contributematerialsforexperi-
mental purposes. Of no less distinctionand willingnessin this
respect are the gardens at New York and St. Louis, the Officeof
Seed and Plant Introduction,and the Bureau of Plant Industry
of the United States Department of Agriculture. However, it
frequentlyhappens that these excellent and widely separate
stations fail to have the materials desired. At present, this
conditionexistswith some unusuallydesirablespecies of the genus
A rtemisia.
V
Commercialseedsmen and nurserymenhave so far proven the
best sources of supply, though they do not always maintain the
highest standards of nomenclature. It is encouraging in this
respect to note a growingtendencyon their part to list more of
their materials under the specific technical names. However,
great numbersof varietal or trade names are annually introduced
through these channels,which cause much confusion and un-
certainty. Sooner or later many of these must be reduced to
synonymy. Much time and energyis consumed in varietal tests
for determiningthese synonyms,and any movementwhich will
reduce theirnumbermust be greatlyappreciated. What is most
desiredin thisrespectis the retainingof the native and introduced
formsunder their original names, or at least the recordingof
varietiesin such a mannerthat the originalparentscan be traced,
and the pedigreesof the supposed new formsaccuratelyobtained.
 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS 111

The cataloguesofthemostprominentseedsmenand nurserymen

fromthe United States, England, France, Germany,and Japan
have been examinedformedicinalplants. In such an examination
it was necessaryto have clearly in mind some means of deciding
whetheror not a given formshould be classed medicinalor non-
medicinal. Certain limitationsmust be exercised in such a dis-
tinction,and a conservativeratherthan a generalattitude should
be maintained. To followthe inclinationsand suggestionsofsome
authors would mean the considerationof an almost unlimited
numberof plants as possessingmedicinalvalue. Practically,the
list should not greatly exceed three hundred in number,and of
these there are many included which are of doubtfulvalue. In
Bulletin No. 2, California State Board of Forestry, entitled
" Pharmacal Plants and Their Culture," thereis a contextof one
hundredand fifty-four pages, eight of which treat of the cultiva-
tion of medicinal plants in California. A portion of this small
space is given up to such formsas sage, horehound,rosemary,
marjoram,and dandelion. The greaterbulk of the publicationis
taken up with a list of "Native and Introduced Medicinal and
PoisonousPlants." The inclusionin thislistofsuch formsas sugar
maple, box elder, maidenhair fern, common edible mushroom
(Agaricus campestris),wind flower,columbine,pawpaw, banana,
garden beet, clematis, persimmon,California poppy, strawberry,
holly, lemon, puffball,sorrel, cinquefoil,yucca and even corn,
can hardlybe explained. If such plants as the foregoingare to be
considered medicinal, the list of three hundred would quickly
growto six hundredor more.
Based upon such a liberal classification,all seedsmen and
nurserymencould be said to list medicinalplants regularly,and in
large numbers,while as a matter of fact they list but very few.
Certainlysuch a classificationis notadvisable, fromeithera practi-
cal or a scientificstandpoint. The list which has been used as a
means of dividingthis material into medicinaland non-medicinal
containsthreehundredand eightydifferent forms,and includesall
those that are commonly used by prominentmanufacturersof
pharmaceuticalpreparations.
112 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

