82 MEDICINAL PLANTS IN ENGLAND.
correspondent adds, after a visit to the scene, "if scent is any
indication of quality, this should be a wonderful manure."
There can be little doubt that the Crepidula was introduced
into Essex waters with foreign oysters, probably American.
The causes of its abnormal increase, and its influence on the
culture of oysters, is little understood and certainly deserves
careful study.
THE COLLECTION AND CULTIVATION OF
MEDICINAL PLANTS IN ENGLAND.
IN March last I received from the Board of Agriculture a letter
saying that owing to the shortage of drugs, largely due to
the loss of supplies from Germany and Austria-Hungary, an
opportunity had arisen for the collection of Drug-Plants in
England by those who were in a position to use their knowledge
of Field-Botany in this way. The Board suggested that some
of our members might be prepared to take part in this work,
and usefully co-operate in the collection and sale of such plants
during the present year.
I replied that we would gladly place the Board's suggestion
before our members, and, in accordance therewith, a circular
was issued calling attention to the matter. I ventured to point
out, however, that very many of these medicinal plants are
uncommon or even rare in Essex, and that a more hopeful
method of accomplishing the object in view would be to encourage
the cultivation of these plants by Small Holders and those having
gardens. In view of the fact that seeds of the various species
of medicinal plants are not really obtainable, the Board added
that "Your members might consider also the desirability of
collecting during the coming season a supply of seeds for their
own use, and for distribution to others."
The Board points out that "During recent years the acreage
devoted to drug cultivation in Britain has been more and more
restricted by competition with wild foreign products, and the
result has been a slow but sure ousting of British grown drugs
from the market. The advent of a European war has com-
pletely changed the situation, and an effort on the part of growers
and drug merchants may largely secure for England the collection
and cultivation for the future of medicinal plants which can