Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-12-28

and hydrastus candodenls or golden
seal as II Is commonly known. Gin
seng, which Is purchased In large
quantities by the orientals, who es-
teem II highly. Is raised already In
many parts Of the south and the Unit
ed States department Of agriculture
Is authority for the statement that an
acre Of golden seal will produce a
crop worth $1,000. The expense Of
growing and caring for the crop Is
about 500; including the cost OF ar
tflcial shade, which would not be
necessary in many places.
A Big Demand.
Is there any demand for such
crop? Official government figures
show that we import annually $10,-
OOO,O worth of medicinal plants and
drugs that could be raised in this
country, many OF them in oklahoma.
or course. many of these are plants
that would not thrive in southeAa
cline. but a movement Is now under
way to start an experimental garden
OF various plants. having medicinal
properties in oklahoma City. under
the supervision Of the state board Of
agriculture.
IL you wish to daydream a bit. Just
imagine that you had 160 acres. the
size OF the average Oklahoma farm,
In digitalis In good crop year II
would net you the handsome return
OF $7i6.56O. Even a quarter of
crop would amount to slS6,640, and
with any care at all there should be
no doubt Of that much. A dream?
Certainly. for no one would be so
foolish as to think that he could han
die that much acreage, without big
working capital and an abundance of
help, but seriously, a small plot of
the shrub wouldn't be 80 bad.
Much Profit In 1t.
II is an indisputable fact. however,
that the profitable nature of this crop
has been discovered by some people in
England and considerable tracts OF
land are being devoted to the raising
of the plant for the drug market. OF
course different soils would cause a
greater or less toxic strength in the
drug, which is known as dlgitoxin, but |
retail pharmacists could be procured
to assay 1t and determine the strength
of the particular crop.
In regard to handling the crop, Dr. |
Newcomb says
How TO Handle Crop.
The plant is handled much like the
tomato plant at first. 1t must be
started In the spring in cold frames
and transplanted later. After II Is
started 1t is quite hardy and two tons
% the acre In ordinarily rich soil rs
,asily possible. The garden at the
is on filled ground COM
,oscd mostly of sand with layer OF
bout six inches OF black loan. AZ
or harvesting, which would be done
" moving where large amounts are
.rown. the plant must be dried thor
'ughly. For this purpose driers cost
ng about s25 each are necessary. One
Irier would suffice for an acre OF the
liant"
Dlgitalis Is perhaps the highest
'riced OF any OF the drugs that could
Ia raised In Oklahoma. and there are
many portions of the state where II
night not prove success. Expert
nents have proceeded further with II
han with any of the others. but the
proposed garden In oklahoma City
probably viii try at least dozen diff
ercnt plants the first year. Among
hesc It is more than probable that
he following will be included; aspi-
llum species. or male fern; cyprldium
'r lady slipper; cannabis Americana.
" hemp. datura stramonium. James
own weed or thorn apple; salavia Of
icinalis. or orsage: delphinium con-
olida. or larkspur; glycyrrhiza glab-
= or llcorice; carthamus tinctoria, or
american saffron, atropa belladonna.
n deadly night shade: hydrastis can
densls. or golden seal. and the home-
Y ginseng.
Some Of these plants already are
aiscd in this state in flower gardens.
omc Of them can be found growing
Wild. some OF them will have to be
all of them have medicinal
'alue. Is 1t such a Wild dream af-
or all? Or will the Oklahoma farmer
Il the future plant small plot in
hrubs and herbs that will bring him
n goodly bit Of cash. even II the
Theat crop fails or the bottom falls
ut Of the cotton market