,transcriber ,note ,text emphasis denoted as ,italic and ,bold4 ,,farmers' ,,bulletin #ffc ,,united ,,states ,,department ,,of ,,agriculture ,,drug ,,plants ,,under ,,cultivation ,illustration ,this ,bulletin gives general suggestions relative to the culture1 harvesting1 distillation1 yield1 marketing1 and commercial prospects for drug plants4 ,specific information is also given concerning the cultivation1 handling1 and yield of individual species and the demand and prices paid for the product4 ,the market demand for many cultivated plant drugs is not large enough to justify growing them except as small minor crops4 ,the haphazard production of crude drugs in small lots of a few pounds usually means a dissatisfied producer4 ,a special knowledge of trade requirements is necessary in collecting1 curing1 preserving1 and packing drugs for market4 ,most farm products find a ready local market2 a special market must be sought for plant drugs4 ,high prices for plant drugs do not insure large profits in producing them4 ,not the price received1 but the difference between the cost of production and the selling price is the important point4 ,contribution from the ,bureau of ,plant ,industry ,,wm4 ,a4 ,,taylor1 ,chief ,issued1 ,june1 #aiae ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,revised1 ,august1 #aibj ,show this bulletin to a neighbor4 ,additional copies may be obtained free from the ,division of ,publications1 ,united ,states ,department of ,agriculture4 ,,drug ,,plants ,,under ,,cultivation4 ,w4 ,w4 ,stockberger1 ,physiologist in ,charge1 ,drug1 ,poisonous1 and ,oil ,plant ,investigations4 ,,contents4 ,page4 ,production of crude drugs #c ,some drug plants suitable for cultivation in the ,united ,states #d ,general cultural suggestions #e ,harvesting #h ,distillation #i ,yield #aa ,marketing #aa ,commercial prospects #ab ,the cultivation and handling of drug plants #ad ,,production ,,of ,,crude ,,drugs4 ,interest in the possibility of deriving profit from the growing of drug plants is increasing yearly4 ,the clearing of forests1 the extension of the areas of land under tillage1 and the activities of drug collectors threaten the extermination of a number of valuable native drug plants4 ,annually1 large sums of money are expended for crude drugs imported from countries where they are grown under conditions of soil and climate resembling those of many localities in the ,united ,states4 ,as a means of guaranteeing the future supply of crude drugs and of lessening the dependence on importations1 attention is now being turned to the cultivation of drug plants with a view to increasing domestic production4 ,the problems presented by the cultivation of drug plants are not less difficult than those encountered in the production of many other crops4 ,drug plants are subject to the same diseases and risks as other crops and are similarly affected by variations in soil and climatic conditions4 ,they require a considerable outlay of labor1 the same as other crops1 and likewise require intelligent care and handling4 ,they are subject to the same laws of supply and demand1 and1 like other products1 must conform to the consumer's fancy and to definite trade requirements4 ,a number of common medicinal plants have long been cultivated in gardens in this country1 either as ornamentals or as a source of herbs used in cookery and as domestic remedies4 ,a few of these plants1 such as goldenseal1 wormwood1 wormseed1 and peppermint1 have been grown commercially for sale as crude drugs2 but the acreage devoted to their production has been relatively small and for the most part restricted to certain localities4 ,other drug plants which occur as common weeds in many places may prove to respond to cultivation2 experiments should then be undertaken to determine whether it is profitable to grow them4 ,in this connection it should be remembered that the soil type very often is an important limiting factor in propagating different kinds of plants4 ,some plants grow best in well-drained loam1 some prefer a marsh1 some require soils rich in lime1 while others thrive only in acid soil4 ,the soil requirements of all plants are not understood2 in fact it is not improbable that better comprehension of the soil1 climatic1 and cultural conditions adapted to the different kinds of plants will enable the successful propagation of species now regarded as unsuited to cultivation4 ,in undertaking the growing of medicinal plants1 therefore1 it is essential to know that the species selected for cultivation will do well under the conditions of soil and climate existing where the planting is to be made4 ,when necessary1 this should be determined on small experimental plats before undertaking commercial plantings4 ,assuming that the soil and climate of the situation selected are suitable for the growing of drug plants1 it does not necessarily follow that they can be produced at a profit4 ,the cost of production and marketing may be greater than the amount received for the crop when it is sold4 ,some drug plants not well suited for cultivation on a large scale may be found profitable when grown on small areas as a side line4 ,on the other hand1 some may be produced more cheaply when cultivated on a scale large enough to warrant the use of labor-saving devices than when grown on small areas with the aid of hand labor alone4 ,the value of land1 the cost and availability of labor1 and the possible returns from other crops are all factors to be considered carefully4 ,on account of the variation in these factors according to locality1 the same crop might prove to be profitable in one location and unprofitable in another4 ,it is for these reasons that unqualified statements concerning the ease and profitableness of drug plant growing should not be taken too seriously4 ,,some ,,drug ,,plants ,,suitable ,,for ,,cultivation ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,states4 ,the number of drug plants which may be grown in the ,united ,states is large1 although the same plants are not equally adapted to the conditions of soil and climate prevailing in different sections4 ,often the most suitable plants for a particular locality can not be foretold1 especially in those situations where no attempts have yet been made to grow them4 ,in such cases it is well to select for cultivation plants which thrive elsewhere under conditions most closely resembling those of the new situation in which it is proposed to grow them4 ,the success with which ordinary field or garden crops can be grown will in general indicate the possible suitability of a given location for growing many medicinal plants4 ,since a number of native medicinal plants which in their wild state are restricted to certain localities have been successfully cultivated in situations far beyond their natural range1 there are good reasons for believing that many such plants will thrive in sections where they are not now grown4 ,however1 good results can scarcely be expected unless the plants are placed under conditions similar to those in which they normally thrive4 ,in suitable soil and under favorable weather conditions the following drug plants have been found to thrive well under cultivation in numerous places in the ,central and ,eastern ,states and will probably be found suitable for cultivation in many other situations if the difference in climatic conditions is not too great3 ,anise4 ,conium4 ,elecampane4 ,sage4 ,belladonna4 ,coriander4 ,fennel4 ,stramonium4 ,camomile4 ,digitalis4 ,henbane4 ,tansy4 ,caraway4 ,dill4 ,horehound4 ,thyme4 ,some perennials1 such as belladonna and digitalis1 are only partly hardy and would be subject to winterkilling in the colder sections4 ,such plants as aconite1 arnica1 lovage1 poppy1 seneca1 valerian1 and wormwood seem to thrive best in the northern half of the ,united ,states in situations where the rainfall is well distributed throughout the growing season4 ,on the other hand1 cannabis1 licorice1 and wormseed are better suited to the warmer climate of the southern half of the ,united ,states4 ,aletris1 althaea1 angelica1 calamus1 orris1 pinkroot1 peppermint1 serpentaria1 and spearmint are adapted generally for situations in which the soil is rich and moist1 but lavender and larkspur are partial to well-drained sandy soil4 ,ginseng and goldenseal occur naturally on rich soil in the partial shade of forest trees and can be cultivated successfully only when planted in woodlands or in specially prepared soil under artificial shade 7fig4 #a74 ,,general ,,cultural ,,suggestions4 ,the special details of cultivation for each of the medicinal plants mentioned are given under the discussion of the individual species4 ,suggestions which are of general application1 however1 are here brought together1 in order to avoid unnecessary duplication4 ,propagation4--,a number of the species considered later can be grown easily from seed1 but others are best propagated from cuttings or by division4 ,many wild medicinal plants are much more difficult to propagate from seeds than the species commonly grown in gardens4 ,likewise1 some of the species now grown abroad and suitable for cultivation in this country are not easily propagated and require special conditions if good results are to be realized4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #a4--,lath shed affording partial shade1 especially well suited for growing woodland plants4 ,seeds of the better-known varieties of medicinal plants are regularly listed in the catalogues of numerous seed houses1 and those which are less common can usually be obtained from dealers who make a specialty of one or more of these species4 ,plants can frequently be obtained from nurseries or from dealers in hardy ornamentals4 ,the catalogues of a number of dealers should be consulted and the varieties for propagation carefully selected4 ,in ordering1 the medicinal variety should always be called for1 since many of the related ornamental forms which are listed are of doubtful1 if any1 medicinal value4 ,sowing the seed4--,a relatively small number of medicinal plants can be satisfactorily grown from seed sown in the field4 ,in many cases this method is quite uncertain and with some plants wholly inadvisable4 ,in order to insure a good stand of thrifty plants it is frequently necessary to make the sowings in a greenhouse1 hotbed1 or coldframe and at a suitable time transplant the seedlings to the field4 ,much information on seed germination1 hotbeds1 and coldframes can be gained by consulting ,farmers' ,bulletins #icd1 #icg1 and #ajdd1 entitled1 respectively1 ,home ,gardening in the ,south1 ,the ,farm ,garden1 in the ,north1 and ,the ,city ,home ,garden4#a #a ,these publications can be obtained free of charge upon application to the ,secretary of ,agriculture1 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,the preparation of the soil is of prime importance1 whether the sowing of the seed is made in the open or under cover4 ,many seeds1 especially those which are very small1 do not germinate well in heavy soils or in those which are cloddy and coarse in texture4 ,a seed bed prepared by thoroughly mixing equal parts of garden soil1 leaf mold1 well-rotted manure1 and clean sand will be suitable for the germination of most seeds4 ,the depth of sowing is largely governed by the size of the seeds and the character of the soil4 ,in general1 the smaller the seed the less the depth of sowing4 ,seed should be covered more deeply in light sandy soil than in heavy clay soil4 ,fall-sown seeds also require a greater depth of covering than those sown in the spring4 ,the exact quantity of seed which should be used for sowing a given area can not be definitely stated4 ,the same kind of seed will be found to vary widely in its power to germinate2 hence1 the percentage of germination should be ascertained in advance of sowing and the quantity regulated accordingly4 ,in general1 the heavier the soil the larger the quantity of seed required4 ,if the plants are to be thinned out or transplanted1 or if they are especially subject to the attacks of insects1 the free use of seed is usually advisable4 ,when plantings are made in open ground it is preferable to sow the seed in rows or drills1 in order that cultivation of the soil may be possible4 ,a shallow furrow may be opened with a rake or hand hoe and the seed sown by hand4 ,the rake or hoe may then be used to cover the seed with the required depth of soil4 ,it is much more satisfactory to use seed drills1 such as are commonly used by market gardeners1 than to sow by hand1 since with the drill the depth of sowing is more uniform and the soil is compacted over the seeds1 thus favoring good germination4 ,the distance between the rows is determined in part by the size which the plants attain at maturity1 but depends chiefly upon the method of cultivation to be used4 ,a spacing of #i to #af inches between the rows will readily permit hand cultivation1 but the rows should be about #c feet apart if horse-drawn implements are employed4 ,cultivation4--,there are no set rules for the cultivation of medicinal plants1 and the grower's experience with other plants must be relied upon as a guide in many of the details of cultivation4 ,as a general rule1 the soil should be worked with the hoe or cultivator at frequent intervals and kept free from weeds4 ,it is a good practice to cultivate after a hard rain as soon as the ground is sufficiently dry4 ,during dry1 hot weather loss of moisture from the soil will be diminished by frequent shallow cultivations4 ,,harvesting4 ,drug roots are usually harvested in the fall or at the end of the growing season of the plant1 but they may also be harvested early in the spring while still dormant4 ,roots collected during the growing season often shrink excessively in drying and so do not form the most desirable product4 ,on small areas either a spade or a potato fork is a suitable tool for digging most roots2 but if the area is large1 labor will be saved by using a plow to turn out the roots1 especially with such crops as belladonna or burdock4 ,most roots require thorough washing1 and when the quantity is large this may be easily done if the roots are placed on a frame covered with wire mesh and water is applied by means of a garden hose4 ,all roots must be thoroughly dried4 ,large or fleshy roots are usually split or sliced1 spread in thin layers on clean floors1 and stirred or turned frequently4 ,good ventilation is essential1 as several weeks usually elapse before the roots are dry enough to be stored with safety4 ,the proper point of dryness is indicated when the roots break readily on being bent4 ,the time of drying may be reduced to a few days by the use of artificial heat4 ,for this purpose the walls of a well-inclosed room are fitted with racks or shelves to receive the roots1 or large trays with bottoms made of slats or wire screen are suspended one above the other from the ceiling4 ,the room is heated by a stove1 and the temperature maintained between #abe and #aej ,f4 ,ventilators must be provided at the top of the room to carry away the moisture which is driven off from the roots4 ,ordinary fruit driers have been used successfully in drying roots on1 a small scale1 but special drying houses or kilns will be necessary for successfully handling crops grown on an acreage basis4 ,leaves and herbs are usually harvested when the plants are in flower4 ,picking the leaves by hand in the field is a slow process1 and time may be saved by cutting the entire plant and stripping the leaves after the plants have been brought in from the field4 ,if the entire herb is wanted1 it is preferable to top the plants1 for if they are cut too close to the ground the herb will have to be picked over by hand and all the coarse stems removed4 ,as a rule1 leaves and herbs may be dried in the same manner as roots1 but almost without exception they are dried without exposure to the sun1 in order that the green color may be retained so far as possible4 ,some flowers are gathered while scarcely open and others as soon after opening as possible1 and in general