The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-18

oS coHoimeht, seems to offer one o1
 the most promising fields for replac.
 ing an imported by a domestic arti.
 cle. In 1915 in South Carolina, lIs
 acres. yielding 152.ooO pounds, were
 harvested. There is indication thai
 this year nearly 500 acres may be
 devoted to this crop. As one acre
 produces nearly 1900 pounds and
 our total imports in 1914 were only S,S29,4S7 pounds. it readily can be | seen that limited acreage would
 provide all the pepper this country | ordinarily consumes.
 Camphor trees, years of experi- l ment have established, can be grown successfully in Florida, along the Gulf Coast and dn some coast regions
 as far north as Charlestown. Only within the last seven or eight years, ! however, have the Department spec. talists considered 1t at all feasible to grow these trees as a source of cam phor. The specialists have discov-
 cred that instead of being able to take | camphor from trees only once in fifty years, as has been the rule, it is possi- ble to produce camphor each year by pruning the leaves from the trees
 and distilling them. The possibilities offered by this discovery led to the planting of camphor trees and there are at present 1000 acres of trees growing in Florida. A second tract of some IS square miles is being cleared rapidly. and planted. I'm. portations of camphor in 1914 were
 only about 3.50o,o0o pounds, valued
 at $s2s,00o. A limited area in addi-
 ton to that protected, should supply
 all the domestic camphor for which there would be a profitable demand.
 The specialists point out that the do-' mestic product, when produced in any volume, must compete in price with imported camphor. It is impossible, therefore, to estimate what prices growers could obtain for their pro- duct after full importations are re- | stunned. This is especially true be- cause prices for imported camphor in the past have been regulated more or less by foreign control which. in the face of domestic competition. might
 make important reductions in the prices heretofore charged for the inn ported article, unless an export market be developed.
 In addition to the products mention- ed. there are hundreds of other drugs, oils and spices which are imported and which, it is possible for this coun- try to produce for itself. In the ag- gregate, the value of these imported articles is rather imposing, as the figures indicate that this country has been bringing In and using about $25,000,000 annually of the various drugs, oils, and condiments. Much of this money undoubtedly can be kept at home. The mistake made by most people who consider raising these crops is that they are inclined to con- slider them as staple crops. whereas the domestic demand for them Is re- latively small, and no foreign mar ket has been developed for them by
 Amerjcans..,
 At the 0ne time those in charge
 of the wofkf realize that here and
 there in our agriculture, where soil and climatic and other conditions are
 right, there Is room for certain small industries. For many years there
 has been a distinct tendency for agri- tulturists to direct their energies
 along limited lines. This Is indicat-
 ed most clearly by certain types of
 agriculture prevailing in the south.
 where the farmers have confined
 their efforts very largely to the cui-
 tivation of a single crop. These
 small crops may therefore offer to
 few of our farmers opportunities In
 highly specialized lines of production
 which will divert to a certain desree
 the activities of capital and labor
 from some of the crowded industries
 and also supply peculiar products for
 which the country has been spending
 money abroad. The drug specialists point out. however, that prices Of
 these articles prevailing under the present disturbed conditions are ao-
 normal and therefore should not oe
 regarded as a safe basis on which to
 estimate regular returnS from such
 activities.