A LIST OF SEEDSMEN AND NURSERYMEN WHOSE CATALOGUESHAVE BEEN

EXANIINED FOR MEDICINAL PLANTS, AND THE NUMBERS OF SUCH
FORMS LISTED BY THEM
Number Medicinal
Name of Firm Location Forms Listed
Bash's Seed Store Indianapolis,Ind. 25
P. J. Berckmans Co. Augusta, Ga. 20
A. T. Boddington New York City I2
Bobbink & Atkins Rutherford, N. J. 53
Benary, Ernst Erfurt, Germany 68
Biltmore Nursery Biltmore, N. C. 45
W. Atlee Burpee & Co. Philadelphia, Pa. I8
CaliforniaNurseryCo. Niles, Cal. 26
Childs,JohnL. Floral Park, N. Y. I7
Dreer, HenryA. Philadelphia,Pa. 47
Elliot Nursery Pittsburgh, Pa. 33
Ferry, D. M., & Co. Detroit, Mich. 4
Fottler, Fiske, Rawson Co. Boston, Mass. I7
Gillett, Edward Southwick, Mass. 58
Glen St. Mary Nurseries Glen St. Mary, Fla. 6
Gregory & Son Marblehead, Mass. 3
Isaac House & Son Bristol, England 5
Peter Henderson & Co. New York City 2I
Horsford's Nurseries Charlotte, Vt. 35
Haage & Schmidt Erfurt, Germany I58
Kelway & Son Langport, England IO
Medical Nursery Calcutta, India 50
Livingston Seed Co. Columbus, Ohio 4
C. C. Morse & Co. San Francisco, Cal. 8
T. V. Munson & Son Denison, Texas 4
Monroe Nursery Co. Monroe, Mich. i6
Henry Mette Quedlinburg, Germany 58
Oregon Nursery Co. Salem, Ore. IO

Roumanille Lafayette pere &

fils St. Remy de Provence, France 28
John A. Salzer Seed Co. La Crosse, Wisc. 27
J. M. Thorburn & Co. New York City 52
Vaughan's Seed Store Chicago, Ill. 35
Watkins & Simpson London, England 24
J. D. Webster Chichester, England I5
Yokohama Nursery Co. Yokohama, Japan 6

Based upon the number of importantspecies listed, method

and accuracy of nomenclature,class of material and general
attitude the above list could be reduced to nine as follows: Haag
& Schmidt, Benary, Mette, Medical Nursery,Gillett, Thorburn,
Biltmore Nursery, Dreer, and Bobbink & Atkins. Materials
have been obtained fromfiveof these,and fromeightof the others.
 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS 113

The followingdiscussionwill considernot only the propagationof

this material,but also such related problemsas continuedgrowth,
productivity,commercialvalue, hardiness, habitat, and ease of
transplanting,cultivating,and harvesting.
The methodsof propagationhave been those of standard use.
Corbett (4) divides these methodsinto the natural and artificial.
The natural methodsinclude reproductionby seeds, spores,root-
stocks, stolons,suckers or root sprouts,bulbs, corms,and tubers.
The artificialmethodsconsistin reproductionby cuttings,layering,
grafting,and budding. Necessaryadjuncts to all of thesemethods
are suitable greenhouses,cold frames,hot beds, and open field
accommodations.
Propagation fromseeds has been practicedwhereverpossible,
and must in nearlyall cases precede othermethods. Seed propa-
gation, however practical it may be, will not serve all purposes.
In breedingexperimentsand improvementselections,it is often
very desirable to multiplyindividual specimensby other means.
Inbreedingfor the purpose of obtaining uniformstrains is often
a long and laboriousmethod,while vegetativereproductionwould
give the same results in a shorter interval of time. Latent
tendenciesare more quickly and accuratelyeliminated,necessary
seed productionis avoided, as well as the saving of much time in
seedingand transplanting.
Open fieldmethodsof seeding have been found impracticable
and in many cases impossiblewith many medicinal forms. This
conditionnecessitatesa wide deviation frommost normalmethods
of croppingand leads to the necessarydevelopmentof specialized
systems. Little of an agriculturalnaturehas been developed with
these forms. Farwell (8) says that belladonna,henbane,digitalis,
and aconite can be grownas easilyas potatoes. Turner (23) gives
directionsfor growinghenbane, which are too general to be of
any value. Saunder's (ig) statementson the germinationof seeds
of medicinalplants are general,and include no methodsor actual
in culti-
data. Henkel (io) says that digitalisoffersno difficulties
vation,and advises sowingin the open fieldor in seed beds. True
(22) advocates open fieldplantingofdigitalis. Kraemer(I3), in his
briefnotice on seed germination,discourages open field sowing.
Open fieldsowingsof henbane,belladonna and digitalishave been
114 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