they should be carefully dried in the shade to prevent discoloration4 ,hand picking is very laborious1 and mechanical devices similar to a cranberry scoop 7fig4 #b7 or seed stripper 7fig4 #c7 may often be used to good advantage4 ,a homemade picker may be constructed as follows3 ,from a stout wooden box1 about #aj inches wide1 #ad inches long1 and #f inches deep1 remove one end and connect the opposite remaining sides at the top with a stout strip1 which will serve as a handle4 ,drive long1 slender wire nails through an inch strip of wood at quarter-inch intervals1 thus forming a comb the teeth of which should be about #b inches long4 ,this comb is fastened to the bottom of the box in such a manner that the teeth will project outward through the opening left by the removed end4 ,on swinging this device1 teeth forward1 through the flowers1 the heads will be snapped off by the comb and will fall into the box1 from which they may be emptied into suitable containers4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b4--;,a berry scoop suitable for harvesting flower heads of large size4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #c4--;,a seed stripper which may be used for gathering flower heads4 ,seeds are harvested as soon as most of them have ripened and before the pods or seed capsules have opened4 ,seedlike fruits1 such as anise1 coriander1 fennel1 and wormseed r are harvested a little before they are fully ripe1 in order that they may retain a bright1 fresh appearance1 which adds to their market value4 ,the machinery used for thrashing and cleaning ordinary seed crops will frequently serve a similar purpose for seeds of medicinal plants1 provided the proper adjustments have been made4 ,most seeds must be spread out to dry and turned at intervals until thoroughly dried before they can be stored in quantity4 ,,distillation4 ,the volatile oil obtained from many aromatic plants by steam distillation is often their most valuable product4 ,the equipment necessary for distilling volatile oils consists essentially of a steam boiler1 a retort1 and a condenser4 ,a constant supply of cold water must also be available4 ,a common type of retort consists of a circular wooden vat1 about #f feet in diameter and #h to #aj feet deep 7fig4 #d71 fitted with a removable cover1 which can be made steam tight4 ,metal retorts made of boiler iron three-sixteenths of an inch thick and jacketed with wood to prevent the radiation of heat are also used4 ,a pipe leads from the steam boiler to the bottom of the retort and another from the top of the retort to the condenser1 one form of which consists of a coil of tin-lined or galvanized-iron pipe inclosed in a jacket through which cold water is kept flowing when the still is in operation4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #d4--;,a still used in the production of wormwood oil4 ,when the retort is filled with aromatic plants and steam is admitted through the pipe from the boiler1 the volatile oil is extracted in the form of a vapor1 which is carried over with the steam to the condenser1 where both are condensed to liquid form4 ,the oil and water together flow from the condenser into the receiver1 one type of which is constructed like an ordinary milk can and is fitted with a siphon leading from the bottom1 through which the water is drawn off to prevent the receiver from overflowing4 ,many volatile oils will float on the water and may be drawn off from the top of the receiver at will4 ,other oils1 such as sassafras and wintergreen1 are heavier than water1 and should be collected in a receiver provided at the bottom with an outlet tap through which the oil may be drawn off4 ,the cost of setting up a still will depend upon what facilities are already at hand and upon the size and efficiency of the apparatus installed4 ,it may easily range from a small sum to several thousand dollars4 ,,yield4 ,the yield that can be obtained from drug plants in different localities will naturally vary according to the suitability of the situation for the plants selected for cultivation4 ,even in the same locality wide variations in yield will result from differences in the lay of the land and in soil1 drainage1 and seasonal conditions4 ,the skill of the grower and the degree of care and attention which he bestows upon his crop are also factors affecting yield4 ,many of the drug plants mentioned in this bulletin have not been grown on a scale large enough to give a very satisfactory basis for calculating yields4 ,acreage yields calculated from the product of small garden plats are generally untrustworthy1 since in such plats the plants are usually more favorably situated with respect to soil and are given better culture than when under field conditions4 ,moreover1 as the area increases1 it becomes more difficult to maintain an approximately perfect stand and to protect the crop from the ravages of insects or other destructive agencies4 ,the returns from small experimental areas can at most be regarded as only an indication of the yield that may be expected under favorable conditions1 and the prospective grower will do well to proceed cautiously until he has determined for himself the possibilities of yield in his particular location4 ,,marketing4 ,the commercial grower of drug plants can not give too much attention to the problem of securing a satisfactory market for his product4 ,growers who live near the cities in which dealers in crude drugs are located or in sections where wild medicinal plants are collected may be able to find a local market1 but in many situations the local marketing of crude drugs in quantity will not be possible4 ,in such cases the grower should send samples of his product to dealers in crude drugs or to manufacturers of pharmaceutical preparations and request them to name a price at which they would purchase his crop4 ,the material for the samples should not be specially selected or so prepared as to represent a quality higher than that of the whole lot1 since this would give the purchaser just cause for making a reduction in price on delivery or for rejecting the whole shipment4 ,it is well to send samples to a number of dealers1 since their prices will be found to vary with the stock on hand and trade prospects4 ,before selling1 the state of the wholesale drug market should be learned4 ,the prices to producers are1 of course1 always lower than the wholesale price2 nevertheless1 the grower who is informed in respect to the wholesale market will be in a position to judge of the fairness of the prices offered for his crop by dealers4 ,under special conditions some crude drugs can be sold at a material advance over the prevailing market price4 ,by always supplying a well-prepared1 carefully selected drug of high quality some growers have built up a trade in their particular product for which they secure extra good prices4 ,dealers and manufacturers also sometimes make contracts with reliable growers to take the entire crop of a particular drug1 thus insuring to the grower a definite market and good prices for the product4 ,,commercial ,,prospects4 ,at the close of the year #aiai there existed a general and widespread shortage in botanical crude drugs1 and prices in consequence had reached unusually high levels4 ,the demand in other lines for unskilled labor at high wages has attracted elsewhere many persons who were formerly engaged in the collection or production of botanic drugs in this country4 ,it is therefore probable that prices for most crude drugs will remain at a high level until the prices of other commodities undergo a general reduction and the present supply of labor greatly increases4 ,although the average value of crude drugs1 expressed in terms of money1 has more than doubled since #aiac1 it does not follow that their production offers a corresponding increase in profit to the producer4 ,the prices of food and clothing1 labor1 and supplies of all kinds have for the most part more than doubled in the same time and the prospective producer of crude drugs will do well to consider carefully the comparative prices of the necessities of life which he must purchase before he engages in this enterprise4 ,the unusually high prices now offered for many crude drugs are due to the underproduction1 which has resulted largely from labor conditions and do not necessarily indicate any large increase in the demand for consumption4 ,in view of the present disturbed economic conditions and the uncertainty as to the future course of prices1 the general stimulation of drug growing in this country does not appear to be the best policy at this time4 ,however desirable it may be to increase the available supply of crude drugs or to diminish the amount of money now sent to foreign countries for these products1 the most important consideration for the ,american farmer who would grow drug plants is the probable profit to be derived from such an enterprise4 ,many statements to the contrary notwithstanding1 the commercial production of crude drugs does not normally present unusual opportunities for quick returns and large profits4 ,knowledge respecting the cultivation and handling of medicinal-plant crops is far less widespread than in the case of such generally distributed crops as fruits1 vegetables1 and cereals1 and certain individuals have taken advantage of this lack of information to lead the public to believe that extraordinary profits may be realized from growing medicinal plants1 even in a situation no more promising than the average city back yard4 ,such persons are interested usually only in the sale of the plants and seeds for propagation or the questionable directions for their cultivation1 and the extravagant claims often set forth in their alluring advertisements are not only misleading1 but frequently have little basis in fact4 ,the market demand for any given crude drug is naturally a large factor in determining the prospects for its commercial production under cultivation4 ,the demand for a number of drugs is quite variable or exceedingly limited1 and hence insufficient to make it advisable to raise them on a large scale4 ,in the case of other drugs1 although the demand is fairly constant and steady1 it could probably be fully satisfied by the product of a very few acres of good land4 ,it is evident that the cultivation of any considerable acreage might easily result in overproduction1 with a consequent decline in market price to a point where production would not be profitable4 ,the cultivation of drug plants1 to be successful in this country1 will probably require the introduction of improved methods and the extensive use of machinery to replace hand labor so far as possible4 ,growers of mints and numerous other plants yielding essential oils will find it desirable to equip themselves with a suitable distilling plant1 although the latter can not be operated most economically when only a small quantity of material is available for distillation4 ,the natural tendency will be to increase the acreage in the interest of more efficient operation1 but here again there is danger of overproduction1 and prospective growers should thoroughly acquaint themselves with market conditions before bringing very large areas under cultivation4 ,very few1 if any1 drug plants are used in quantities sufficient to make them a promising crop for general cultivation4 ,many of the common ones1 which can be grown and prepared for market with little difficulty1 bring but a few cents a pound1 and their cultivation offers little prospect of profit4 ,a number of the high-priced drug plants must be given care for two or more years before a crop can be harvested1 and1 since expensive equipment is usually required for their successful culture1 the production of such crops offers little encouragement to inexperienced growers who are looking for quick returns and large profits from a small investment4 ,the production of drugs of high quality requires skilled management1 experience in special methods of plant culture1 acquaintance with trade requirements1 and a knowledge of the influence of time of collection and manner of preparation on the constituents of the drug which determine its value4 ,small quantities of drugs produced without regard to these conditions are apt to be poor in quality and so unattractive to dealers and manufacturers that the product will not be salable at a price sufficient to make their production profitable4 ,in general1 the conditions in this country seem far more favorable to the growing of drug plants as a special industry for well-equipped cultivators than as a side crop for general farmers or those whose chief interest lies in the production of other crops4 ,although a number of plants which yield products used as crude drugs are common farm weeds1 they usually occur in scattered situations and in such small quantities that their collection would scarcely prove profitable for the farmer4 ,even when relatively abundant it is a matter for careful consideration whether the time and labor necessary for their collection might not be otherwise employed to better advantage4 ,moreover1 it is not always easy to distinguish medicinal plants from others of similar appearance1 and collectors not infrequently find that they have spent their time in gathering plants practically worthless as crude drugs4 ,in proportion to the labor required in their collection1 relatively low prices are paid for most crude drugs obtained from wild plants1 and the farmer who turns to drug collecting as a source of additional revenue will probably meet with disappointment4 ,,the ,,cultivation ,,and ,,handling ,,of ,,drug ,,plants4 ,the following cultural directions and suggestions regarding the handling of a number of drug plants have been compiled in part from the records of the ,office of ,drug1 ,poisonous1 and ,oil ,plant ,investigations and include data secured by various members of the staff of that office connected with testing gardens in several widely separated localities4 ,the probable yields per acre are in many cases estimates calculated from smaller areas1 and considerable variation from the figures given must be expected in actual practice4 ,the prices mentioned are given merely to indicate the comparative value of the products concerned and not to fix the actual price which the grower of drug plants may expect to receive4 ,this will depend very largely upon the state of the market at the time the crop is offered for sale4 ,the plants mentioned in the following pages were selected for discussion because information regarding their cultivation is in constant demand4 ,the purpose of this bulletin is not to recommend these plants for cultivation1 but to give information concerning their culture which may be helpful to persons who are considering the production of drug plants on a commercial scale4#b #b ,for information in regard to weeds used in medicine not herein considered1 see ,farmers' ,bulletin ,no4 #ahh1 which may be obtained from the ,superintendent of ,documents1 ,government ,printing ,office1 for #e cents4 ,,aletris4 ,aletris1 star-grass1 or true unicorn root 7,aletris farinosa1 fig4 #e7 is a native perennial herb of the lily family1 found occasionally on sandy soil throughout the eastern half of the ,united ,states2 also frequently occurring in the pine and oak barrens of ,alabama and ,tennessee and elsewhere in the ,south4 ,the root is used medicinally4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #e4--;,aletris 7,aletris farinosa74 ,aletris is a slow-growing plant which seems to thrive best on a moist and sandy soil4 ,it may be propagated either by division of the root stocks or from seeds4 ,the seeds mature late in the summer1 and should be sown soon after ripening1 in a well-prepared and protected seed bed4 ,in the following spring the seedlings may be transplanted to their permanent situation and set about a foot apart in rows #bj inches or more apart4 ,the soil about the plants should be stirred frequently and kept free from weeds4 ,the root1 consisting of a short horizontal rootstock bearing numerous small