The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-01

you have heard. and I willingly fall
in with your request.
1t Is over two years ago that the
Whins Drug Plant Farm and School,
was founded by me at Chalfont st
Peter, which is in Buckinghamshire,
within an hours rail from London,
amidst pretty scenery often Visited by
Americans. being In the near neigh
borhood of the Jordans, so intimately
connected with William Penn, and
within a short walking distance Of
Chalfont st. Giles, Millions refuge in
the time of the great plague Of Lon
don in 1865.
Very shortly after the outbreak of
the present war England awoke to
the fact that she had allowed an old
fashioned industry to slip out of her
hands into those of her foes. In by
gone days we in England grew our
own medicinal herbs and knew the
value of the wild herbs growing in
the woods and he6gerows, but Ger
many and Austria gradually under
sold the home grown plants, with the
result that British grown herbs were
steadily ousted from the market and
the acreage devoted to drug cultiva-
ton became more and more restricted,
till in 1918 there were imported into
Great Britain more than f71.000
(about s350,OOo) worth OF vegetable
drugs that we are perfectly able to
grow or to collect in their natural
wild condition.
The quantity of herbs used not only
incidentally. but in all kinds of trades
and also for culinary purposes, Is very
great and a shortage promptly max
ing itself felt when war conditions
cut of continental supplies. a move
! ment was soon set on foot for recovery
for the British people OF this almost
forgotten industry. Stimulated by the
press. whose attention TO the matter
| had in great part been aroused by a
special leaflet on the subject issued
| by the Board Of Agriculture, a wave
OF interest passed over the country.
That n beginning was made with the
growing and collecting of herbs to re-
| place the stock formerly supplied to
| our manufacturing chemists by the
| Central European Powers is largely
felt that to render this service to the
| nation in it's hour Of trial constituted
in itself a reward, even though-at
first at any rate-little pecuniary ad-
yantages were to be gained.
Patriotic enthusiasm, alone. however.
Is not sufficient to attain the desired
goal. To make a profitable industry
out Of medicinal herb cultivation at
tention must be paid to many details
and II Is OF little avail to grow the
herbs without intelligent and trained
knowledge of their needs and habits
and of the soils and situations most
suited to develop their special quail
ties. Some species flourish best in
light, dry soil and In open positions
| flooded with sunshine; others will
thrive more in sheltered spots and
in damp soil. 1t is useless trying to
cultivate for profit plants to which
the soil is unsuited. therefore in the
first place the intending grower must
study this point and be governed in
the choice Of the crops to be raised by
the situation and soil of the land at
disposal Ordinary gardening knowl-
edge, moreover. Is not sufficient, since
IT gives no clue as to the right mo-
ment for picking. or the correct
process of preparing for market. &C
The grower must obtain training from
an expert or success will not result and
the efforts will be valueless, both from
the patriotic and the personal points
OF view.
To the end that a large band Of
trained workers should be available
for the foundation and spread OF this
important national industry. I started
my heb farm and school of training
where many students have already at
tanned "A thorough grounding in all
branches, we'll equlpping them for be-
coming practical herb growers on their
own account or for training others
in their turn. To be of any value the
training should extend at least from
April to September, but for those who
intend to take up the work definitely
and thoroughly a year is essential, in
order TO learn the treatment of plants
In all seasons. In my herb garden
stocked with more than 800 different
varieties of herbs, the practical side
OF the training OF the Wins students
includes not only the use of tools
preparation of the ground trenching
&c, but also sowing. planting. trans.
planting and propagation by layering
division OF roots and cuttings, prac.
tical knowledge of the plants and
their treatment thus being gained
and all, of course. take their share In
the regular digging and work In the
grounds. Part OF the training consists
too in going out into the fields ant