made forthreesuccessive years on well-preparedground,and all

have resulted in complete failures. Not enough plants for
experimentalpurposeswereobtainedby the mostcarefulattention.
Continued failuresfromopen sowing of henbane are reported
from England. Thirty years ago Holmes called attention to
the difficultiesin the cultivationof henbane. He mentionedthe
uncertaintyof the crop in England, and the peculiaritiesin the
germinationof the seed. Again (ii) in I905 he mentions the
uncertaintyof the crop. Ransom (I7) in 1902 claims that it is
difficultto obtain a good crop of this drug in Britain. Henkel
(io) later calls attentionto the uncertaintyin seed germination.
Turner (23) in his directionsforgrowinghenbane is encouraging
crop to handle.
in the extreme. In his opinion it is not a difficult
Repeated tests in the open field have resulted in failures. Fair
germinationwas obtained in one instance,but the seedlingscould
not competewithcommonweeds untillargeenoughforcultivation.
Seed tests carried on under glass indicate that germinationis of
highpercentage,uniformand fairlyregularforseeds fromdifferent
sources.
With some of the older drugs in cultivation,propagationand
cultural systemshave been highlydeveloped. Examples of this
may be foundin the excellentnotes of Weddell (24) on the nur-
series, cultivation,harvestingand curing of coca, of Lumsdaine
(I5) on the cultivation of nutmegs and cloves in Bencoolen, of
Eatwell (7) on the methodsof cultivation,collecting,and curing
of opium, and the influenceof soil and climate upon the yield
and quality of the product,and of DeVry (6) on cinchona.
There are few authenticdata or directions,however,upon the
propagation and cultivation of the more importantformswhich
are adapted to this country. This list might well include such
forms as belladonna, henbane, stramonium, digitalis, arnica,
larkspur, valerian, santonica, veratrum, hellebore and others.
It is evident that methods would have to be developed to suit
the conditionsof soil and climate,and at the same time be varied
to meetthe purposesof the work. That is, commercialproduction
might be possible under a systemwhich would be worthlessfor
experimentson plant breedingand improvement.
In the followingdiscussionsthe questions of propagationhave
 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS 115

been taken up in conjunctionwith other problems,and have only

beendevelopedas progressmightdemand. The workhas been done
forthe purposeofdeterminingthe practicabilityofgrowingcertain
drug plants upon a commercialscale, and the possibilityof im-
proving them throughan application of the methods of plant
breeding. All seed tests have been of a practical nature,and but
little of the great mass of material upon the effectsof various
reagents and influencesupon germinationhas been used. This
material so far seems to have resulted in no new general laws
applicable to commercialgrowers. Experimentsupon the effects
of lightand darkness (Heinricher,9) upon seed germination,tem-
perature(Reynolds,i8) in relationto germination,treatmentwith
warm water (Jensen,I2), sterilizationof soil (Stone & Smith,2I),
copper sulphate treatment (Breal & Giustiniani, 2), electrical
effects(Monahan, I6), soaking in chlorine water (Spatschil, 20),
soil temperature (Brown, 3), action of ether and chloroform
(Becquerel, i) and delayed germination(Crocker,5), have resulted
in many data but few generalizations. Specific gravity tests,
sterilizedsoils and the sulphuricacid treatment(Love & Leighty,
14), have been used successfullyand mightbe recommendedfor
practical purposes. The formsunderconsiderationand the results
so farobtained are as follows:

DIGITALIS
More or less uncertaintyexists as to the exact botanical source
of this drug. The comparative medicinal value of the leaves
fromwild and cultivated forms,and the disputed methods of
collection,curingand packing are unsettledquestions of consider-
able importance. The comparativevalue of the many species and
horticulturalvarieties, their ease of culture, relative yield of
crude drug, their floweringperiods, hardiness and duration of
growthare additional problemswhichmust be investigatedbefore
the genus can be made to yield its best to the manufactureof
medicine.
Open fieldsowingwas triedseveral timesduringtwo successive
years. These tests were carried out both under practical field
conditionsand in ideally prepared seed beds. The resultswere
complete failures and open seed sowing under field conditions
116 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

