Roman camomile (also called English camomile, _Anthemis nobilis_) is a
European perennial herb of the aster family, frequently cultivated in
gardens in this country and sometimes found growing wild. In America,
camomile is grown chiefly as an ornamental plant, especially for use in
borders, since the plants blossom from midsummer until killed by frost.
The dried flower heads from cultivated plants are used in medicine.
Camomile grows well in almost any good, rather dry soil which has full
exposure to the sun. The plants may be grown from seeds or propagated
by dividing the roots early in the spring. The divisions of the root
may be planted 9 inches apart in rows spaced according to the method of
cultivation to be used. When planted on a small scale the divisions,
or offsets, may be set 9 inches apart each way in carefully prepared
soil. Hand weeding is necessary, but since the plants soon spread and
fully shade the ground, weeds usually have small chance of becoming
troublesome.
The flower heads are gathered just as they open, either by hand or by
means of a flower picker, and are dried in the open in bright weather
or, when necessary, on canvas trays in a heated room. Rapid drying
is essential, as it is desirable to retain the white color as far as
possible.
The yield is variable, but from 400 to 600 pounds of dried flowers
per acre may be expected. The prices for Roman camomile quoted in the
wholesale drug markets of this country prior to the war usually ranged
from about 10 to 12 cents a pound. The prices in June, 1920, were 18
to 20 cents a pound. Since this crop requires much hand labor, its
cultivation in this country on a commercial scale does not promise to
be very profitable.