Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-09-23
Department Cautions
Those Who Would Cultivate
High Priced Drug Plants

Washington, D. c., Sept. 16.-Inter-
ruption of importations of many drugs,
spices, and oils made from plants has
resulted in certain cases in abnormally
high prices for the raw materials and
the products derived from them. AS a
result, many people are looking into
the possibility of profit in growing
these crops in the United States. Many
letters are received each week at the
U. s. Department of Agriculture ask
ing how to raise this OF that drug
plant.
In almost every case, the drug plant
specialists reply that it is doubtful
whether the inexperienced grower can
grow these plants successfully, or, if
he succeeds, will find satisfactory
market for his crop. The raising of
such plants, they point out, is a dis
tinct speciality and calls for exact
knowledge and skill comparable to that
needed by the florist who, to satisfy
his market, not only must raise flowers
but must produce blooms at certain sea-
cons and with unusual characteristics.
OF even greater Importance, however,
is the fact that the total amount of
drug plants that can be consumed in
this country in any year in very small
compared with our consumption of any
of the staple crops. Overproduction in
the case of drugs is more serious than
in the case of staple crops because
staple crops such as corn and grain if
not sold can be used at home for food
or for feeding stock or chickens. The
drug plant, however, is profitless to
the grower unless drug manufacturer
will buy it for use in medicine.
Market is Limited
1t is entirely possible, for example,
to grow belladonna from which is de-
rived atropine and other alkaloids
very valuable in medicine. The total
amount of belladonna plants the en-
tire country uses, however, could all
be grown on a few hundred acres. Be-
cause of the present interruption in
the supply of belladonna, few do
nestle growers have made a profit
recently from this crop. A slight ex-
pansion of the industry would quickly
Increase the supply beyond the demand
and this, together with importation,
when resumed, might soon glut the
local market and leave little or no
profit to the raiser, unless an export
market were developed.
Digitalis, although one of the most
important and valuable of heart tonics,
as a crop has relatively small monetary
value. The drug plant specialists who
have been developing this plant and
testing possibilities of its culture in
this country have done so, not merely
with the idea of fostering an industry,
but because this plant is so important
in saving human lives that should all
supplies be cut off a serious calamity
would result. For the same reason the
specialists have been working with
many other drug plants. 1t was be
lieved that the drug specialists should
be ready to raise these plants in this
country if for any reason the foreign
supply should be entirely cut off.
Department Experiments
For years. therefore, the department
has been producing many of these
plants experimentally, but when the
supply of certain of these drug
failed or their prices reached prohibi
tive figures, few skilled growers, will
the advice Of the department, were able
to raise small quantities of some Of
the more important drugs needed in The
present emergency. Thymol, widel,
used for antiseptie purposes, is drut
manufactured in Germany from a seet
grown in India. A few days after the
interruption Of imports tne price leap
ed from SO to $l7 pound. The de
partment, however, had been expert
menting with a common weed known
as horsemint, which grows readily IL
| the south, and yields this substance
This horsemint was brought into cult
vation, its drug bearing quality i'm
proved, and simple process for man
ufaeturing thymol from it developed
| with the result last year that there wal
produced commercially a small quaint
| ty Of tais drug. The industry, bowev
er, can not be widely extended because
the total consumption, as indicated BY
previous reports, is only about 17,O0'
pounds year, an amount which ear
be produced probably on less than J.,
900 acres.
Lemon grass, producing lemon grasi
oil used widely by soap and perfume
makers, can be grown in Florida OIL
! land not suitable for citrus fruits. Al