cannot be recommended. Afterthis preliminarywork, the open

field methods were abandoned for the more reliable greenhouse
methods.
Seeds of twenty-sevenvarietieswere obtained forexperimental
plantings. These were germinated (see Table I) in seed pans
under glass,and transplantedto flatsas soon as the second leaves
were visible. These flats were retained in a cool greenhouseof
50 degreesnight temperature,and 6o degrees day temperature,
until March i, when they were transferredto cold frames. The
sashes of these frameswere of double glass construction,and re-
quired little attention until the latter part of April. Then the
sashes had to be removedduringthe day to preventburningof the
foliage,and to thoroughlyharden offthe young seedlingsbefore
transplantingto the field.
Transplantingto the open fieldwas done mostlyby inexperi-
enced labor,and duringdryweatheraccompaniedby strongwinds.
The inexperiencedlabor was used as a means of determiningthe
transplantingqualities of these forms,and the unfavorableweather
only rendered this test more severe. After transplanting,the
young plants were watered twice on consecutivedays, and then
left to the influence of natural conditions. Cultivation was
commencedearly,and repeatedfrequentlythroughoutthe growing
season. The soil was a poor, stiff,clay loam, but all formsof
the digitalismade excellentgrowth,as is evidencedby the amount
of dry leaf produced by some average individual plants. Some
of these yielded as follows:
Digitalis maculata Iveryana, a strong and robust form,392
grams,Digitalis gloxinioidesI70 grams, Digitalis Ivery's spotted
209 grams, and Digitalis alba I,72I grams. In obtaining the
comparative yield (see Table I) of all the varieties,ten average
plants were selected, and all the leaves collected fromthem,and
thoroughlyair dried. The figuresrepresentingcomparativeyield
of Digitalis alba, D. purpureaand D. canariensis,Watkins; D. sibi-
rica,D. lanata,and D. ambigua,Horsford;and D. gloxiniaeflorarosea,
Dreer, are all low on account of early collection. Those for the
otherforms,however,are accurateenoughforall practicalpurposes.
The comparativetoxicityas givenin the table is based upon figures
obtained by the one hour frogheart method fortestingDigitalis
 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS 117

and its preparations. The value "one" representsthe greatest

toxicity,while the numerical increase indicates a proportional
decrease in toxicity. Thus the weakest sample tested (Digitalis
gloxiniaefloraalba) has a toxicityof 6.3.
Anotherobject of the Digitalis study was to test the effectsof
hybridizationupon medicinal value. For this work,it was very
desirable to bringthe various species and varietiesinto floweras
soon as possible. Early seed sowingaugmentedby a ratherrapid
growthin the greenhouseand by a slow hardygrowthin the cold
frames,as well as by a late and unusuallyfavorableseason, resulted
in a numberof floweringplants fromseveral species and varie-
ties (see Table II). For the purpose of obtainingearly flowering
plants upon whichto begin the work of inbreedingand hybridiza-
tion, a numberof one year old plants were purchased fromA. T.
Boddington. These began flowering early,and furnishedmaterial
throughout the season. Various combinations were tried, a
numberof which were successful,and seedlingsare already being
propagated in an effortto bring them into flowerthe firstyear.
Thus any breedingoperations can be annually continued or dis-
continuedas the resultsmay indicate,whereas these formsunder
the usual conditionsof propagation would require two years to
reach maturity.
It has also been noted that a small number of annual forms
have appeared in the late plantingsof several species and varieties,
and especially where large numbersof plants were used. In all
cases these have been inbred. The resultingprogeny of these
inbred annuals will be closely observed for the reappearance of
annual forms.
Root division and propagationof lateral buds have both been
tried with several varieties of Digitalis (see Table III). It was
hoped that clonal varieties could be obtained in this manner.
Uniformityof individualsand theirbehaviorto varied soil and cli-
matic conditions could then be studied with greater accuracy.
Lateral buds, with and without roots, were carefully removed.
Those removedduringsummer,falland winterwere extremelyhard
to start,whetherthey bore roots or not. Sand proved to be the
best materialforthispurpose. Howeverthosemade in earlyspring
fromplants left in the open have yielded a large percentage of
118 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

plants. Side cuttings,with and withoutroots,madeFebruary2I,

I9I3, had rootedin sand in the greenhouseMarch 20, I9I3.

