The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-11-24

cultivation on q large scale Of shrubs
and weeds which are now looked upon
Al worthless and troublesome. while In
reality they possess great value II 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 to In
cumber the land and impoverish the
owner. The value of certain Of these
native drug plants has been recognized
by some collectors with the result that
they have been well nigh exterminated.
BelladOnna is a standard drug, wide
" used, and a very considerable sum
is paid annually for the products OF
this plant. Experiments with BELLA
donna have been in progress at the
Washington gardens of the government
for about four years, and it has been
found to do well in good garden soil.
After the first year the roots become
valuable and may be dug in the late
autumn or early spring. 1t is desir-
able that they should not be allowed to
become too woody before digging. They
are cut and cured. The cultivation of
belladonna on q commercial scale has
been taken up successfully during tie
past two years by an American firm
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,
s. G. 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
year 100000 pounds of pepper, valued
at more than 100000. The govern
ment experts say that this entire de-
mand can be met by American pro-
ducts provided proper attention is CIV
en- to the business.
II the advice of the plant specialists
Of the government be followed many
new industries may be established on
land that is now considered worthless.
Weeds regarded as nuisances, which
may be found along the wayside, in
fence corners, and waste places, con-
tain valuable drugs. Among these are
the so-called American wormseed,
which is used as vermifuge. Some
land in Florence, s. c., was devoted to
the cultivation of this weed and yield
ed 500 pounds to the acre. The crop
gave a better return, acre for acre.
than cotton on the same kind of land
for the same season.
The despised jimpson weed supplies
drug dealers with both leaves and
seeds. If cultivated this ungainly ill
smelling weed will pay better than
wheat and other staple crops. Poke root
has commercial value, and on the
shelves of the apothecaries it is labeled
Phytolacca Americana. Burdock, and
yellow dock roots are now Imported be-
cause no American farmer takes the
trouble to dig and send them to mar
ket.
Among the wild drug plants now rap
idly disappearing are seneca snake root
and purple coneflower. This drug has
come into special prominence in the
last few years and is much in demand,
an increasing foreign consumption be-
ing noted in addition to the quantity
necessary to satisfy home demands.