Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-09-23

most, however, only about $l0O,OO0l
worth of this oil is used per year in
this country, and even if none were
imported, only 1900 or 5000 acres of
the grass could be raised without over
production.
A Hot Crop Always
Red pepper, used both as drug and
as a condiment, seems 20 offer one of
the most promising fields for replace
ing an imported by domestic article.
In 1915 in South Carolina 11S acres,
yielding $4,000 pounds, were harvest
ed. There is indication that this year
nearly 500 acres may be devoted to this
crop. AS l acre produces nearly 1,300l
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 or
dinarily consumes.
Camphor trees, years of experience
have established, can be grown success
fully in Florida, along the gulf coast
and in some coast regions as far north
as Charleston. Only within the last
seven or eight years, however, have the
department specialists considered it at
all feasible to grow these trees as a
source of camphor. The specialists have
discovered that instead of being able
to take camphor from trees only once in
so years, as has been the rule, it is
possible to produce camphor each year
by pruning the leaves from the trees
and distilling them. The possibilities
offered by this discovery led to the
al 1hnr nj 81
at present 1000 acres of trees growing
in Florida. A second tract of some Is
square miles is being cleared rapidly
and planted. Importations of camphor
in 1914 were only about 3,500,000
pounds, valued at $929,O0O. A limited
area in addition to that projected,
should supply all the domestic camphor
fer which there would be a profitable
demand The specialists point out that
the domestic product, when produced in
any volume, must compete in price with
| imported camphor. 1t is impossible,
therefore, to estimate what prices grow
ers could obtain for their product aft
er full importations are resumed. This
| is especially true because prices for i'm
ported camphor in the past have been
regulated more or less by foreign con-
troll which, in the face of domestic com
petition, might make important reduc
tions in the prices heretofore charged
for the imported article, unless an ex-
{ port market be developed.
Hundreds of Others
In addition to the products men
drugs, oils and spices which are i'm
ported and which it is possible for this
country to produce for itself. If the
aggregate, the value of these imported
articles is rather imposing, as the fig
ures indicate that this country has been
bringing in and using about $25, 100000
annually Of the various drugs, oils and
condiments. Much of this money un-
doubtedly can be kept at home. The
mistake made by most people who con
slider raising these crops is that they
are inclined to consider them as staple
crops, whereas the domestic demand for
them is relatively small, and no foreign
market has been developed for them by
I Americans.
i At the same time those in charge OF
the work 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 dis
: tinct tendency for agriculturists to di
rect their energies along limited lines
This is indicated most clearly by GER
tain types of agriculture prevailing in
the south, where the farmers have con
fined their efforts very largely to the
cultivation Of single crop. These
L 30 a