MEDICINAL HERBS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 42, 19 February 1942, Page 8

MEDICINAL HERBS

PRODUCTION IN HASTINGS

Herbs grown in Hastings for medical purposes are now being dried in apparatus specially assembled for the purpose." About 10001b of leaf are now being test dried, but it will probably be next week before the plant is placed in full operation, a Hastings correspondent reports. The drier, which is the largest in New Zealand, is operated on thermostatic control so as to maintain at constant temperature, 130deg Fahrenheit, the air which is continually circulated by suction.

Hastings is the only centre in which the Government has undertaken this war production of medical herbs. Although the plant has a capacity of from one ton to a ton and a half of leaf a day, the actual production after the moisture has been removed by drying is about one-sixth or one-seventh of the weight put in. Members of the Women's War Service Auxiliary have been engaged SQrting leaf and placing it in wire-netting-bottomed trays. When filled the trays are piled on trolleys, which are run on rails into insulated tunnels in the drier.

A wool press has also been installed for packing the processed leaf into woolpacks, which are being used because of the shortage of tin. Packed in this way, the herbs will absorb' some moisture, but if the pressing is sufficient the absorption will not be great.