The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-09-30
INEXPERIENCED GROWERS OF DRUG PLANTS NOT
 LIKEI1Y TO SUCCEED
Although European War Has Raised Prices of Crude Drugs, Many Fac tors Make Future of the Mar
 ket Uncertain

The cessation of the harvesting and shipping of many crude drugs because 5of hostilities in Europe has caused a sharp advance in their market price have written the United States Depart ment of Agrfcplture inQuiring about the possibilities of the American far sner growing drug plants profitabIy The departments specialist in charge of drug pIant inv vestig igations has writ ten a number of these correspond e41ts sthat, although 1t is probable that a humber of important drug plants could be grown profitably here if the present high prices continue, nevertheless there is a possibility Of the early re- storation of shipping facilities, and in any event the inexperienced grower =of drug plants would be more liable to meet with failure than with suc- cess.
 Some medicinal plants, says the rel partmentss specialist, may be grown as Seasily as ordinary garden crops; oth- Knowledge and skill of a practiced gardener There are many varying factors in the commercial production Of drug plants The constituents of
 many of them vary in quantity accord ing to the time Of gathering and proper methods of harvesting and cur ing is absolutely essential for the pro auction of drugs of high quality.
 Even if the prospective grower pos sessed some Knowledge of drug plants beginning now, he could scarcely hope to harvest a crop before the late sum mer of 1915. Tn case of some varfe- ties he might even have to wait until the end of the second or third year after planting. Therefore. the farmer who began at once might not find himself with a supply of crude drugs on hand until after prices had return ed to their narma1 level.
 In any case, the quantity Of crude drug plants required by the market Is relatively small as compared with fruits, vegetables or staple crops Therefore. nu- merous or extensive pIantings by Individuals throughout the country might easily result in overproduction. which would cause a decline in the
 market price independent of the con ditions abroad.
 For successful production Of drug plants on a. commercial scale there must be an available market. It's acceptfbility must be considered above all things by the successful grower. The cost of production must be care fully estimated and to this must be added the cost of packing and ship ping to this market The packing and shipping expense might easily make the enterprise unprofftable
 Drug plants to be proeitably grown should yield returns equal to those from other crops which may be grown on the same land. The farmer must | determine that this is the case. The fact that much handwork is necessary in the production of most drugs is liable to make the cost of labor high Many Drug Plants win Not Grow Here
 Among the inquiries regarding drug plants. addressed to the department have been requests regarding plants which cannot be produced in this country at all. Others that might be grown here are also produced in 1 South America. and other localities not involved in the war, where they can still be produced more cheap1y l than here.
 There are, nevertheless certain drug plants now produced chiefly in Europe which under suitable conditions may be grown in parts of the United States | Among these are the following: Althea, anise, lbedladonna, .burdock l calamus, caraway, coniuIn. coriander 1 dandelion, digitalis. e1ecampane, fen ! mel, henbane, horehound, maroram | sage thyme, valerian.