BELLADONNA

The propagation of belladonna was firstattempted through

open fieldsowing. Successive trialsunder varied fieldconditions
withseed fromseveraldifferent sourcesresultedin completefailures.
Fall sowingof importedseed u.pona carefullyprepared seed bed
gave the followingresult. Seed planted September 3, I9I2, fair
germinationOctober2 I, I9I2. Seed collectedfromgrowingplants
August I5, I9I2, planted September 3, I9I2, fair germination
October 2I, I9I2.
Greenhouseconditionswere then tried,which were practically
the same as those fordigitalis,except that the seed pans used were
more carefullyprotectedfromalternate degrees of moistureand
dryness. See Table IV for germinationdata, and Tables V and
VI forthe influenceof certainseed treatmentsupon germination.
The belladonna seedlings transplant with considerable ease
and with practicallyno loss. Damping offis not so frequentas
with digitalisand henbane. Sterilized soil and carefulwatering
greatlyreduce this troublein all cases. The belladonna seedlings
were retainedin the greenhousein flatsuntil well established,and
were then transferred to the cold frames. This was done on some
occasionsas earlyas March I9. Observationsat thistimeshowed
a temperatureof46 degfeesinsidethe frames,withtheoutsidetem-
peraturebelowfreezing. Outside nighttemperaturesof I8 degrees
caused no injuryto theseedlingsunderthe unprotecteddouble glass
sash. Seedlingstransplanteddirectlyinto the framesin stiffclay
soil made slowergrowththan those in the better soil of the flats,
but produced hardierand more stalky plants, which transplanted
to the open with much greater ease and certainty. They also
made better subsequent growth than those in the flats. They
required much less attentionwhile in the frames,having to be
watered only occasionally, while those in the flats dried out
rapidly as the season advanced, and demanded considerable
attention. Seedlings retained in the greenhouse in flats until
May IO were tenderand succulentand wilted badly when trans-
ferredto the open field. From thirtyto fortyper cent. were lost
 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS 119

duringthis second transplanting,while with those fromthe cold

framesthis loss was scarcelyappreciable.
The successfulpropagation of the belladonna plant was only
a necessary preliminaryprocedure to other more important
problems. It was desired to observe this formunder cultivation,
to studyits commercialproductionand the possibilitiesofdevelop-
ing a strain which would produce a uniformlyhigher yield of
alkaloids than the ordinarycommercialdrug.
The firstof these problems was accomplished throughseed
propagation. No difficultywas experienced in obtaining an
abundance of plants after indoor methods of propagation were
adopted. Large luxuriant plants were obtained from seed
sown March 8, I9I2, and were floweringby July I2. It is
interestingto note here that the plants which had been trans-
planted directlyfromthe seed pans to the poor soil in the cold
frameswere the firstplants to commenceflowering. The plants
at this time (July I2) were fromtwo to threefeettall, and much
branched. Ransom (I7) says that belladonna grownin England
fromseed sown in early springproduces little if any herb worth
cuttingthe firstyear.
It is now believed that two profitableharvestscan be obtained
duringone growingseason, fromplantingsmade January Ist of
the same year. The belladonna plant is an herbaceousperennial,
but on account of its susceptibilityto winterkillingin this clim"-te,
it may have to be grownas an annual. I724 plants were left in
the open without protection as a test for hardiness and as a
means of obtaining individual plants of unusual hardiness from
whichto develop a strainmore adapted to this climate. Septem-
ber 24 the entireherbaceous portion was removed from I4I4 of
these plants, the remaining3IO being leftundisturbed. Twelve
clumps of roots were liftedNovember 7, 19I2, and placed in the
cold frameswith no protectionexcept the double glass sash. The
sash was put on at this time,and leftclosed until March 31, I9I3,
when the plants were firstobserved. At this time they were all
bearingvigoroussprouts. Those leftin the open were showingno
growthon this date. These were again observed May I, and the
followingconditionsnoted:
Number of plants, fromwhich herbaceous portion had been
removed,showinggrowth,44.
120 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

