The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-06-09
PROFIT
IS MADE ON
DRUG PLANT
Knowledge of Market condi-
lions Essential to Success
in Growing Them
feereIAL~ rrlraeA..2

tSrEGIAL re Ts4E rELEGRAAao
WASHINGTON, D. C.. June -
Although a large amount OF money
is spent annually for the importation
of crude drugs, and the determination
plants IS threatened. government
specialists do not believe that the
growing Of drug plants offers any
unusual opportunities for profit 10
the American farmer. Drug plants
are subject 20 the same diseases ana
risks as other crops and, In addition,
knowledge of the best methods OF
cultivation and handling is less gen
eral than In the case Of other ana
bulletin, Farmers Bulletin 663.
Drug Plants Under Cultivation.
the Department OF Agriculture.
therefore. warns farmers that in or
der to have the cultivation OF drug
plants financially successful In this
country the Introduction Of I'M
proved methods and the extensive
use Of machinery is probably neces-
Sary- Under these. circumstances
the natural tendency is probably
to increase the production in the IN
terest of economy The demand for
many drug plants. however, is SO
limited that If large areas are
brought under cultivation there IS
considerable danger OF overproduc-
ton Prospective growers are urged.
therefore. to acquaint themselves
with market conditions before m n,
vesting any considerable sum OF
money. in this way
On the other hand. the number OF
drug plants which may be grown n
the United States is large Many
native medicinal plants which are
found in their wild state in a few
sections have been successfully cu1-
tivated in situations far beyond
their natural range. In suitable
SOIL and under favorable weather
conditions the following plants have
done well under cultivation IN nu,
merous places in the central ana
eastern states and. II the difference IN
climatic conditions IS not too great
will probably be suitable in other
regions:
Anise. bal1adonna, burdock, cara
way, ca1nip, camomile. conium. cor
lander. digitals, dill. echinacea, ele-
campane. fennel, henbane, hore-
hound, pennyroya1. sage. stammon1-
UNI. tansy and thyme.
The bulletin already mentioned
contains specific instructions for the
cultivation OF each Of these plants
eral. 1t may be said that many w1la
medicinal plants are much more d1i-
ficu1t to propagate from seeds than
species commonly grown in gardens:
Moreover, In growing med1c1ndI
plants from seed 1t Is much better
to start the plants in greenhouse
! or hotbed than to SOW the SEED oi-
rectly in the field Under any CIT
! cumstances, the preparation OF the
a SEED
bed prepared by thoroughly mixing
equal parts Of garden soil. leaf mold
well rotted manure. and clean sand
viii be suitable for the termination
of most seed The heavier the SOL
the greater the quantity OF SEED
should be.
Drug plants crown for their roots
are usually harvested In the fall or
early in the spring while the plant IS
still dormant Roots collected dur
ing the growing season often shrink
excessively in drying. which In all
cases must he thoroughly done Large
roots arc usually split OF sliced,
spread in thin layers on clean floors,
and stirred or turned frequently
The process Of drying may take sew
eral weeks although the time can be
reduced by the use OF artificial neat
Good ventilation is an essential IN
order that the moisture driven on
from the roots may be allowed to es-
cape
Leaves and herbs are usually har-
vested when the plants are In flower.
Picking by hand in the field is slow
process. and the entire plant IS,
therefore. often cut and the leaves
stripped after the plants have been
brought in. Flowers may be gathered
either by hand, which is a labortous
method. or by devices similar to a
cranberry scoop or seed strtpper-
In addition to the care and knowt-l
edge needed for the production OF
these medicinal plants. the grower
must be familiar with haTket condt-
tons. In many cases there is no To-
cal market for the product and the
grower should then send samples to
dealers In crude drugs or the manu~
lecturers Of medicinal preparations
IN order to obtain a price Tor his
crop. Some growers who have been
careful to maintain a very hign
quality in their product have sue
ceeded in building up trade at a.
price a little above the prevailing
market quotations It is also posi-
bic to secure contract for the sale
of the entire crop in advance. thus
tnsuring a definite market In gen
eraI. the bulletin says. the growing OF
drug plants In this country seems to
be more suitable to we'll equipped
cultivators who devote themselves
entirely to It than to the general
farmer who looks upon it only as a.
minor source Of income.