rootlets1 may be harvested in the fall of the second or third year4 ,in preparing the root for market the stem and leaves are broken off and the dirt is removed by shaking 7or washing1 if necessary71 after which it is well dried4 ,there are no available data on the probable yield4 ,the prewar prices paid to collectors for aletris usually ranged from #ab to #be cents a pound4 ,the prices in ,june1 #aibj1 were about #gj cents a pound4 ,,aconite4 ,aconite 7,aconitum napellus7 is a hardy perennial1 introduced from ,europe and sparingly grown in this country as an ornamental garden plant4 ,both leaves and roots are very poisonous1 the latter forming the official drug4 ,other varieties than ,aconitum napellus are also grown in flower gardens1 and several species occur wild in the ,united ,states4 ,since the official species readily hybridizes with related varieties1 often to the detriment of its medicinal properties1 it is frequently difficult to secure seed which will come true to name4 ,aconite seems to thrive best in a rather cool climate and will grow in any rich garden soil1 but a well-drained gravelly loam in an elevated situation appears most suited for the cultivation of this plant4 ,it may be grown from seed sown in the open late in the fall or early in the spring1 or plants may be started in a seed bed and the seedlings later transplanted and set about a foot apart in rows #b feet apart4 ,the preferable method of propagation is by division of the roots after the stems have died down in the fall1 since thereby hybridization may be avoided4 ,the plants usually flower in the second year from seed1 when the roots may be harvested4 ,it is preferable1 however1 to defer harvesting until the stems have died down in the fall1 when all the roots should be dug1 the smaller reserved for planting and the larger ones washed1 sliced lengthwise1 and dried4 ,the leaves are also harvested1 but are not in much demand4 ,reliable data on yield are not available1 although some estimates place the yield at about #dej pounds of dry root per acre4 ,the ,american market is supplied with imported aconite root1 for which the prewar price ranged from about #i to #ae cents a pound4 ,the price in ,june1 #aibj1 ranged from #fj to #fb cents a pound4 ,the quantity imported in #aiai was about #ce1jjj pounds4 ,the demand for this drug is limited1 and this fact1 together with the probable low yield1 makes its profitable cultivation in this country very doubtful4 ,,althaea4 ,althaea1 or marshmallow 7,althaea officinalis71 is a perennial herb introduced from ,europe which now grows wild in marshy places near the sea in ,massachusetts and along tidal rivers in ,new ,york and ,pennsylvania4 ,the root forms the official drug1 but the leaves and flowers also are sometimes used medicinally4 ,althaea will grow well in almost any loose garden soil of moderate fertility1 but tends to winterkill in situations where the ground freezes to a considerable depth4 ,the plants may be propagated from seeds or from divisions of the old roots made early in the spring4 ,the seed may be sown in the open in shallow drills at least #c feet apart1 and the seedlings should be thinned to stand #af inches apart in the row4 ,under good conditions the plants attain a height of #c or #d feet2 therefore1 close planting does not give sufficient room for full development4 ,in the second year of growth the roots are harvested1 washed1 peeled1 cut into short lengths1 and thoroughly dried4 ,yields at the rate of #hjj to #a1jjj pounds of dry root per acre have been obtained4 ,the prewar wholesale price usually ranged from #ab to #bj cents a pound4 ,the price in ,june1 #aibj1 was #be to #bg cents a pound4 ,the annual importation of this root averages about #cj1jjj pounds4 ,in view of the amount of hand labor required in preparing the root1 the relatively low price1 and the rather limited demand1 the cultivation of this plant for profit is not very attractive4 ,,angelica4 ,angelica 7,angelica officinalis7 is a ,european biennial plant of the parsley family1 sometimes grown in this country as a culinary herb and known commonly as garden angelica4 ,the fresh stems and leafstalks are used as a garnish and for making a candied confection4 ,the seeds and the oil distilled from them are employed in flavoring1 and the aromatic roots are sometimes used in medicine4 ,angelica thrives best in a moderately cool climate and may be grown in any good soil1 although a deep1 fairly rich loam which is moist but well drained will give the best results4 ,the soil should be deeply plowed and well prepared before planting4 ,the plant is most readily propagated from divisions of old roots1 which may be set either in the fall or spring about #ah inches apart in rows4 ,the seeds germinate very poorly if more than one year old1 and it is best to sow them as soon as they are ripe in a seed bed1 which should be kept moist by frequent watering if necessary4 ,early in the following spring the seedlings are transplanted and set about #b feet apart each way in their permanent location4 ,plants may also be obtained from seeds sown in ,march in a spent hotbed or in a cold frame4 ,in order to increase the root development1 the plants are often transplanted a second time1 at the end of the first year's growth1 and set #c or #d feet apart4 ,for the same reason the tops are often cut back to prevent the formation of seed4 ,during the growing seasons the soil should be kept mellow and free from weeds by frequent cultivation4 ,the roots are usually harvested in the fall of the second year1 but sometimes those of the first-year plants are marketed4 ,after being dug1 the roots are washed and dried in the open air4 ,in order to keep out insects and to preserve the aroma it is best to store the dried root in tin containers which can be tightly closed4 ,the root of the ,european or garden angelica found in our drug markets is imported largely from ,germany4 ,during the past few years the wholesale price has averaged about #bj cents a pound4 ,the root of a native species of angelica 7,angelica atropurpurea71 commonly called ,american angelica1 also occurs in the drug markets of this country4 ,it is collected from wild plants1 and the price to collectors in former years usually ranged from #f to #aj cents a pound4 ,the prices in ,june1 #aibj1 were for the seed #bj cents and for the root #ad cents a pound4 ,,anise4 ,anise 7,pimpinella anisum7 is an annual herb of the parsley family1 widely cultivated in ,europe and to a limited extent in this country1 chiefly in ,rhode ,island4 ,although this plant may be grown quite generally throughout the ,united ,states1 it has been found difficult to bring the crop to maturity in northerly situations where the growing season is short or in the ,south where the climate is hot and dry4 ,it is grown chiefly for its aromatic seeds 7fruits71 which are used medicinally1 and also in baking and for flavoring confectionery4 ,the oil distilled from the seeds is used medicinally in cordials1 and also for flavoring various beverages4 ,anise thrives best in a light1 moderately rich1 and well-drained loam which has been carefully prepared before planting4 ,it is grown from seeds1 which are usually sown early in the spring directly in the field1 since the seedlings are unfavorably affected by transplanting4 ,the seeds1 which should not be more than #b years old1 are sown thickly1 about two to the inch1 and covered one-half inch deep4 ,since the plants develop very slowly1 seed should not be sown in weedy soil4 ,when the seedlings are #b to #c inches high they are thinned to stand #f inches apart in the row4 ,the rows may be #ah inches or #c feet apart1 depending on the cultivation intended4 ,an ounce of seed should sow a row #aej feet long1 and about #e pounds will plant an acre when the rows are #c feet apart4 ,the plants should receive frequent and thorough cultivation throughout the growing season4 ,about three months from the time of planting the plants will blossom1 and a month later the seed should be matured sufficiently for harvesting4 ,as soon as the tips of the seeds turn a grayish green color they should be harvested1 for if allowed to remain exposed to the weather they quickly turn brown or blacken4 ,the plants may be pulled by hand and stacked1 tops inward1 in heaps about #f feet high1 or they may be mowed and at once built up into cocks of the same height4 ,in about four or five days the seed will have ripened1 after which it should be thrashed out and thoroughly cleaned4 ,yields of anise seed are quite variable1 since the plant is very sensitive to unfavorable weather conditions4 ,in a good season from #djj to #fjj pounds per acre may be reasonably expected4 ,the prewar wholesale price usually ranged from #f to #h cents a pound4 ,the prices in ,june1 #aibj1 ranged from #ai to #cj cents a pound4 ,during the war the average annual importation of #ejj tons was reduced to about #ahj tons4 ,,arnica4 ,arnica 7,arnica montana7 is a herbaceous perennial plant of the aster family1 native in northern and central ,europe1 where it thrives in the cool climate of the mountain meadows and upland moors4 ,the flowers1 leaves1 and roots are employed in medicine4 ,arnica requires a marshy soil1 abundant rainfall1 and a cool climate for its best development4 ,it is propagated by divisions of the roots or from seeds sown either in the fall or the spring4 ,seed may also be sown in ,august in a seed bed and the plants transplanted the following spring to stand about #ah inches apart in the row4 ,the flowers may be harvested the second year and the roots after three or four years4 ,arnica is not produced commercially in the ,united ,states1 and the small quantity imported annually is apparently sufficient to meet the market demands4 ,its cultivation presents many difficulties1 and efforts to grow it in the milder portions of this country have generally proved unsuccessful4 ,,belladonna4 ,belladonna1 or deadly nightshade 7,atropa belladonna71 is a large1 poisonous perennial which occurs wild in ,europe1 where it is also cultivated4 ,both the leaves and the roots are important crude drugs4 ,in recent years it has been cultivated to some extent in this country1 but is likely to winterkill in the colder sections4 ,belladonna may be propagated in a small way from cuttings of the young shoots rooted in moist sand in the usual manner or from divisions of the fleshy rootstocks made early in the spring1 but it is most readily grown from seeds which may be thinly sown in pots or well-drained boxes in a cool greenhouse in midwinter or in a sheltered place in a garden early in the spring4 ,when the seedlings are large enough to handle they should be transplanted singly to small pots or pricked out in flats or shallow boxes of light1 rich soil1 placing them about #b inches apart each way1 as with tomato or other vegetable plants intended for field planting4 ,in the spring1 as soon as danger from frost is over1 they should be transplanted to the field and set about #bj inches apart in rows #cj or more inches apart ,sowing seeds in the field or transplanting directly from the seed bed to the field has rarely given good results in this country4 ,belladonna seeds are small1 and if well handled under glass or in protected seed beds #a ounce should produce #aj1jjj or more plants1 sufficient to set an acre4 ,belladonna thrives best in deep1 moist1 well-drained loam containing lime1 such as will under proper fertilization produce good garden vegetables4 ,the preparation of the soil should be very thorough and consists of deep plowing1 either in the fall or early spring1 and repeated working with the disk or spring-tooth and smoothing harrows4 ,weeds should be kept under control at all times and the soil stirred with a hoe or cultivator at intervals of about #aj days1 particularly after each hard rain1 and shallow cultivation given in hot1 dry weather to conserve the natural moisture of the soil4 ,good commercial fertilizers1 such as are commonly used in truck gardens1 are beneficial4 ,those containing #h per cent of phosphoric acid1 #d per cent of nitrogen1 and #d per cent of potash are the most desirable and should be applied at the rate of about #fjj pounds per acre4 ,stable manure at the rate of #ab to #bj tons to the acre may be used if plowed under when the ground is prepared4 ,belladonna is sometimes affected by a wilt disease1 which is aggravated by wet soils and fresh animal manures1 and the foliage is greedily attacked by the potato beetle4 ,dusting with lime1 spot1 or road dust in the morning when the leaves are wet with dew is occasionally effective4 ,the destructive attacks of these pests are usually confined to the seed bed or to first-year plantings1 but the insects may be controlled by the careful use of insecticides4 ,the leaves are picked when the plants are in full bloom4 ,they should be carefully handled1 to avoid bruising1 and dried in the shade in order to retain their green color4 ,a hundred pounds of fresh leaves yield about #ah pounds when well dried4 ,one crop only can be collected the year of planting1 but two crops are gathered in each of the next two or three years1 after which it appears better to market the roots and make new plantings4 ,while only the leaves should be collected for the best pharmaceutical trade1 the young growth1 including the smaller sappy twigs1 has medicinal value and may be sheared from the plants and dried in the same manner as the leaves4 ,the ease of collection and increased weight of material may render the latter method more profitable4 ,the roots alone are not as profitable as the leaves4 ,the best roots are those of the second and third year's growth4 ,they are harvested in the fall after frost1 the tops being mowed and raked off and the roots turned out with a deep-running plow1 or with a potato fork if the area be small4 ,they are carefully washed and cut into about #d-;inch lengths1 the larger pieces being split lengthwise to aid in drying4 ,thorough drying either in the sun or with mild artificial heat is essential2 otherwise1 the roots will mold when stored4 ,the high prices paid for belladonna during the war greatly stimulated the cultivation of this crop1 which had previously been grown with some success in ,california1 ,michigan1 ,indiana1 ,pennsylvania1 ,new ,jersey1 and some other ,states4 ,in #aiah1 #bgc acres of belladonna were harvested1 the total production being about #hc tons of herb 7including leaves and stems71 an average of #fjj pounds per acre4 ,from #acf acres #aa tons of root were harvested1 an average of #afd pounds per acre4 ,the marketing of this crop was followed by a decline in prices1 the quotations in ,june1 #aibj1 being #cj to #ce cents a pound for the herb and #ee cents a pound for the root4 ,,blue ,,flag4 ,blue flag 7,iris versicolor7 is a native perennial plant of common occurrence in swamps and marshy situations throughout the eastern half of the ,united ,states4 ,the underground stem 7rhizome7 and roots are the parts of the plant used medicinally4 ,blue flag responds readily to cultivation when placed in a rich1 moist1 and rather heavy soil4 ,it is readily propagated from divisions of old plants1 which may be set #a foot apart in rows spaced conveniently for cultivation4 ,if the plants are set in ,august or ,september1 the crop may be harvested about1 the last of ,october in the following year4 ,the roots may be turned out with a deep-running plow1 and after being thoroughly washed and the larger clusters broken up they should be thoroughly dried4 ,artificial drying at low heat is usually desirable4 ,yields at the rate of #c or #d tons of dried root per acre have been obtained from small plats4 ,the prewar price paid to collectors varied from year to year and usually ranged from #e to #aj cents a pound4 ,the price in ,june1 #aibj1 was #ce cents a pound4 ,this crop does not appear to be very promising1 owing to the relatively small demand for the root ,,boneset4 ,boneset 7,eupatorium perfoliatum7 is a hardy1 rather long-lived perennial plant commonly found growing in low grounds throughout the