Number of plants, which had been left undisturbed,showing

growth,307.
The second object of the belladonna investigation,viz., the
attemptto produce a strainwhichwould yield a uniformlyhigher
percentageofalkaloids than the commercialdrug,involvesanother
method of propagation. In this case, individual plants must be
examined for their propertyof yielding certain percentages of
alkaloids. It is desirable to propagate promisingindividuals in
such a mannerthat the high yieldingcharacterwill be uniformly
transmittedto the offsprings.As yet it is not knownhow such a
characterbehaves. Alkaloids are not essential productsof meta-
bolism, and the inheritanceof the propertyof producinga large
percentageof such productsis indeed questionable.
To investigatethis point, both seed and vegetative propaga-
tion of pure strains must be practiced. The behavior of the
characterin these pure strainsand theirprogenywill throwmuch
lighton the possibilityofdeveloping,propagating,and maintaining
highyieldingvarietiesthroughthe practice of breeding.
If the propertyof an individual plant to produce a definite
amountofalkaloidswhengrownunderuniformconditions,behaves
in the same manneras many externalcharacters,the propagation
of pure bred strains by the vegetative method should yield uni-
formlyaccordingto selection.
To test this possibility,it was necessaryto followthe methods
of the floristin the propagation of cuttingsin sand. This was
done both in the greenhouseand in the open under cheese cloth
shade. In the greenhousethe open sand bed was tried as well
as the glass-coveredbed recommendedby Bailey. The open bed
was also tried,with the cheese cloth shade. The best results in
thegreenhousewereobtainedwiththeopen bed undertheinfluence
of a mild bottom heat, and very carefulwatering. Sterile sand
had to be used to prevent a total loss of the cuttingsfromthe
attack of a very small white worm,which fed on the lower ends
of the cuttings,and preventedcallousinguntil decay would com-
mence. The best outdoor results were obtained from the use
of the cold frames protected with cheese-cloth shades. Top
cuttingsmade fromthe more mature wood of the open grown
plantsstrikerootmorereadilythanthosefromthe tendersucculent
wood of plants grownin the greenhouse.
 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS 121

Table III gives results obtained by the vegetative method

of propagation for belladonna and other miscellaneous forms.
Open field seeding has been found practical for such formsas
stramonium (Datura Stramonium), cannabis indica (Cannabis
sativa), larkspur (Delphinium Consolida), and lappa (A rctium
Lappa). This list can probably be greatly enlarged as other
formsare tested.
Various species and varieties of the genus Datura are being
investigated in the same manner as belladonna and digitalis.
Fifty individual plant assays have been made fromplantingsof
Datura Stramoniumand Datura Tatula. These indicate that the
application of plant breeding methods to the improvementof
medicinal plants may be successful,and extremelypracticable.
Averages of 50 per cent. and 6o per cent. have been obtained
fromthe progenyof selected parent plants of Datura Stramonium
and of 49 per cent. and 62 per cent. fromDatura Tatula as com-
pared with averages of 28 per cent. and 35 per cent. obtained
respectivelyfromwild plants of these two species. Individual
plants have been foundwhich assay as high as 65 per cent. for'
the D. Stramoniumand 77 per cent. forD. Tatula. Such indi-
viduals are used forpropagatingpurposes. Again,as in the case of
belladonna,it is a question of inheritancethat mustdeterminethe
methodof propagationor the advisabilityof attemptingto per-
petuate these high yieldingindividuals for commercialpurposes.
In the foregoing,propagation has only been considered as
a necessary preliminaryprocedure to other more comprehensive
problems. A sufficient numberof methodsforpropagatingvarious
classes of plants has been developed to suit the presentneed of
medicinal plant growers. These have been largely the result of
certain demands upon well-establishedhorticulturalforms,and
theirextendeduse is only a matterof application.
Their applicationhereindescribed has furtheredinvestigations
not otherwisepossible. The resultsobtained fromtheir applica-
tion, the continuationof other related problems,and the objects
in view, have all been stated. The related problems such as
commercial production, the testing of differentspecies and
varieties,and theirimprovementby breedingand selection,have
an unquestionableeconomicvalue, the solutionof whichwill lend
122 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

