Aconite (_Aconitum napellus_) is a hardy perennial, introduced from
Europe and sparingly grown in this country as an ornamental garden
plant. Both leaves and roots are very poisonous, the latter forming the
official drug. Other varieties than _Aconitum napellus_ are also grown
in flower gardens, and several species occur wild in the United States.
Since the official species readily hybridizes with related varieties,
often to the detriment of its medicinal properties, it is frequently
difficult to secure seed which will come true to name.
Aconite seems to thrive best in a rather cool climate and will grow in
any rich garden soil, but a well-drained gravelly loam in an elevated
situation appears most suited for the cultivation of this plant. It
may be grown from seed sown in the open late in the fall or early in
the spring, or plants may be started in a seed bed and the seedlings
later transplanted and set about a foot apart in rows 2 feet apart. The
preferable method of propagation is by division of the roots after the
stems have died down in the fall, since thereby hybridization may be
avoided.
The plants usually flower in the second year from seed, when the roots
may be harvested. It is preferable, however, to defer harvesting until
the stems have died down in the fall, when all the roots should be dug,
the smaller reserved for planting and the larger ones washed, sliced
lengthwise, and dried. The leaves are also harvested, but are not in
much demand.
Reliable data on yield are not available, although some estimates
place the yield at about 450 pounds of dry root per acre. The American
market is supplied with imported aconite root, for which the prewar
price ranged from about 9 to 15 cents a pound. The price in June,
1920, ranged from 60 to 62 cents a pound. The quantity imported in
1919 was about 35,000 pounds. The demand for this drug is limited, and
this fact, together with the probable low yield, makes its profitable
cultivation in this country very doubtful.