The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1906-12-14


cultivation on large scale ef shrubs
and weeds which are now looked upon
as worthless and troublesome, while In
reality they possess great value IL prop
erly treated
In fact, the average farmer has rich
es lying unnoticed about his fields In
the shape Of noxious weeds, which in
stead of being utilized, remain b In
cumber the land and impoverish shs
owner. The value of certain OF dkese |
native drug plants has been recognized
by some collectors with the result that
they have been we'll nigh exterminated
Belladonna is a standard drug, wide
ly used, and very considerable IN
is paid annually for the product II
this plant Experiments with b,iia-
donna have been in progress at the
Washington gardens Of the government
for about four years, and 1t has been
found to do well in a good garden soil
After the first year the roots become
valuable and may be dug In the late
autumn or early spring. 1t is dasir-
able that they should not be allowed to
become too woody before digging. They
are cut and cured. The cultivation of
belladonna on a commercial scale has
been taken up successfully during the
past two years by an American hrm
using this drug.
| At the present time a small but
growing market exists In this country
for ground paprika pepper, prepared
from the pods Of slender fruit grown
especially In Hungary. This product
Is imported in both the whole and the
ground condition, chiefly In the latter
state. During the last two seasons
small experimental paintings have been
made by the government at Ebenezer,
8. @ Three acres grown during the
last season have yielded between 5000
and $500 pounds OF dried pepper pods,
for which profitable price has been
received. In spite Of the fact that the
ripe fruit was picked weekly and cured
out in a tobacco barn over artificial
heat, the profits resulting have been
satisfactory. There was imported last
J year 100000 pounds Of pepper, valued
} at more than s4,OOOOO0. The govern
ment experts say that this entire de-
, mand can be met by American pro
, ducts provided proper attention Is Civ
en- 10 the business.
If the advice Of the plant specialist
: Of the government be followed many
new industries may be established o.
. land that Is now considered worthless
4 Weeds regarded as nuisances, which
: may be found along the wayside, Il
Q fence corners, and waste places, con
tain valuable drugs. Among these ar
3 the so-called American wormseed
n which is used as vermifuge. Som
: land in Florence, 8. G., was devoted I
e the cultivation Of this weed and yield
o ed 500 pounds to the acre. The GRO
d gave a better return, acre for acr,
than cotton on the same kind Of Ian
v for the same season.
C The despised jimpson weed supple
j. drug dealers with both leaves an
It seeds. II cultivated this ungainly II
Is smelling weed will pay better tina
It wheat and other staple crops. Poke ro'
le has a commercial value, and on Il
d shelves of the apothecaries it is labele
Ic Phytolacca Americana. Burdock, an
l. yellow dock roots are now imported
s, cause no American farmer takes Il
It trouble to dig and send them to ma
10 ket.
Among the wild drug plants now ra
idly disappearing are seneca snake ro'
and purple conefower. This drug hi
come into special prominence In II
last few years and is much in deman
an Increasing foreign consumption
ing noted In addition to the quanti'
necessary to satisfy home demands.