eastern half of the ,united ,states4 ,the dried leaves and flowering tops form the official drug4 ,divisions of clumps of wild plants collected early in the fall will serve for propagation4 ,these may be set about a foot apart in rows in well-prepared soil4 ,during the first winter the newly set divisions should be protected with a light mulch of straw or manure4 ,plants may also be grown from seeds1 which should be collected as soon as ripe and sown in shallow drills about #h inches apart in a rich1 moist seed bed1 preferably in partial shade4 ,when of sufficient size they may be set in the field at about the same distance as the divided clumps4 ,the plants are cut late in the summer when in full bloom and the leaves and flowering tops stripped from the stem by hand and carefully dried without exposure to the sun4 ,yields of well-cultivated boneset are quite large and #b1jjj pounds or more per acre of dry herb may be obtained under favorable conditions4 ,the prewar price for boneset rarely exceeded #b to #c cents a pound4 ,the price in ,june1 #aibj1 was #ab to #ac cents a pound4 ,since the demand is limited and the wild supply fairly available1 the cultivation of boneset does not offer much prospect of profit4 ,,burdock4 ,burdock 7,arctium lappa7 is a large biennial plant well known as a common and troublesome weed in the ,eastern and ,central ,states and in some western localities4 ,the dried root from plants of the first year's growth forms the official drug1 but the seeds and leaves are also used medicinally4 ,burdock will grow in almost any soil1 but the best root development is favored by a light well-drained soil rich in humus4 ,the seeds germinate readily and may be sown directly in the field1 either late in the fall or early in the spring4 ,the seed may be sown in drills #ah inches or #c feet apart1 as desired1 and should be sown #a inch deep if in the fall1 but less deeply if sown in the spring4 ,when the seedlings are well up they should be thinned to stand about #f inches apart in the row4 ,cultivation should continue as long as the size of the plants will permit4 ,the roots are harvested at the end of the first year's growth in order to secure the most acceptable drug and also to prevent the plants from bearing seed and spreading as a weed4 ,the tops of the plants may be cut with a mower and raked off1 after which the roots can usually be turned out with a deep-running plow or with a beet lifter4 ,in a dry and very sandy soil the roots frequently extend to a depth of #b or #c feet1 making it necessary to dig them by hand4 ,after digging1 any remaining tops are removed and the roots are washed and dried1 the drying being preferably by the use of low artificial heat4 ,the roots are usually split lengthwise into two or more pieces in order to facilitate drying1 although whole roots are marketable4 ,yields at the rate of #a1ejj to #b1jjj pounds of dry roots per acre have been obtained4 ,the prewar prices offered by dealers ranged from #d to #f cents a pound4 ,the prices for the root and seed in ,june1 #aibj1 were #ab cents a pound each4 ,,calamus4 ,calamus1 or sweet flag 7,acorus calamus71 is a native perennial plant1 occurring frequently along streams and in the edges of swamps throughout the eastern half of the ,united ,states4 ,the dried root 7rhizome or rootstock7 is the part used as a drug4 ,although calamus in a wild state is usually found growing in water1 it may be cultivated in almost any good soil which is fairly moist4 ,it usually does well on moderately dry upland soils which will produce fair crops of corn or potatoes4 ,the plants are readily propagated from divisions of old roots1 which should be set early in the fall #a foot apart in rows and well covered4 ,during the following growing season the plants should receive frequent and thorough cultivation4 ,the roots are harvested in the fall and may be readily dug with a spade or turned out with a plow4 ,the tops1 together with about an inch of the rootstock1 are next cut off and used to make new plantings4 ,the roots are washed and dried artificially at a moderately low degree of heat4 ,the marketable product consists of the thick rootstocks deprived of their small rootlets often called fibers4 ,these may be removed before drying1 but more easily afterwards1 since when dry and brittle they break off readily with a little handling4 ,roots thus treated are often called stripped and are more aromatic than those which have been peeled4 ,yields at the rate of #b1jjj pounds of dry roots per acre have been obtained4 ,the prewar price for the unpeeled root usually ranged from #c to #e cents a pound4 ,the prices in ,june1 #aibj1 were #aj to #ab cents a pound4 ,the annual importation of calamus root ranges from #e to #aj tons4 ,,calendula4 ,calendula1 or pot marigold 7,calendula officinalis71 is a hardy annual plant native to southern ,europe1 but frequently grown in flower gardens in this country4 ,the dried flower heads are sometimes used in soups and stews1 and the so-called petals 7ligulate florets7 are employed in medicine4 ,calendula grows well on a variety of soils1 but a moderately rich garden loam will give the best results4 ,the seed may be sown in open ground early in the spring in drills #ah inches apart4 ,as soon as the seedlings are well established they should be thinned to stand about a foot apart in the row4 ,in the ,north it is desirable to sow the seed about the first of ,april in coldframes or spent hotbeds and transplant the young seedlings as soon as the danger of frost is past4 ,the plants blossom early and continue to bloom throughout the summer4 ,the flowers are gathered at intervals of a few days and carefully dried4 ,the petals 7florets7 which form the drug may be removed either before or after the flower heads are dried4 ,the petals are removed by hand1 but this process requires so much time that when the cost of the necessary labor is taken into account it is doubtful whether the price received for the drug would cover the cost of production4 ,the dried whole flowers produced in this country were quoted in the wholesale markets in ,june1 #aibj1 at #be cents to #a a pound1 according to quality2 the petals1 at #a4ie to #b4aj a pound4 ,,camomile1 ,,german4 ,german camomile 7,matricaria chamomilla7 is a ,european annual herb of the aster family1 cultivated in this country in gardens1 from which it has escaped in some localities4 ,the dried flower heads are used in medicine4 ,this species of camomile does well on moderately heavy soil which is rich in humus and rather moist4 ,since the plants bloom about eight weeks after sowing the seed1 a crop of camomile may be grown from seed sown either early in the spring or late in the summer1 following early vegetable crops4 ,the seed may be sown in drills and barely covered or may be broadcast1 since the plants will soon occupy the ground and exclude the weeds4 ,when the plants are ,in full bloom the flower heads are gathered and may be spread thinly on canvas sheets and dried in the sun4 ,all leaves and stems should be removed1 and when the flowers are thoroughly dry they should be packed for market in boxes or bales rather than in bags1 since in the latter the flowers are likely to be badly broken in handling4 ,returns from experimental areas indicate that a yield of about #djj pounds of dry flowers per acre may be expected under favorable conditions4 ,prewar wholesale prices usually ranged from about #ae to #dj cents a pound4 ,the prices in ,june1 #aibj1 were #da to #dc cents a pound4 ,,camomile1 ,,roman4 ,roman camomile 7also called ,english camomile1 ,anthemis nobilis7 is a ,european perennial herb of the aster family1 frequently cultivated in gardens in this country and sometimes found growing wild4 ,in ,america1 camomile is grown chiefly as an ornamental plant1 especially for use in borders1 since the plants blossom from midsummer until killed by frost4 ,the dried flower heads from cultivated plants are used in medicine4 ,camomile grows well in almost any good1 rather dry soil which has full exposure to the sun4 ,the plants may be grown from seeds or propagated by dividing the roots early in the spring4 ,the divisions of the root may be planted #i inches apart in rows spaced according to the method of cultivation to be used4 ,when planted on a small scale the divisions1 or offsets1 may be set #i inches apart each way in carefully prepared soil4 ,hand weeding is necessary1 but since the plants soon spread and fully shade the ground1 weeds usually have small chance of becoming troublesome4 ,the flower heads are gathered just as they open1 either by hand or by means of a flower picker1 and are dried in the open in bright weather or1 when necessary1 on canvas trays in a heated room4 ,rapid drying is essential1 as it is desirable to retain the white color as far as possible4 ,the yield is variable1 but from #djj to #fjj pounds of dried flowers per acre may be expected4 ,the prices for ,roman camomile quoted in the wholesale drug markets of this country prior to the war usually ranged from about #aj to #ab cents a pound4 ,the prices in ,june1 #aibj1 were #ah to #bj cents a pound4 ,since this crop requires much hand labor1 its cultivation in this country on a commercial scale does not promise to be very profitable4 ,,camphor4 ,the camphor tree 7,camphora officinalis7 is a large evergreen1 native to ,asia4 ,it is hardy in situations where the winter temperature does not fall below #ae ,f41 and for many years has been grown as an ornamental in the southern and southwestern ,united ,states4 ,young trees suitable for planting as ornamentals may usually be obtained from the nurseries in ,florida and other parts of the ,south1 or they can be easily grown from fresh seed4 ,for culture on a commercial scale the climatic requirements of camphor are practically the same as those of citrus fruits4 ,the tree can be grown in almost any soil1 but the maximum growth is secured in soils which are rich and well drained4 ,when planted for commercial cultivation new land is preferable4 ,the following statements are based upon actual experiments and observations on the growing and production of camphor under conditions found in ,florida4 ,camphor seeds ripen about the middle of ,october and should be planted while fresh1 a better germination being obtained when the pulp is removed4 ,the seed bed should be selected with care and the precaution taken to have one that will give sufficient moisture during the dry season and yet be well drained4 ,for small seed beds of #b or #c acres or less it may be practicable to provide irrigation4 ,excellent stands of seedlings have been obtained on slightly rolling land which originally was covered with blackjack oak4 ,about the first of ,september1 or somewhat earlier if conditions permit1 the land should be well plowed and thoroughly worked down with a disk harrow4 ,just before the seeds are planted it should again be worked over and all roots of ,bermuda grass or other weeds removed1 since rapidly growing grasses or weeds will absorb so much moisture from the soil that the seeds can not germinate4 ,the seeds begin to ripen during the first part of ,october and are usually in a fairly well ripened stage by the last of that month4 ,from this time until the heavy frosts they can be gathered and planted with safety4 ,seeds gathered after heavy frosts have been planted successfully1 but it is not advisable to take the risk of too hard a freeze4 ,in determining the time to gather seed a simple test is sufficient4 ,seeds that fall into the hand when the cluster is slightly twisted are ripe enough to plant4 ,in planting1 a cotton-dropping machine1 modified somewhat to meet the new requirements1 may be used4 ,the machine is set to plant the seeds #b or #c inches apart and cover them #a inch deep in rows far enough apart to permit horse cultivation4 ,the plants begin to come up in about three months1 but four or five months are often required for a full stand4 ,as soon as the plants can be distinguished in the rows cultivation is begun1 which at first is done by hand with either a wheel or hand hoe4 ,later1 as the plants attain size1 a horse cultivator can be used1 but a certain amount of handwork is necessary throughout the time the plants remain in the seed bed4 ,when the plants are well started they should receive a good application of sheep or goat manure or of high-grade fertilizer4 ,the first season a growth of from #c to #ah inches may be expected1 the irregularity of development depending on the vitality of the seed1 variation in the soil1 and numerous other factors4 ,the plants are allowed to grow in the seed bed usually for a year and are then transplanted to the field4 ,in transplanting it is customary to separate the plants into two grades1 sturdy and weak1 planting each grade in a field by itself4 ,by doing this the replanting is simplified1 since the sturdy stock requires but few trees for replanting and the weak stock1 which will require considerable replanting1 is all in one section4 ,previous to transplanting1 the land is well prepared by deep plowing and thorough harrowing1 and rows are laid off #ae feet apart4 ,the young trees are set in these rows #d feet apart1 either by hand or with a tree-setting machine4 ,this machine is simply a tobacco-setting machine fitted with a trench opener set to open a furrow #h inches deep1 in which the trees are placed4 ,the trees used for transplanting are headed back to within #a inch of the crown1 and the lower end of the taproot and all large laterals are removed4 ,the taproot of the tree as planted is thus reduced in length to #h or #aj inches and varies in diameter according to the vitality and previous growth of the seedling4 ,transplanting should be done in the winter months1 when the trees are dormant4 ,cultivation is begun as soon as the trees put forth shoots in the spring and continued until the rainy season of each year4 ,after the rainy season the plants are again cultivated and all grass and weeds removed4 ,at times cultivation is necessary during the rainy season in order to keep the trees from becoming smothered and killed by the fast-growing weeds4 ,one-horse cultivators drawn by mules or a gang cultivator drawn by a light tractor may be used4 ,in three or four years1 after transplanting1 the trees should be from #g to #h feet high4 ,they are then trimmed by means of a special machine#c to form an ,a-shaped hedge and the trimmings distilled for the oil and camphor gum4 ,trimming is carried on when the trees are in the dormant stage1 which is twice each year1 usually ,november to ,january and ,may to ,june4 ,the summer dormant season is somewhat irregular and governed entirely by local conditions4 #c ,a detailed description of this machine is given in ,u4 ,s4 ,dept4 of ,agr4 ,cir4 #gh1 entitled ,a ,machine for ,trimming ,camphor ,trees4 #aibj4 ,the cuttings are hauled from the field to the distilling plant1 and if many large branches are present they are run through a heavy ensilage cutter4 ,for distillation they are packed in large iron retorts1 to which steam is admitted at the bottom4 ,the outlet pipe of the retort is connected with a specially constructed condensing apparatus in which the oil and camphor carried over by the steam are condensed and partly collected4 ,portions of oil and camphor not collected in the condenser are caught in a tub fitted with an outlet siphon which carries away the excess condensed steam but leaves the oil and camphor behind4 ,when removed from the condenser the product is very crude1 consisting of a mixture of oil1 water1 and camphor4 ,this mixture is either thrown into a centrifuge and the oil and water removed or it is placed in large cylindrical vats and the oil and water allowed to drain out4 ,the oil is then separated from the water by means of a siphon4 ,the camphor and oil are marketed separately4 ,the annual yield of cuttings has varied from #b to #e tons per acre1 which should give approximately #dj to #ajj pounds of marketable camphor4 ,at present the planting of small areas does not seem advisable1 in view of the