The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-06-09
LII PROFIT
IS MADE ON
DRUG PLANT
knowledge of Market condi-
lions Essential to Success
in Growing Them.
srere.AI roInr TrrraeA.4,

sspEe,AL 70 rnr -rLEae..4,
WASHINGTON. D. c.. June -
Although a large amount Of money
is spent annually for the importation
of crude drugs, and the determination
Of a number of valable native drug
plants is threatened. government
specialists do not believe that the
growing of drug plants offers any
unusual opportunities for profit to
the American farmer. Drug plants
are subject to 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 and
better known crops. In issuing a new
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 Tor
many drug plants, however, is 50
!
brought under cultivation there IS
considerable danger Of soverproduc-
ton. Prospective growers are urged.
therefore, to acquaint themselves
with market conditions before IN
vestlng 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
4 - -kNSN
! found in their wild state in Few
sections have been successfully cul-
tivated IN situations far beyond
i their natural range. In su1taole
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:
Au:se. bal1adonna, burdock, cara
way, catnlp, camomiIe. eonium, cor
! lander. digitalis. dill, echinacea, ele-
l campane. fennel. henbane. bore
| hound. pennyroyal, sage. stammon1-
UNI. tansy and thyme.
The bulletin already mentioned
contains specific Instructions for the
cultivation of each OF these plants
and OF a number OF others In gen.
i eral. it may be said that many Wlla
medicinal plants are much more d11-
4 fcult to propagate from seeds than
snecies commonly grown in gardens.
! Moreover, in growing medicinal
!, plants from seed it is much better
! to start the plants in greenhouse
or hotbed than to SOW the SEED al
rectly in the field Under any CT
cumstances, the preparation OF the
soil is of prime importance. a SEED
bed prepared by thoroughly m1nns
equal parts of garden soil, leaf mold
well rotted manure, and clean sand
viii be suitable for the germination
of most seed. The heavier the SOIL
i the greater the quantity OF SEED
should be.
/ Drug plants grown for their roots
are usually harvested In the fall or
early in the spring while the plant IS
sti1l dormant Roots collected dur
ing the growing season often shrink
excessively in drying. which In all
| cases must be thoroughly done Large
| roots are usually split or 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 heat
| Good ventilation is an essential IN
order that the mosture driven on
from the roots may be allowed to es-
cape.
Leaves and herbs are usually har-
vested when the plants are In howsr.
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 1abortous
| method. or by devices similar to a
cranberry scoop or a seed stripper-
In addition to the care and knowt-
edge needed for the production OF
these medicinal plants. the grower
must be familiar with harket condf-
lions. 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 mann>
facturers Of medicinal preparations
In order to obtain price for his
crop. Some growers who have been
careful to maintain very high
quality in their product have sue
ceeded in building up a trade at a
price a little above the prevailing
market quotations. It is also posi-
bic to secure contract for the SAFE
Of the entire crop in advance. thus
insuring definite market In gen
eral. the bulletin says. the growing OF
drug plants in this country seems to
be more suitable to well equipped
cultivators who devote themselves
entirely to It than to the general
farmer who looks upon it only as a
minor source Of income