Henbane (_Hyoscyamus niger_) is a poisonous annual or biennial herb of
the nightshade family, introduced into this country from Europe and
occasionally found as a weed in a number of the Northern States. The
leaves, flowering tops, and sometimes the seeds are used medicinally.
Henbane is propagated from seeds, but when these are sown in the open
field germination is uncertain, and a very poor stand or total failure
is a frequent result. Germination is usually much more certain when
the seeds are sown under glass, but the plants do not readily stand
transplanting and often die after they are set in the open. Very good
results have been secured by sowing the seed in small pots under glass
in January, transferring the seedlings to 3-inch pots in March, and
transplanting in May to the field, where the plants may be set at least
15 inches apart in rows. In handling the plants care should be taken
to disturb the soil about the roots as little as possible. The soil
requirements and method of cultivation are practically the same as for
belladonna.
The leaves of henbane usually suffer severely from attacks of the
potato beetle, especially during the first year, and the crop is very
likely to be destroyed if grown within the range of this insect.
Ordinarily the plants blossom about August of the second year and
die after ripening their seed, but individual plants started early
frequently bloom and set seed the first year. The leaves and flowing
tops are collected when the plants are in full bloom and are carefully
dried in the shade.
The American crop of henbane has never much exceeded 10 acres. The
yield under favorable conditions is estimated at about 6,000 pounds per
acre. The wholesale price in June, 1920, was 35 to 38 cents a pound.