heavy outlay required for the machinery necessary to produce camphor gum at a profit4 ,an area of less than #ejj acres would probably not warrant the installation of the machinery necessary for the commercial production of camphor1 and #a1jjj acres or more will doubtless give a greater net return per acre4 ,although the crop is a low-priced one1 under favorable conditions it is estimated that a fair return per acre may be expected1 but the data so far accumulated are not sufficient to warrant specific statements concerning the profitableness of the industry4 ,camphor oil1 or the oil from which camphor has been removed1 is used in ,japan for illuminating purposes1 and as a solvent for resins in the manufacture of lacquer4 ,it is used in ,europe for its safrol content1 and may probably be utilized for the same purpose in this country4 ,there exists already in the ,american market a demand for the ,japanese oil at prices ranging from #aa to #ad cents per pound4 ,camphor imports into the ,united ,states usually exceed #c1jjj1jjj pounds annually2 hence1 it does not seem probable that there is any danger of overproduction in the ,southern ,states4 ,however1 it is possible that at times camphor may be imported at a price so low as to render production in this country financially unprofitable4 ,,cannabis4 ,the drug cannabis or ,indian hemp 7,cannabis sativa71 consists of the dried flowering tops of the female plants4 ,it grows well over a considerable portion of the ,united ,states1 but the production of the active principle of this plant is believed to be favored by a warm climate4 ,for drug purposes1 therefore1 this crop appears to be adapted to the ,southern rather than to the ,northern ,states4 ,cannabis is propagated from seeds1 which should be planted in the spring as soon as conditions are suitable1 in well-prepared sandy of clayey loam at a depth of about an inch in rows #e or #f feet apart4 ,the seeds may be dropped every two or three inches in the row or planted in hills about a foot apart in the row1 #f to #aj seeds being dropped into each hill4 ,two or three pounds of seed per acre should give a good stand4 ,about half the seeds will produce male plants1 which must be removed before their flowers mature2 otherwise1 the female plants will set seed1 thereby diminishing their value as a drug4 ,the male plants can be recognized with certainty only by the presence of stamens in their flowers4 ,ordinary stable or barnyard manure plowed in deeply is better for use as a fertilizer than commercial preparations and may be safely applied at the rate of #bj tons per acre4 ,however1 good results may be obtained with commercial fertilizers1 such as are used for truck crops and potatoes1 when cultivated in between the rows at the rate of #ejj or #fjj pounds per acre4 ,when the female plants reach maturity1 a sticky resin forms on the heavy1 compact flower clusters1 and harvesting may then be begun4 ,the tops of the plants comprising the flower clusters are cut and carefully dried in the shade to preserve the green color as far as possible4 ,drying can best be done1 especially in damp weather1 by the use of artificial heat1 not to exceed #adj ,f4 ,for several years cannabis of standard 7,u4 ,s4 ,p47 quality has been grown on a commercial scale in this country1 chiefly in ,south ,carolina and ,virginia4 ,after the flowering tops are harvested they are thoroughly dried under cover1 then worked over by hand1 and all the stems and large foliage leaves removed4 ,this process gives a drug of high quality but greatly reduces the net or marketable yield per acre1 which usually ranges from #cej to #djj pounds4 ,some growers do not remove the stems and leaves1 thus increasing the acreage yield but reducing the market value of their product4 ,the quality of cannabis can be determined only by special laboratory tests1 which most dealers are not equipped to make2 consequently1 they are usually unwilling to pay growers as high prices as they would if the low-grade cannabis were kept off the market4 ,the market price in ,june1 #aibj1 for tested 7,u4 ,s4 ,p47 domestic cannabis was #cj to #ce cents2 for nontested1 #bj to #be cents a pound4 ,,caraway4 ,caraway 7,carum carvi7 is a ,european biennial herb of the parsley family4 ,it grows and fruits well over a considerable portion of the ,united ,states1 especially in the ,north and ,northwest1 but its cultivation in this country seems never to have assumed commercial proportions4 ,the seeds are used medicinally1 but are mainly utilized for flavoring cakes1 confectionery1 and similar products4 ,on distillation with steam1 the seeds yield an aromatic oil1 which is more used in medicine than the seed itself4 ,soil of a somewhat clayey nature and containing a fair proportion of humus and available plant food is particularly suited to caraway1 but the plant generally grows well in any good upland soil which will produce fair crops of corn or potatoes4 ,seeds should be sown in early spring in drills about #af inches apart1 and from #f to #h pounds of seed are sown to the acre4 ,frequent shallow cultivation throughout both growing seasons is desirable in order to keep the soil mellow and free from weeds1 as a weedy crop at harvest time usually means a product inferior in quality4 ,as soon as the oldest seeds ripen1 which is usually in ,june of the second year1 the crop should be harvested4 ,the plants may be cut with a mower and should be left in the swath until they have lost most of their moisture1 when they may be built up into small cocks1 or they may be brought in from the field and the curing finished in a barn loft4 ,if on handling in the field the seeds shatter extensively1 the crop should be brought in in tight wagons4 ,when drying is finished the seeds are thrashed out1 cleaned1 and stored in bags which contain about #ajj pounds each4 ,returns from experimental areas indicate that a yield of about #a1jjj pounds of seed per acre may be expected4 ,one hundred pounds of seed will usually yield #d to #f pounds of oil4 ,the average annual importation of caraway seed for several years has been about #b1jjj1jjj pounds1 valued at about #i cents a pound4 ,the war reduced the annual importations of oil of caraway from #cj1jjj to #i1jjj pounds and increased the value from #hj cents to about #d4be a pound4 ,,cascara ,,sagrada4 ,cascara1 or cascara sagrada 7,rhamnus purshiana71 is a small tree #bj to #cj feet high1 native to the ,western part of the ,united ,states1 and found most abundantly in a narrow belt along the ,pacific slope from northern ,california to southern ,british ,columbia4 ,the bark from the trunk and branches is the source of the drug1 for which there is a constant and steady demand4 ,plantings which have been made in the ,eastern ,states indicate that this tree may probably be grown along the ,atlantic slope in the ,piedmont or foothill belt from ,pennsylvania to ,georgia4 ,the trees have been found to grow better in clay loam than in either sand or clay4 ,propagation from seed is easy1 but the seeds should be planted in the fall soon after they ripen or stratified in sand until used1 since germination is very poor if the seeds are allowed to become dry4 ,the seeds are sown in a seed bed under shade in drills #h inches apart and covered about #a inch deep4 ,the seedlings reach a height of #aj to #ae inches the first year1 and in the following spring before the leaves appear they are set in the field #f feet apart each way4 ,it is advisable to cultivate frequently1 in order to keep the weeds down and to maintain a shallow surface mulch4 ,if the trees are pruned properly1 a crop of bark may be harvested each year without killing the whole tree1 as is done in collecting the bark from wild trees4 ,at the time of transplanting1 the trees are cut back to a straight stem about a foot high1 from which all except the four uppermost buds are removed4 ,the branches which afterwards develop from these buds are later deprived of their lower side shoots1 thus causing the tree to grow a head of four long1 stout branches instead of a single straight trunk4 ,when the trees are large enough to yield a crop of bark1 the longest of the four branches is cut off early in the spring flush with the trunk and a new branch is allowed to grow in its place4 ,this process may be repeated yearly1 removing only the largest branches of each tree in any one season4 ,the bark on the cut-off branches is divided with a sharp knife into lengthwise strips of about an inch or two in width1 which may be readily pulled off4 ,it is then dried carefully at a low temperature in the shade and broken into small pieces to facilitate packing and handling4 ,the price paid to collectors for cascara bark1 which before the war usually varied from #a to #d cents a pound1 in ,june1 #aibj1 was about #aj cents a pound4 ,so long as a supply of the wild bark continues to be available it is doubtful whether cascara can be cultivated at a profit4 ,,castor ,,beans4 ,the castor-oil plant or ,palma ,christi 7,ricinus communis7 is a robust perennial in tropical countries which becomes an annual in regions subject to frost4 ,the seeds of this plant1 called castor beans or mole beans1 yield the castor oil of commerce4 ,between #ahfj and #aijj1 the castor bean was an important crop in certain sections of ,oklahoma1 ,kansas1 ,missouri1 and ,illinois1 but during recent years its culture has been practically abandoned in favor of crops which are easier to handle and more profitable4 ,for the commercial production of castor beans a warm climate and long growing season are necessary4 ,if planted much farther north than ,st4 ,louis1 ,mo41 or ,washington1 ,d4 ,c1 the crop is very likely to be caught by frost4 ,in general1 any fertile soil which produces good crops of cotton or corn is suitable for castor beans1 but a very fertile soil favors the growth of the plant at the expense of seed production and early maturity4 ,the land is prepared in much the same manner as for cotton or corn2 that is1 plowed1 disked1 and harrowed level before planting1 which may be done by hand or with a corn planter with specially prepared plates4 ,the seed should be planted early in the spring1 as soon as the soil is warm but still moderately moist4 ,the time of planting varies according to locality1 but in general corresponds to that of cotton4 ,the seed is planted in hills at a depth of #a to #b inches4 ,toward the north1 the rows are usually made #d feet apart and the hills spaced #c feet apart in the row4 ,farther south the rows should usually be made about #f to #h feet apart4 ,on very light land the hills may be #d feet apart in the row2 on heavier land1 #f to #h feet apart4 ,as a general rule three seeds are planted to the hill1 and not less than two should be planted4 ,one bushel of medium-sized seed should plant from #e to #f acres4 ,when the plants are from #d to #f inches tall1 the weaker ones should be removed1 leaving one plant in a hill4 ,the crop is cultivated similar to corn until the plants are large enough to shade the ground4 ,in case the field becomes foul with weeds and grass1 some hoeing may be necessary1 but practically all the cultivation required can be done with a horse-drawn weeder4 ,some varieties in which the beans pop out when the hull is fully ripe are known locally as poppers1 and after the beans begin to ripen1 the field must be gone over every few days and the ripe beans collected in order to avoid loss4 ,other varieties tend to retain the beans in the hull after they are ripe4 ,the climate affects the popping of the beans1 and a variety which shatters badly in one region may shatter very little when grown in another4 ,in harvesting1 a common method is to cut off the spikes with a knife and collect them in large sacks4 ,they are then hauled to a shelter of some kind and allowed to dry until the pods will crush easily4 ,various methods are used in thrashing castor beans4 ,if the variety grown is one which pops or drops its seeds when they are ripe1 the spikes are sometimes piled on a hard ground or plank floor fully exposed to the sun and furnished with sides of boards or cloth #f to #h feet high to catch the beans as they pop out4 ,in some varieties mere drying does not cause the pods to open1 and specially constructed machines have been used to remove the beans from the pods4 ,after the beans have been thrashed or popped out1 a fanning mill is used to separate the hulls1 chaff1 and dirt from the beans1 which are then sacked and stored for market4 ,the yield varies greatly and will depend much upon cultural conditions1 the season1 the variety grown1 and the care exercised in harvesting and thrashing the seeds4 ,in ,oklahoma the average yield of the popping varieties is said to be #h to #aj bushels per acre4 ,yields up to #be bushels per acre have been reported for favorable conditions4 ,for some years prior to the war the farm price for castor beans was about #a a bushel4 ,early in the war the increased demand for castor oil caused a sharp advance in the price of the beans1 which has gradually declined4 ,in ,june1 #aibj1 the wholesale market quotation was about #c a bushel4 ,the normal market requirement in the ,united ,states for castor beans is about #a1jjj1jjj bushels annually1 but during the last year of the war nearly #c1jjj1jjj bushels were imported4 ,in the ,united ,states castor beans are used in quantity only by manufacturers of castor oil4 ,in general1 the equipment and operation of a castor-oil mill resembles that of a cottonseed-oil mill or linseed-oil mill1 but special and expensive equipment is necessary for the proper extraction of the oil from castor beans4 ,the best grade of oil is obtained from the beans by hydraulic pressure4 ,an additional quantity of oil of lower grade is obtained by treating the press cake with naphtha or some other volatile solvent4 ,the pomace resulting from the second extraction is used as a fertilizer for tobacco1 corn1 and other crops1 but because of a poisonous principle can not be used for cattle feeding unless specially treated4 ,owing to the heavy outlay required for the necessary machinery and the high cost of manufacture on a small scale1 it has not been found profitable for the growers of castor beans to undertake the extraction of the oil4 ,the castor-oil plant is not known to be poisonous1 and although the leaves are not relished by farm animals they are said to be used as fodder for cattle in ,india4 ,castor beans1 however1 contain a poisonous principle1 and though harmless when handled1 may cause serious if not fatal effects when eaten1 especially in the case of small children4 ,care should be taken to prevent these beans from being accidentally mixed with the grain fed to animals1 since many cases have been reported in which the death of horses has been due to eating feed in which they have become mixed4 ,,catnip4 ,catnip 7,nepeta cataria7 is a ,european perennial plant of the mint family1 which frequently occurs in this country as a weed in gardens and about dwellings4 ,it has long had a popular use as a domestic remedy4 ,both leaves and flowering tops find some demand in the crude-drug trade4 ,catnip does well on almost any good soil1 but thrives best on a well-drained and moderately rich garden loam4 ,however1 a more fragrant and attractive herb can be grown in sandy situations than in heavy soils4 ,the plant may be propagated from seeds or by root division4 ,the seed may be sown in rows either late in the fall or in early spring and covered lightly4 ,fall-sown seed usually gives a more even stand and a heavier growth of herb4 ,when the plants have reached a height of #d to #e inches they should be thinned to stand from #ab to #af inches apart in the rows4 ,in some localities the field sowing of seed does not give good results1 in which case plants may be started in a coldframe and later transplanted to the field4 ,shallow cultivation will favor a vigorous growth of the herb4 ,the flowering tops are harvested when the plants are in full bloom and are dried in the shade to preserve their green color4 ,in case the herb is grown in large