Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1909-08-06
Effect of Chemicals on Vegetable
Matter.
Experiments Of Philadelphia Society
Expects to Add Much to Our
knowledge Of Relative
Strength of StimuIants.

Philadelphia, Pa.-By means OF ex'
tensive experiments to test the rela-
tive strength of drugs on 1000 vari-
cites of terminating plants, and also
a number of animals, in the botanical
roof gardens of the Philadelphia Col
lege of Pharmacy, DR.. Henry kraemer,
professor of botany and director OF the |
microscopic and botanical laboratories,
is compiling tables of values which,
when completed, will probably work
the greatest change in the nature and
quality of drugs used as stimulants
that has taken place since the days OF
Hahnemann. Since the establishment
of a botanical roof garden two seasons
ago by DR.. Kraemer, primarily for the
purpose of supplying the college with
authentic drug material of the rarer
varieties, the garden has outgroWn
its original mission to some extent
and has become an important arm OF
the research work of the college.
bill Postum" is an important fea-
ture of the gardens. All unconscious
that he is adding to the supply OF USE
full knowledge as well as furnishing
diversion to visitors, "Bill Possum,"
shielded from the rays of summer
sun by the foliage of plants almost
priceless in their rarity, and basking
| in a breeze made cool by the waters
of the Jersey marsh" reigns supreme
high above the buildings of the city.
The gardens cover the roof of the col
lege buildings. Guinea pigs, frogs and
1 r.
tributing their share to the progress
of science, are less important per-
sonages, by far, in this novel little
world than big Bill Postum"
The vegetable life of the gardens is
nourished chiefly in well watered
soil of sand. AS little as possible OF
the usual soil elements Is introduced
so that the plants may receive as far
as possible without interference the
effect of the chemicals fed them dur
ing the test The effect of the vari
J Gus chemicals on the plants is thus
clearly discernible. In this garden
are growing different series of the
same plant under influences of widely
. different chemicals. A series of likt
: age will differ SO markedly that som'
: will be in magnificent bloom, while
+ others in the adjoining garden will b.
+ yielding profusion of beautiful leave
e without a bud. And among those il
{ bloom will be found some, under tn
influence of a particular chemical
towering in an abundance of health
o red while others, fed from anothe
8 chemical. will bear blue or whit
bloom.
One of the most interesting of tn
collection of plants brought togethe
= by DR.. Kraemer Is a specimen of tn
i original licorice plant brought froI
:. Spain by the late Henry K. Rittei
- house of this city. At that time tn
10 variety was unknown in this countr
70 as a commercial product. and after Il
70 Producing it as such Mr. Rittenhous
y. built up a fortune from its sale. Thel
,s Is also a specimen of the famous pc
to son hemlock of Socrates, the san
species from which was made the fat
potion.
Among the trees of the garden is
>. Compton tree raised from cutting
= one of a grove of camphor trees nc
-. growing wild in Florida. Forty yea
- ago these trees were set out as
- experiment by the department of ag
= culture, and later their cultivation W
- given up as failure. It is now thong
that the camphor industry will Ia
the place of the culture of oranges
Florida.
to- In the Jersey bog" huge garden
ny novel plants, receiving their nouri'
file ment from water, air and animal m
ter, are varieties not often seen