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128 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

TABLE V
EFFECT OF SEED AND SOIL TREATMENT ON GERMINATION

Name Date Planted Date Germinated Germination Treatment

Belladonna.... .... 2-6-12 3- 2-12 Good Water

Belladonna ........ 2- 5-I2 3- 5-12 Good Warm water
Belladonna ........ 2-7-I2 2-26-I2 Very good Warm water
Belladonna.....2-7-I2 I2-26-I2 Very good Warm water
Belladonna ....... 2-5-I2 I 3-25- 2 Good Warm water
Belladonna ........ 2-6 I 2 3- 2-12 Poor Untreated

TABLE VI

CONCENTRATED SULPHURIC ACID TREATMENT FOR BELLADONNA

No. No. No. No. No.

Planted Germ. Seed- Date Seed- Date Seed- Date Seed- Date Seed-
ling ling holg ling ling

I913 I9I3 I9I3 I9I3 I9I3 I8I3

Untreated ....... 2-I4 3-I3 3 3-I9 3 3-28 I4 4-8 24
Treated 5 mi. . . . 2-I4 3-5 2 3-I3 4 3-I9 IO 3-28 27 4-8 36
Treated IO mi... . 2-I4 3-5 3 3-I3 II 3-I9 46 3-28 I25 4-8 I38
Treated I5 mi... . 2-I4 3-I3 3 3-I9 15 3-28 32 4-8 3I

much to the demands for better and more precise medicinal

products.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

LITERATURE CITED

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seches. Compt. Rend. 140: 1049-1052. I905.
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3. Brown,E. The germination of seeds as affectedby soil tem-
peratures. Abstract in Science II. 2I: I44. I905.
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Farm. Bull. I57: I-23. I902.
5. Crocker, W. ROle of seed coats in delayed germination. Bot.
Gaz. 42: 265-29I. f. I-4. I906.
6. DeVry,-. Cinchona culture in India. Am. Jour. Pharm. 36:
32 I-323. I864.
7. Eatwell, W. C. B. Observations on the cultivation of the poppy
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at Benares, etc. Am. Jour. Pharm. 24: II8-133. I852.
8. Farwell, 0. A. American grownbelladonna. Bull. Phar. I9: 258.
190,5.
 MILLER: THE PROPAGATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS 129

g. Heinricher, E. Notwendigkeit des Lichtes und befordernde

Wirkung desselben bei der Samenkeimung. Beih. zum Bot.
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II. Holmes, E. M. The cultivation of medicinal plants. Pharm.

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vegetative energy. Tidsskr. Landbr. Plantcoul. I0: 46-63.
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13. Kraemer, H. The conservation and cultivation of medicinal
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by sulphuricacid treatment. Cornell Exp. Sta. Bull. 3I2: 293-
336. f. I-9. I9I2.
I5. Lumsdaine, -. Cultivation of nutmegs and cloves in Bencoolen.
Am. Jour. Phar. 24: 53-6I. I852.
i6. Monahan, N. F. The influenceof the atmospherical electrical
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I7. Ransom, F. Notes on medicinalplants cultivatedin Great Britain.
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I8. Reynolds, J. B. Temperature in relation to seed germination.
Ontario Agr. Coll. and Exp. Farm. Rep. I903: 9-II. f. I, 2.
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I9. Saunders, W. On the germinationof seeds of medicinal plants.
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Keimung. Oesterr.Bot. Zeitschr.54: 325-329. I904. Review
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I9II.
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