Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-26

WHO, the government experimentsrs have
ton. ~
The whole catalogue Of Importation of
crude drugs is a long one and includes
many that 1t Is conceded could not be pro-
ouced In this country. Some others of
which there is question are now being
Experimental with by the Psychologists Of
the Agricultural Department. In some in
stances 1t Is clearly apparent that while
tne urug IS cultivatable there are obstacles
to Its profitable growing. These Objections
may IN cases be overcome. while in other
cases tney appear insurmountable. In for
e is countries products are frequently de-
TiVeo from wild plants growing in unused
Iano ana the collecting is done by laborers
who work for few pennies a day. Here
Is problem which. If the great American
farmer is to be a great American pharma-
c1st he must solve by improved methods
ana machinery, else he cannot compete
even In his home field with the medicinal
plant growers abroad.
1t Is a point In favor Of unfayored regions
that the cultivation of drug plants on high
priced lands Is not considered advisable,
and in many instances Is not desirable az
many of these products flourish best under
conditions which would be fatal to ordinary
crops. Other drug stuffs however REQUIRE
the most fertile land. Taken all in all. the
southern states appear to offer the most
distinctive and inviting opportunities for
the prospective drug producer
Of the most promising crops Is licorice,
which at the present time Is chiefly de-
rived from lands bordering on the Mediter-
ranean. where It grows wild. OF this plant
and its roots 100000 worth is imported
been tried here successfully and the gov
eminent is anxious that 1t be experimental
with on commercial scale to demonstrate
its profitable productiveness. The plant
has been grown near Philadelphia with
gratifying results.
Experiments with capsicum on the Po-
tomac fats. near Washington. D. c.. and
in Texas indicate that the various forms
grown In the orient, in Hungary and else
where can be made to bear fruit abundant
ly in this country. More than two and q
half million pounds Of this have been I'm
ported yearly.
Besides the s1.5o0. 900 annual importation
Of crude opium. there Is an almost equal
ing by the devotees Of the pipe. Repeated
experiments show that the true opium
poppy grows well In many parts Of this
from the plants have yielded articles Of
high commercial value. In spite Of the
large and steady market here. however. no
its is
bility to diversified climate and soils Is ap-
parent from the statement that 1t hourishes
not only in the balmy lands Of southern
tinent and in the Atlantic coast states as
far north as Burlington. VT. where. In ex-
Fermentation. an abundant flower produce
ton has occurred before midsummer and
continued until frost appeared.
Belladona, henbane and stramonium. all
closely related. occur in this country as
weeds. and as such have been regarded
without thought Of any commercial value
they possess. In England. Germany and
other parts OF Europe they are xealously
cultivated for their worth as drugs
The fruit of several shade plants, includ-
ing caraway, anise and coriander, supply
O big demand. which L. now almost exclu-
sively filled from Europe. AL could be pro-
duced here.
Nearly 100000 worth Of castor bean
seeds are Imported each year. The plant
grows readily throughout q great variety
OF climate In America and adapts itself to
soil conditions wonderfully.
The bulk Of the cage used in the United