quantity1 it may be cut with a mowing machine1 the cutter bar of which should be set high4 ,the plants should lie in the swath until partially dry1 and the curing may then be finished either in small cocks in the field or in the barn1 care being taken to preserve the natural green color as far as possible4 ,returns from experimental areas indicate that a yield of about #b1jjj pounds of dried flowering tops per acre may be expected under good conditions4 ,the herb must be carefully sorted and all the large or coarse stems removed1 after which it may be made up for the market in bales of #ajj to #cjj pounds each4 ,prewar prices to collectors ranged from #b to #d cents a pound4 ,the prices in ,june1 #aibj1 for the herb were #e cents2 for the leaves1 #aj cents2 and for the leaves and flowers1 #ad cents a pound4 ,,chamomile4 7,see ,,camomile47 ,,conium4 ,conium1 or poison hemlock 7,conium maculatum71 is a large1 poisonous ,european biennial plant of the parsley family1 naturalized in the ,northeastern ,states and in ,california4 ,the full-grown but unripe seeds 7fruits7 and the leaves are used medicinally4 ,conium is easily grown1 and has been found to thrive in both comparatively moist clay soil and in dry sandy loam4 ,in rich1 moist land it may easily become a troublesome weed4 ,conium grows readily from seed1 which may be sown either in the fall or early in the spring in drills #b or more feet apart4 ,as soon as the seedlings can be distinguished in the row1 cultivation similar to that given ordinary garden crops is begun4 ,the plants usually blossom in the second year1 and when the oldest seeds are full grown but still green in color the plants are harvested and the seed at once thrashed out and dried with the least possible exposure to the light4 ,the small and undeveloped seed should be screened out and rejected and the good seed stored in containers that will exclude light and air4 ,the leaves are collected when the plant is in flower1 quickly dried in the sun1 and stored in the same manner as the seed4 ,estimated yields at the rate of #fjj to #hjj pounds of seed per acre have been obtained1 but the yield is very uncertain1 since the flowering plants are especially subject to the attacks of insects which destroy the crop of seed4 ,the prewar prices as quoted in the wholesale drug markets ranged from #e to #aj cents a pound for the seed and #e to #f cents for the leaves4 ,the prices in ,june1 #aibj1 for the seed were #ce to #cf cents1 and for the leaves #be to #bf cents a pound4 ,,coriander4 ,coriander 7,coriandrum sativum7 is an ,old ,world annual of the parsley family4 ,for years the plant has been cultivated in gardens in the ,united ,states1 and it is now reported as growing wild in many places4 ,the aromatic seeds and the oil distilled from them have long been used medicinally4 ,both the seed and the oil are also used for flavoring confectionery and cordials and as a condiment in bread and cake4 ,coriander grows well on almost any good soil1 but thrives best on deep and fertile garden loam4 ,the soil should be well prepared before planting1 which should be done moderately early in the spring4 ,for field cultivation the seed is sown in rows #c feet apart1 but if the cultivation is done by hand the distance between the rows may be reduced to #ah inches4 ,the seed should be sown thickly in order to insure a good stand4 ,when well up1 the plants are thinned to stand #d or #e inches apart in the row4 ,cultivation should continue until the plants flower1 which will be about two months from the time of planting4 ,when most of the seeds are ripe the plants are cut with a scythe or mower1 preferably early in the morning while moist with dew1 in order to avoid shattering the seed4 ,the plants are partially cured in small cocks in the field1 the drying being finished in a barn loft or under other suitable shelter1 after which the seeds are thrashed out and cleaned4 ,the yield of seed is quite variable1 but returns from experimental areas indicate that from #ejj to #hjj pounds per acre may be expected4 ,five hundred pounds of seed will usually yield from #a to #e pounds of oil1 according to the localities where grown4 ,the annual importation of coriander seed is about #a1djj1jjj pounds4 ,the prewar price of the seed was about #c cents a pound2 in ,june1 #aibj1 #c to #d cents4 ,the wholesale price of the oil of coriander1 which was #e to #g a pound before the war1 in ,june1 #aibj1 ranged from #db to #de a pound4 ,,dandelion4 ,dandelion 7,taraxacum officinale7 is a well-known and troublesome perennial weed1 occurring abundantly almost everywhere in this country except in the ,southern ,states4 ,it is frequently cultivated in market gardens for the leaves1 which are used for greens or salads1 but the root alone is used in medicine4 ,this plant will grow well in any good soil and has been successfully cultivated in the ,south1 but in the colder parts of the country it may require slight mulching during the winter if the roots tend to heave out of the soil4 ,the seeds1 which are sown in the spring1 are drilled in rows #ah inches apart and covered one-half inch deep4 ,about #c pounds of seeds should sow an acre4 ,the seedlings are thinned to stand a foot apart in the row1 and the crop should be well cultivated and kept free from weeds4 ,the roots are dug in the fall of the second season after planting the seed4 ,they should be washed and may be dried whole1 or1 to facilitate handling and drying1 they may be cut into pierces #c to #f inches long and the larger1 portions sliced4 ,under favorable conditions1 yields at the rate of #a1jjj to #a1ejj pounds of dry roots per acre have been obtained from second-year plants4 ,the prices usually offered collectors for the dry root before the war ranged from #d to #aj cents a pound4 ,the price in ,june1 #aibj1 was about #af cents4 ,the quantity annually imported into this country varies from year to year1 but averages about #dj tons4 ,a serious disadvantage attending the cultivation of this crop is the danger of seeding adjacent land with a very undesirable weed4 ,,digitalis4 ,digitalis1 or foxglove 7,digitalis purpurea71 is a fairly hardy ,european perennial1 which has long been grown in flower gardens in this country as an ornamental plant4 ,the leaves are used in medicine1 those from plants of the second year's growth being required for the official drug4 ,digitalis thrives in ordinary well-drained garden soils of open texture and reasonable fertility4 ,sowing the seed directly in the field occasionally gives good results1 but is so often unsuccessful that it can not be recommended4 ,the seeds are exceedingly small and do not germinate well except under the most favorable conditions4 ,they should be mixed with sand1 to insure even distribution in seeding1 and sown as early as ,february in seed pans or flats in the greenhouses or in well-protected frames4 ,when danger of frost is past the plants should be hardened off and transplanted to the field1 where they may be set about a foot apart in rows spaced conveniently for cultivation4 ,the plants do not flower until the second year1 and it is necessary to cultivate them frequently during the growing seasons of both the first and second year4 ,in localities where the cold weather is severe it may be desirable to protect the plants during the first winter with a light mulch of straw or coarse farmyard manure4 ,the plants usually flower in ,june of the second year1 and the leaves may then be collected4 ,they are carefully dried in the shade and should be stored in such a manner that they will not be exposed to light and moisture4 ,the results of experiments indicate that yields of #dej to #fjj pounds of dry leaves per acre may be obtained under favorable conditions4 ,in considering digitalis culture it should be borne in mind that the crop occupies the soil for the greater part of two seasons and demands even closer attention than many truck or garden crops4 ,in #aiai small areas of cultivated digitalis1 ranging from one-half to #a acre in extent1 were harvested in ,pennsylvania1 ,south ,carolina1 ,washington1 ,california1 and some other ,states4 ,several tons of digitalis leaves were also collected from plants of wild growth in the general region of the ,coast ,range of mountains on the ,pacific coast4 ,digitalis is of great medicinal importance1 but on account of its potency is administered in very small quantities2 consequently1 a few thousand pounds is sufficient to meet the annual market requirements4 ,before the war the price for digitalis leaves averaged about #ae cents a pound2 in ,june1 #aibj1 it was about #ce cents a pound4 ,,dill4 ,dill 7,anethum graveolens7 is an ,old ,world annual or biennial herb of the parsley family4 ,although it is a native of southern ,europe1 it is hardy plant and may be grown in a much cooler climate if given a warm situation and a well-drained soil4 ,the leaves are used for seasoning1 and the seeds 7fruits71 which are greatly valued for flavoring pickles1 are used as a condiment and occasionally in medicine4 ,a volatile oil distilled from the seeds is used chiefly for perfuming soap4 ,dill is preferably grown as an annual plant1 in which case the seed should be sown about one-half inch deep very early in the spring in drills a foot apart4 ,a half ounce of seed is sufficient to sow #aej feet of drill1 and at this rate a pound should sow an acre4 ,when sown in the field the rows may be #ae to #ah inches apart1 and the seedlings should be thinned to stand about a foot apart in the row4 ,the most favorable soil is a well-prepared loam1 but the plants grow well in any good garden soil4 ,frequent cultivation and freedom from weeds are essential for good results4 ,early in the fall1 as soon as some of the older seeds are ripe1 the plants are mowed and built up2 into small cocks in the field1 or1 if sufficiently dry1 the seeds may be thrashed out at once4 ,in very dry weather it is preferable to mow the plants early in the morning while they are moist with dew1 in order to avoid shattering the seed4 ,in case the seed is very ripe1 it is well to cut the plants high and to place the tops directly on large canvas sheets1 in which they may be brought from the field4 ,after thrashing1 the seeds should be spread out in a thin layer and turned frequently until thoroughly dry1 since they tend to become musty if closely stored before all the moisture has been removed4 ,the yield of dill seed is quite variable and is much influenced by climatic conditions4 ,from #ejj to #gjj pounds of seed per acre is considered a good yield4 ,the wholesale price in ,june1 #aibj1 ranged from #h to #aa cents a pound4 ,,echinacea4 ,echinacea 7,brauneria angustifolia1 fig4 #f7 is a native perennial plant of the aster family found on the prairies of the ,middle ,west1 occurring most abundantly in ,nebraska and ,kansas4 ,the roots of the plant are used medicinally4 ,this plant has been found to do well under1 cultivation in moderately rich and well-drained loam4 ,it grows fairly well from seeds1 which may be collected when ripe and kept dry until ready for use4 ,plants should be started in a well-prepared seed bed by sowing the seeds thinly in drills about #h inches apart4 ,the plants develop slowly and may be left in the seed bed for two years and then transplanted to the field in the spring and set about #ah inches apart ,in rows4 ,thorough cultivation is essential for the best results4 ,the roots do not reach a marketable size under three or four years from the time of sowing the seed4 ,they are harvested in the fall1 freed from any adhering soil1 and dried either in the open air or by means of low artificial heat4 ,echinacea has not been cultivated on a scale large enough to give satisfactory data on the probable yield4 ,the prewar wholesale price ranged from #bb to #fj cents a pound2 in ,june1 #aibj1 it was #fj to #fe cents a pound4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #f4--;,echinacea 7,brauneria angustifolia74 ,,elecampane4 ,elecampane 7,inula helenium7 ,is a ,european perennial plant of the aster family1 now growing wild along roadsides and in fields throughout the northeastern part of the ,united ,states4 ,the root is used in medicine4 ,elecampane will grow in almost any soil1 but thrives best in deep clay loam well supplied with moisture4 ,the ground on which this plant is to be grown should be deeply plowed and thoroughly prepared before planting4 ,it is preferable to use divisions of old roots for propagation1 and these should be set in the fall about #ah inches apart in rows #c feet apart4 ,plants may also be grown from seeds1 which may be sown in the spring in seeds beds and the seedlings transplanted later to the field and set in the same manner as the root divisions4 ,plants grown from seed do not flower the first year4 ,cultivation should be sufficient to keep the soil in good condition and free from weeds4 ,the roots are dug in the fall of the second year1 thoroughly cleaned1 sliced1 and dried in the shade4 ,the available data on yield indicate that a ton or more of dry root per acre may be expected4 ,the price to producers usually ranges from #c to #f cents a pound4 ,upward of #ej1jjj pounds of elecampane root were annually imported into this country prior to the war4 ,,fennel4 ,fennel 7,foeniculum vulgare7 is an ,old ,world perennial plant of the parsley family1 occasionally cultivated as a garden herb in the ,united ,states4 ,the aromatic seeds 7fruits7 are used in medicine and for flavoring4 ,the oil distilled from the seeds is used in perfumery and for scenting soaps4 ,fennel grows wild in mild climates in almost any good soil and thrives in rich1 well-drained loams containing lime4 ,it is propagated from seeds1 which may be sown in the open as soon as the ground is ready for planting in the spring4 ,the seed is sown thickly ,in drills #b to #c feet apart and covered lightly4 ,from #d to #e pounds of seed should sow an acre4 ,when well established the plants may be thinned to stand #ab to #ae inches apart in the row4 ,plants may also be started in a seed bed from seed sown either in drills #f inches apart or broadcast4 ,when the seedlings are three or four inches high they are transplanted to the field and set #ab to #ae inches apart in rows4 ,the cultivation is the same as for ordinary garden crops4 ,frequently1 very little seed is formed the first year1 but full crops may be expected for one or two succeeding years4 ,the seed is gathered in the fall before it is fully ripe and may be harvested like anise or coriander4 ,a yield of #fjj to #hjj pounds of seed1 per acre may be expected4 ,during recent years about #bge1jjj pounds of seed have been imported annually4 ,owing to the war1 prices for the seed and oil have about doubled4 ,the prices in ,june1 #aibj1 for the seed were #aa to #ab cents a pound2 for the oil1 #b4ge to #c a pound4 ,,gentian4 ,the common or yellow gentian 7,gentiana lutea7 is the only species recognized in ,american medicine1 although the roots of several other species are found in the drug trade4 ,the plant grows wild in the mountains of central and southern ,europe1 but it has proved very poorly adapted for cultivation in situations beyond its natural range4 ,for its best development under cultivation1 partial shade1 similar to that required by ginseng and goldenseal1 seems necessary4 ,the plants are said to flower when about #f years old2 hence1 several years must elapse after sowing the seed before the roots reach a marketable size4 ,apparently there have been no attempts to cultivate gentian commercially in this country4 ,the prewar wholesale price of imported gentian root ranged from #d to #h cents a pound4 ,the price in ,june4 #aibj1 was #ab to #ac cents a pound4 ,,ginseng4 ,ginseng 7,panax quinquefolium7 is a fleshy-rooted herbaceous plant native to this country and formerly of frequent occurrence in shady1 well-drained situations in hardwood forests from ,maine to ,minnesota and southward to the mountains of ,georgia and the ,carolinas4 ,it has long been valued by the ,chinese for medicinal use1 though rarely credited