The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-02-02

~wN0Yp that 1t pays an annaat Dlii
of some $16,0OO,OO0 to other countries
for importations. If these drugs must
be used, it is only natural to ask II
the patient cannot save some of the
money by encouraging the home indus
try. A good many of the drug plants
are products Of the tropics, and cannot
be raised here; but expert authorities
inform us that some four or five mil
lion dollars worth OF the others could
readily be produced in the back yards
of our suburban homes.
There has been a steadily increasing
shortage in the common golden seal,
or Hydrastis canadensis At one time
golden seal was so abundant in the
East that it was torn up and burnt by
farmers to keep it from overrunning
their fields. In the Ohio valley it was
considered a pest But to-day it is
worth about seventy-five cents a pound
wholesale in the market, and It is eag-
erly hunted for by drug plant collect
ors. There are scarcely 100000 pounds
collected annually in this country, and
the actual demand is several times this
amount.
Golden seal will grow easily on rich,
loose garden soil. The soil should be
made to initiate that of the woods or
forest as nearly as possible The plants
are put in rows six inches from each
other. with a foot between each row.
1t takes about three years from plant
ing before harvesting, and after that
an annual supply Of roots should be
| had. In two seasons the original plants
should increase four times by dividing
the rhizomes. which can be cut up IN
the fall. After the second year the in
crease should be much faster, for the
rhizomes can be cut into small pieces,
and each one bearing a bud will form
a new plant. The original plants can
either be obtained from the woods or
from nurseries. In either case they
should be planted in late summer. and
carefully protected the first winter.
The cultivation OF seneca root, or
snakeroot Polygaia senegal has also
been undertaken in this country. Like
golden seal it was at one time very
abundant in this country, aad it was
gathered by collectors of erug plants
III the South. The annual shortage
has sent the price for it soaring. Cas-
cara sagrada, Rhamnus purshiana,
and the conehower, or Echinacea an
gustifolia. are also running short in
this country. and their cultivation
could be undertaken with a sure knowl-
edge that prices would be maintained
for years to come. Plantations OF
these drug plants should yield a good
income after the second year, and ii
the propagation increased by cuttings
the supply should be satisfactory.
A curious fact in regard to the drug
trade is that we are to-day importing
in considerable quantities ordinary
medicinal plants which are found grow
ing wild in this country, and are large
ly neglected. In some cases these wild
plants are destroyed by farmers as
noxions weeds. and their very presence
on the farm is an eyesore to them. Ii
this class of despised drug plants we
have the common dandelion, burdock
couch grass and curly dock. The
poor Italians of our towns and cities
are apparently the only ones to appre
ciate the value of these common medi
cinal plants. In the spring and summer
Of the year they go forth to dig the
roots of the dandeliol and dock in gar
dens. lanes and by the roadsides. II
speaking to one of these Italian col
leetors the writer ascertained that h'
made nearly hundred dollars yeal
this way. Only a small fraction of his
time was given to collecting.
Fair prices are quoted in the dru;
trade for dock and dandelion roots
!. and the cultivated sorts are so l1ucl
superior 10 the wild that theie is non
, ey- IN them. All that the farmer o.
householder needs to do is to start
rich piece of damp ground with th'
roots of the dandelion or burdock, ant
then by transplanting cuttings eacl
year large supply could be raised
The plants take possession of the soil
but the small ones should be thinnct
cut to give the better growths nor
!, room. To cultivate dandelions. bur
dock and couch gracs seens like an alb
s1rdlty to some. but we have it upol
The authority of the Department Of Ag
riculture that many tons of these root
are imported annually iato this cou1
= try for the drug trade.
! Experiments have becu ml6e to f.
$ troduce tile canphor and cork tree
q in the Southern States. and some litti
) success has been attained, but it woul
+ seem much moro to the point if farrl
Q ers would attempt the cultivation 0
Q wild native plants that We now hav
to import to meet the ordinary Cru
trade demand. There is q conmo
l sage. which We raise in such smal
: quantities that we have to depend upo
o Italy for our needs. The prices 70
!. sage are small, and this fact has dis
ouraged many from undertaking t
! raise it. But the plant is easily GU
Z tivated. requiring practically no Grea
= attention, and its annual crop of leave
= is large. Five or ten acres devoted t
sage growing yields excellent return
on the money and labor invested.
will grow in SOL that is not very ricf
k and once the plantation is started,