with curative properties by natives of other countries4 ,when placed under cultural conditions1 ginseng should be shielded from direct sunlight by the shade of trees or by lath sheds4 ,the soil should be fairly light and well fertilized with woods earth1 rotted leaves1 or fine raw bone meal1 the latter applied at the rate of #a pound to each square yard4 ,seed should be planted in the spring as early as the soil can be worked to advantage1 placed #f inches apart each way in the permanent beds or #b by #f inches in seed beds1 and the seedlings transplanted to stand #f to #h inches apart when #b years old4 ,only cracked or partially germinated seed should be used4 ,ginseng needs little cultivation1 but the beds should at all times be kept free from weeds and grass and the surface of the soil slightly stirred whenever it shows signs of caking4 ,a winter mulch over the crowns is usually essential1 but it should not be applied until freezing weather is imminent and should be removed in the spring before the first shoots come through the soil4 ,the roots do not reach marketable size until about the fifth or sixth year from seed4 ,when dug they should be carefully washed or shaken free from all adhering soil1 but not scraped4 ,curing is best2 effected in a well-ventilated room heated to about #ij ,f4 ,nearly a month is required to properly cure the larger roots1 and great care must be taken in order to prevent molding or souring4 ,overheating must also be avoided4 ,when well cured the roots should be stored in a dry1 airy place until ready for sale4 ,a market may be found with the wholesale drug dealers1 some of whom make a specialty of buying ginseng root for export4 ,the price of cultivated ginseng roots1 as quoted in wholesale drug lists1 ranges from #a4ej to #h a pound1 according to quality and freedom from disease4 ,further details respecting the culture of ginseng are given in a ,farmers' ,bulletin now in press1 entitled ,ginseng ,culture1 and in ,farmers' ,bulletin #gcf1 entitled ,ginseng ,diseases and ,their ,control4 ,,goldenseal4 ,goldenseal 7,hydrastis canadensis7 is a native perennial1 formerly quite abundant in open woodlands having ample shade1 natural drainage1 and an abundance of leaf mold4 ,its range is from southern ,new ,york and ,ontario west to ,minnesota and south to ,georgia and ,kentucky4 ,when grown under cultivation the soil should be well fertilized1 preferably by decaying vegetable matter1 such as woods soil and rotting forest leaves1 which should be well worked in to a depth of #aj inches or more4 ,raw bone meal and cottonseed meal are also favorable in their action4 ,seed may be sown in ,october in a well-prepared seed bed4 ,it may be scattered broadcast or dropped one-half inch apart and covered with fine leaf mold to the depth of #a inch4 ,during the winter the seed bed should be protected with burlap or fertilizer sacks1 and should also be guarded against encroachment of moles or mice4 ,plants may be set #f to #h inches apart each way and the rootstocks covered to a depth of about #b inches4 ,for satisfactory growth goldenseal requires about #ge per cent of shade during the summer1 which should be provided by a lath shade or by cloth1 brush1 or vines4 ,the soil should be kept free from weeds and the plants liberally watered throughout the growing season1 but good drainage is necessary1 since goldenseal does not thrive in boggy ground4 ,under favorable conditions goldenseal reaches its best development in about1 five years from seed1 or1 in a year or two less when grown from root buds or by divisions of the rootstocks4 ,the root is dug in the autumn after the tops have withered4 ,they are washed clean of all soil1 sticks1 etc41 and dried on lath screens in an airy place in mild sunlight or partial shade1 or indoors on a clean1 dry floor4 ,when dried in the open they should be protected from rain and dew4 ,the cured root is kept in loose masses until marketed1 since close packing may cause attacks of mold4 ,the dried leaves and stems of goldenseal1 commonly known as seal herb1 are also a marketable product4 ,the prices in ,june1 #aibj1 ranged from #e to #f a pound for the roots and from #dj to #gj cents a pound for the herb4 ,,henbane4 ,henbane 7,hyoscyamus niger7 is a poisonous annual or biennial herb of the nightshade family1 introduced into this country from ,europe and occasionally found as a weed in a number of the ,northern ,states4 ,the leaves1 flowering tops1 and sometimes the seeds are used medicinally4 ,henbane is propagated from seeds1 but when these are sown in the open field germination is uncertain1 and a very poor stand or total failure is a frequent result4 ,germination is usually much more certain when the seeds are sown under glass1 but the plants do not readily stand transplanting and often die after they are set in the open4 ,very good results have been secured by sowing the seed in small pots under glass in ,january1 transferring the seedlings to #c-;inch pots in ,march1 and transplanting in ,may to the field1 where the plants may be set at least #ae inches apart in rows4 ,in handling the plants care should be taken to disturb the soil about the roots as little as possible4 ,the soil requirements and method of cultivation are practically the same as for belladonna4 ,the leaves of henbane usually suffer severely from attacks of the potato beetle1 especially during the first year1 and the crop is very likely to be destroyed if grown within the range of this insect4 ,ordinarily the plants blossom about ,august of the second year and die after ripening their seed1 but individual plants started early frequently bloom and set seed the first year4 ,the leaves and flowing tops are collected when the plants are in full bloom and are carefully dried in the shade4 ,the ,american crop of henbane has never much exceeded #aj acres4 ,the yield under favorable conditions is estimated at about #f1jjj pounds per acre4 ,the wholesale price in ,june1 #aibj1 was #ce to #ch cents a pound4 ,,horehound4 ,horehound 7,marrubium vulgare7 is a hardy perennial herb of the mint family1 which occurs as a common weed in many places in the ,united ,states1 especially on the ,pacific coast1 where it threatens to become a pest4 ,the leaves and flowering tops find some demand as a crude drug4 ,their greatest use1 however1 is in the manufacture of candy1 although they are sometimes employed for seasoning4 ,horehound grows well in almost any soil and thrives in light1 dry soils lacking in fertility4 ,it grows readily from seeds1 which are usually sown in drills early in the spring and covered with about an inch of soil4 ,plants may also be started in coldframes1 either from seed or cuttings1 and later transplanted to the field4 ,propagation may also be effected by division of old plants4 ,plants may stand #f1 #ab1 or #ah inches apart in the row2 those which stand close together will have small stems1 and hence will yield a crop of finer quality4 ,the plants are harvested just before flowering and should be cured in the shade in order to preserve the green color4 ,if the stems are small1 the plants may be cut close to the ground with a scythe1 or with a mower if the area is large4 ,in case the plants are tall and large they must be cut some distance above the ground and all coarse stems removed to make the herb suitable for marketing4 ,yields at the rate of #b1jjj pounds of dry herb per acre have been obtained4 ,the prewar wholesale prices for the herb ranged from #e to #h cents a pound4 ,the price in ,june1 #aibj1 was #ae to #af cents4 ,the annual importation of horehound varies from year to year1 sometimes reaching #fj to #gj tons4 ,,insect-,,powder ,,flowers4 ,insect flowers1 from which pyrethrum or insect powder is prepared1 are produced by several species of plants of the aster family which occur wild in the eastern ,mediterranean region1 where they are also cultivated4 ,the species here considered 7,chrysanthemum ,pyrethrum cinerariaefolium7 has been cultivated commercially in ,california for the production of insect powder4 ,this species seems to thrive best in warm situations and should grow well in any good soil which is well drained and not too heavy4 ,the seeds may be sown directly in the field1 either early in the spring or in the fall1 but it is preferable to start the plants in coldframes or well-prepared seed beds and transplant them to the field4 ,the seed is mixed with sand and sown broadcast on the surface of the bed and lightly covered with a rake4 ,water should be used sparingly on the seed bed1 since the young seedlings and even mature plants are easily killed by a wet soil4 ,when the seedlings are about a month old they are transplanted1 during damp weather if possible1 and set #h to #ab inches apart in rows #c to #d feet apart4 ,old plants may also be divided and used for propagation4 ,the plants should be well cultivated during the growing season and will yield flowers for several years if they are well cared for4 ,the fertility of the soil is maintained by the application of fertilizers4 ,the time of harvesting varies from ,june to ,september1 according to locality4 ,the flower heads are gathered just as they open and may be collected by hand or by means of a flower picker4 ,they are dried1 preferably in the shade1 on canvas sheets about #ae feet square1 on which they are spread in a thin layer and turned two or three times a day until dry4 ,the average yield of dried flowers appears to be about #dej pounds per acre4 ,the wholesale price for these flowers in ,june1 #aibj1 was #he to #ij cents a pound1 which is from three to four times the prewar price4 ,,larkspur4 ,the larkspur of the crude-drug trade is an annual plant 7,delphinium consolida71 native of southern ,europe1 which has long been cultivated in this country as an ornamental and is now occasionally found growing wild4 ,another species of larkspur 7,delphinium urceolatum7 is native to this country and is said to have properties very similar to those of the ,european species4 ,larkspur seed is now used chiefly in remedies for external parasites4 ,these larkspurs thrive best in a rich sandy or gravelly soil4 ,in heavy soils they are likely to suffer from root-rot1 which materially reduces the yield4 ,a rather dry climate is suitable for plants of this character4 ,they do not bear transplanting well and seeds should be sown in the fall or very early in the spring where the plants are to stand4 ,the soil should be well fined and the seed thinly sown in drills spaced according to the method of cultivation to be used4 ,when up1 the plants should be thinned to stand #h inches or more apart in the rows4 ,the necessary cultivation consists in keeping the soil between the rows and about the plants mellow and free from weeds during the growing season4 ,when the seed capsules are fairly ripe1 the seed is harvested by collecting the tops1 which should be cut before the seed capsules have become so brittle as to risk the loss of seed by shattering and which can be handled best in the early morning while damp and pliable4 ,they should be cured in a well-ventilated place1 sheltered from rain1 and when thoroughly dry may be thrashed out and cleaned4 ,the wholesale price now quoted for larkspur seed is between #cb and #ce cents a pound4 ,the seed of a ,european species of larkspur 7,delphinium staphisagria71 commonly-called stavesacre1 possesses medicinal properties and is recognized as an official drug4 ,the wholesale price for stavesacre seed in ,june1 #aibj1 was about #cj cents a pound4 ,,lavender4 ,the true lavender 7,lavandula vera7 is a small shrubby plant of the mint family1 native to southern ,europe1 and widely cultivated for its fragrant flowers and for the oil distilled from the fresh flowering tops4 ,lavender thrives best in light and rather dry soils well supplied with lime1 but may be grown in almost any well-drained loam4 ,on low or wet land it is almost certain to winterkill4 ,the plant is not easily grown from seed1 but may be readily propagated from cuttings or by division4 ,in cold climates the plants must be well protected during the winter1 or they may be carried over in a greenhouse or coldframe4 ,early in the spring the plants or rooted cuttings are set in well-prepared soil1 #ab to #ae inches apart in rows spaced to suit the cultivation intended4 ,frequent and thorough cultivation is desirable4 ,not many blooms can be cut the first year1 but full crops may be expected for each of the three following years1 after which it will be best to start new plantings4 ,the flowering tops are harvested when they are in full bloom1 and if used for the production of oil are distilled at once without drying4 ,if the dry flowers are wanted1 the tops are carefully dried in the shade and the flowers later stripped from the stems by hand4 ,on ordinary soil1 yields of #fjj to #a1bjj pounds per acre of fresh flowering tops have been obtained4 ,the dry weight is about four-fifths of the green weight4 ,the yield of oil varies widely1 but from #ab to #ae pounds per acre may be expected under good conditions4 ,the wholesale prices in ,june1 #aibj1 were about as follows3 ,for ordinary flowers1 from #ah to #bd cents a pound2 for select flowers1 from #cj to #ce cents a pound2 for oil of lavender flowers1 #aa to #ab a pound4 ,,licorice4 ,licorice 7,glycyrrhiza glabra7 is an ,old ,world plant1 the culture of which has not succeeded commercially in this country1 although the plant grows well in the arid ,southwest and in ,california1 where in some localities it threatens to become a weed4 ,licorice is used to some extent in medicine1 and is said to be much in demand by manufacturers of tobacco4 ,licorice is a fairly hardy plant1 but it thrives best in warm regions1 where the season is sufficiently long to promote strong growth4 ,plants may be grown from seed1 but propagation by means of cuttings made from the younger parts of the ,rhizome1 or so-called root1 usually gives best results4 ,the cuttings are set perpendicularly in deep1 moist1 sandy1 or loamy soil1 and should stand about #ah inches apart in rows so spaced as to allow for the cultivation necessary to keep the soil mellow and free from weeds4 ,the yield under good culture is said to average about #e1jjj pounds of dry root per acre at the end of every third year4 ,the relatively low price at which1 the imported root can usually be obtained has so far prevented the development of commercial licorice growing in this country4 ,nearly #ajj1jjj1jjj pounds of licorice root and an average of about #fjj1jjj pounds of licorice paste are annually imported into the ,united ,states when trade conditions are normal4 ,prewar prices for the imported root usually ranged from #d to #e cents a pound in bales4 ,the price in ,june1 #aibj1 was #ac to #ad cents4 ,,lobelia4 ,lobelia 7,lobelia inflata7 is a native poisonous annual plant1 occurring generally in open woods and pastures1 but is most abundant in the ,states east of the ,mississippi ,river4 ,the leaves1 tops1 and seeds are used medicinally4 ,this plant thrives under cultivation in a rather rich1 moist loam1 and grows well either in the open or in partial shade4 ,it grows readily from seeds1 which are very small and must be sown on soil which has been well fined and exceptionally well prepared4 ,the seeds are sown either in the fall or spring in rows #b feet apart4 ,it is best not to cover the seeds but to sow them on the surface of the soil1 which is then firmed with a float or by resting a board over the row and walking upon it4 ,fall planting usually gives a better stand and a heavier crop4 ,shallow cultivation should be given until the plants begin to flower4 ,lobelia is harvested when in full flower or as soon as some of the older seed pods are full grown4 ,the plants may be cut with a mower if the cutter bar is set high enough to avoid including the large stems4 ,the herb should be dried in the shade1 in order to preserve the green color4 ,small areas have given yields at the rate of #a1jjj pounds of dry herb per acre4 ,the prewar price paid to collectors for the dried herb was about #c cents a pound4 ,the prices in ,june1 #aibj1 were1 for the herb1 #bj cents2 for the seed1 #ge cents a pound4 ,,lovage4 ,lovage 7,levisticum officinale7 is a perennial plant of the parsley family1 introduced into this country from ,europe as a garden plant and now grown as a crop in certain localities in ,new ,england and the ,west4 ,the root has long been supposed to have medicinal properties and is in some demand in the drug trade4 ,the flowering tops yield a volatile oil1 for which1 however1 there is little demand4 ,the seeds are used for flavoring confectionery and the leaf stems are sometimes blanched1 like celery1 and eaten as a salad4 ,lovage is propagated by division or from seeds4 ,the seeds may be planted in the fall in drills #ah inches apart or sown in early spring in a hotbed1 greenhouse1 or well-prepared seed bed in a sheltered portion of the garden4 ,they should be covered very lightly with sand or fine sifted soil1 and in order to prevent the soil from drying out before the seeds germinate it is advisable to spread old burlap or sacking over the bed4 ,the sacking may be sprinkled occasionally if the weather is dry and should be removed when the first seedlings break the soil4 ,the plants should reach a size suitable for transplanting by the end of ,may1 when they may be set at intervals of #h inches in rows far enough apart for convenient cultivation4 ,lovage grows well in almost any deep1 well-drained soil1 such as will produce a fair crop of corn or potatoes1 and is benefited by the liberal use of fertilizer1 although heavy applications of manure tend to produce excessive top growth4 ,the roots may be dug in ,october of the second or third year after setting the plants4 ,numerous offsets will generally be found1 and if these have good roots they may be used to renew the plantation without recourse to seed4 ,such shoots should at once be reset at the usual distances apart4 ,the freshly dug roots should be well washed1 cut into slices about one-half inch thick1 and carefully dried4 ,if necessary1 artificial heat1 not to exceed #abe ,f41 may be used to hasten drying4 ,returns from experimental areas indicate that a yield of about #a1jjj pounds of dried root to the acre may be expected under good conditions every third year4 ,the prices quoted for ,american lovage root in the wholesale drug markets range from #de cents to #a a pound1 according to demand and quality4 ,producers1 however1 usually receive much less than the wholesale price4 ,,melissa4 ,melissa1 balm1 or lemon balm 7,melissa officinalis71 is a perennial herb of the mint family1 native to southern ,europe4 ,in this country it has long been cultivated in gardens1 from which it has escaped and now grows wild in many places in the eastern ,united ,states4 ,the leaves of balm are widely used for culinary flavoring1 and the leaves and flowering tops are used in medicine4 ,the volatile oil distilled from the plant is said to be used in perfumery and also for flavoring4 ,balm grows readily on any good garden soil and is easily propagated from seeds1 cuttings1 or by division4 ,the seeds may be sown in the open early in the spring1 but owing to their small size it is best to sow them in shallow flats in a greenhouse or in a hotbed4 ,the soil should be well fined and the seeds sown thinly on the surface of the soil1 which is then firmed with a float or a small board4 ,when well up1 the seedlings should be transferred to deeper flats1 and when #d or #e inches high they may be transplanted to the open and set about a foot apart in rows spaced to suit the cultivation to be given4 ,cultivation should be frequent and sufficient to keep the soil about the plants mellow and free from weeds4 ,when the plants are in full flower the crop can be cut with a scythe1 or with a mower if the herb is to be used for distillation4 ,for preparing the crude drug only the flowering tops are collected1 the coarse1 stemmy portions of the herb being rejected4 ,the leaves and tops are dried in the shade in order to preserve the green color4 ,yields at the rate of about #a1hjj pounds of dry herb per acre have been obtained1 but if only the flowering tops are collected the yield will be very materially less4 ,the prewar price paid to collectors for the leaves and tops ranged from #c to #d cents a pound4 ,in ,june1 #aibj1 the price for the leaves was #ae cents a pound4 ,,orris4 ,orris 7,iris florentina7 is a perennial1 native to southern ,europe1 and is cultivated chiefly in ,italy for its fragrant rootstocks1 which yield the orris of commerce4 ,the plant grows well in a variety of soils and flourishes in a rich1 moist loam1 but roots which are grown in rather dry1 gravelly soil appear to be the most fragrant4 ,orris is readily propagated by division of the old plants1 which may be set either in the spring or fall about a foot apart in rows spaced conveniently for cultivation4 ,since harvesting usually takes place only once in three years1 the use of the land is required for that length of time in order to obtain one crop4 ,after the roots are dug they are peeled and dried in the open air4 ,the desired fragrance does not develop until after the dry roots have been stored for a number of months1 during which time they are especially liable to the attacks of insects4 ,the yield is from #e to #f tons of dry root per acre4 ,the average annual importation of orris is normally about #ejj1jjj pounds4 ,the wholesale prices1 which before the war ranged from #f to #aj cents1 in ,june1 #aibj1 were #ad to #ae cents a pound4 ,the outlook for a profitable orris industry in this country does not appear promising1 and it does not seem advisable for any considerable number of persons to undertake the growing of this crop4 ,,parsley4 ,parsley 7,petroselinum sativum7 is a biennial herb grown everywhere in gardens for use in garnishing and seasoning4 ,all parts of the plant contain a volatile oil1 that from the seed being especially rich in a constituent known as apiol1 or parsley camphor1 which is still used to some extent in medicine4 ,in the crude-drug trade there is a small demand for the root1 leaves1 and seed4 ,a rich and rather moist soil is desirable for the growing of parsley4 ,the seeds germinate slowly and are frequently sown early in the spring in cold frames or seed beds1 from which the young plants may be removed later and set in the open in rows #ab or more inches apart and about #f inches apart in the row4 ,when the leaves are fully grown they may be collected and dried in the usual manner4 ,the plants flower in the second year1 and as soon as the seed is ripe it is harvested and carefully dried4 ,at the end of the second growing season1 late in ,october1 the root may be dug and should be well washed and carefully dried4 ,artificial heat may be used in drying if necessary4 ,on small areas yields of seed at the rate of about #ahe pounds per acre have been obtained4 ,during the past few years the wholesale price of the seed has varied from #aj to #gj cents a pound1 according to demand and season4 ,from #ae to #ej pounds of seed are required to yield #a pound of the oil1 which in ,june1 #aibj1 was quoted at #f4ej to #g a pound4 ,,pennyroyal4 ,pennyroyal 7,hedeoma pulegioides7 is an annual plant1 flowering from ,june to ,october1 and is found in dry soils from ,nova ,scotia and ,quebec to ,dakota and southward4 ,both the dry herb and the oil obtained therefrom by steam distillation form marketable products4 ,pennyroyal grows well on average upland soils and is frequently abundant on sandy or gravelly slopes4 ,in field planting the seeds should be sown in rows in the fall and covered not to exceed one-quarter of an inch1 since they rarely germinate if planted at a greater depth4 ,the plants come up early in the spring1 and to secure the best results clean cultivation and freedom from weeds are essential1 as with all cultivated crops4 ,early in the summer1 when the plants are in full flower1 they may be mowed4 ,to prepare the herb for market the plants are dried1 preferably in the shade1 and carefully packed immediately after drying4 ,all the large stems should be removed in order to improve the quality of the product4 ,the herb should be marketed promptly1 since it deteriorates with age4 ,for the production of the volatile oil1 the plants should be harvested when in full flower and distilled without drying4 ,returns from experimental areas indicate that a yield of about #a1bjj pounds of dry herb per acre may be expected4 ,the yield of oil varies from #ae to #cj pounds per acre4 ,the price paid for the dry herb usually ranges from #a to #b cents a pound4 ,the wholesale price of the oil ranges from about #a to #b a pound4 ,,peppermint4 ,peppermint 7,mentha piperita7 is a perennial of the mint family1 frequently found growing wild in moist situations throughout the eastern half of the ,united ,states4 ,it is cultivated on a commercial scale1 chiefly on the muck lands of southern ,michigan and northern ,indiana4 ,the volatile oil forms the principal marketable product1 but there is some demand in the crude-drug trade for the dried leaves and flowering tops4 ,peppermint is propagated from roots1 or runners1 which should be set in an almost continuous row in furrows about #c feet apart and covered to a depth of about #c inches4 ,it can be grown on any land that will produce good crops of corn1 but is most successful on the muck lands of reclaimed swamps4 ,on uplands it soon exhausts the soil and will not do well for more than two or three seasons without the rotation of crops4 ,on rich muck lands it will grow for a number of years1 the soil being plowed after the crop is harvested and the runners turned in to form a new growth the succeeding year4 ,it is essential that the ground be kept free from weeds1 since their presence in the crop at harvest would seriously injure the quality of the oil4 ,when peppermint is grown on reclaimed swamps or muck lands fertilizers are rarely needed1 but on uplands it is well to plow in #ab or more tons per acre of rotted stable manure before planting4 ,similar applications may be made between the rows in early spring and plowed in as the land shows signs of exhaustion4 ,commercial truck or potato fertilizers cultivated in between the rows at the rate of #fjj pounds to the acre have proved useful in keeping up fertility1 but manure is to be preferred1 as it provides humus or vegetable matter as well as increases the fertility4 ,harvesting is begun in ,july or ,august1 when the plants are in full bloom4 ,the herb is cut and cured like hay1 and when fairly well dried is placed in large vats or stills having a capacity of from #a to #c tons of dry herb and distilled with steam to obtain the volatile oil4 ,the yield of oil is exceedingly variable1 but on lands well suited for the production of peppermint the average yield is not far from #cj pounds per acre4 ,the annual production of peppermint oil in the ,united ,states is about #cjj1jjj pounds4 ,for many years before the war the price of the oil varied from year to year1 but averaged about #b4ej a pound4 ,there is some demand for the dried leaves and tops1 for which #f to #ae cents a pound was paid to collectors in ,june1 #aibj4 ,for further information on the growing of peppermint1 see ,farmers' ,bulletin #fid1 entitled ,the ,cultivation of ,peppermint and ,spearmint4 ,,pinkroot4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #g4--,pinkroot 7,spigelia marilandica74 ,pinkroot 7,spigelia marilandica1 fig4 #g7 is a native perennial herb occurring in rich open woods from ,new ,jersey to ,wisconsin and south to ,florida and ,texas4 ,the root is an official drug1 the use of which has declined in recent years1 apparently on account of the extent to which pinkroot has been adulterated with the worthless roots of another plant known as ,east ,tennessee pinkroot4 ,prospective growers of pinkroot should obtain seeds or roots for planting from thoroughly reliable sources only4 ,pinkroot makes a vigorous growth under conditions suitable for growing ginseng or goldenseal1 and partial shade is usually necessary1 although if given a rich1 moist1 loamy soil it may be grown without shade in situations not too hot and dry4 ,it is propagated either from seeds or from divisions of old roots4 ,it is best to sow the seeds as soon as they are ripe1 but if mixed with moist sand and kept in a cool place sowing may be deferred until fall or the following spring4 ,the seeds are sown in drills #f inches apart in well-prepared seed beds1 and in the spring1 when the young plants are a few inches high1 they are set about a foot apart each way in the permanent beds4 ,the old roots are divided when dormant1 and each division should consist of a portion of the root with one or more buds and a number of the small rootlets4 ,they are set in the same manner as the seedlings4 ,thorough cultivation and freedom from weeds are essential for good results4 ,the roots usually attain a marketable size in three years1 but will give a heavier yield at the end of the fourth or fifth year4 ,they are harvested in the fall1 and after the tops are cut off the roots are well washed and thoroughly dried4 ,little can be said regarding yield1 but returns from small areas indicate that a bed #d by #cj feet will yield from #aj to #ab pounds of dry root in four years4 ,the prices paid to collectors of pinkroot before the war ranged from #ae to #cj cents a pound4 ,the price in ,june1 #aibj1 was about #fj cents a pound4 ,,pokeweed4 ,pokeweed 7,phytolacca americana7 is a native plant of frequent occurrence in moist1 rich soil along fences and in uncultivated land throughout the eastern half of the ,united ,states4 ,the root1 which is perennial1 sends up large annual stems1 sometimes attaining a height of #h or #i feet4 ,this plant bears numerous long clusters of smooth1 shining purple berries1 very attractive in appearance1 but the seeds are said to be poisonous4 ,both the root and the berries are used in medicine4 ,pokeweed thrives in deep1 rich soils well supplied with moisture and may be readily grown from seed sown early in the spring in rows #d feet apart and barely covered4 ,the seedlings may be thinned to stand about #c feet apart in the rows4 ,cultivation should be shallow1 though frequent4 ,the plant develops a long1 thick1 and fleshy root1 which when old is not easily harvested and may have to be dug by hand4 ,if the roots of plants grown from seed are harvested at the end of the first year1 they may be turned out by means of a deep-running plow without great difficulty4 ,as soon as they are dug the roots are cleaned by washing and are usually cut into lengthwise or transverse slices for drying4 ,they should be thoroughly dried1 and if a large quantity is to be handled the use of artificial heat will be found desirable4 ,a yield of about #fjj pounds of dry root per acre may be expected at the end of the first year1 or three or four times as much from plants of the second year's growth4 ,in the second year several hundred pounds of berries may also be obtained from #a acre4 ,before the war1 collectors received from #b to #c cents a pound for the roots and berries4 ,the price in ,june1 #aibj1 for the dry1 cut root was about #f cents and for the dry berries #ae cents a pound4 ,apparently there is but a small demand for either of these products4 ,,safflower4 ,safflower1 ,american saffron1 or false saffron 7,carthamus tinctorius7 is a hardy ,old ,world annual of the aster family1 cultivated in gardens in this country for its flowers1 which are used in coloring or for flavoring1 and sometimes as a substitute for the true saffron4 ,safflower grows well on moist soils and may be readily propagated from seeds sown in the open early in the spring4 ,the soil should be fine and mellow1 and the seeds sown an inch or more apart in drills and well covered4 ,about three weeks from the time of sowing the seed the plants will be well started1 and cultivation should begin at once and be continued until the flower buds form4 ,the plants bloom in ,july or ,august1 when harvesting may begin4 ,only the florets are collected1 and1 since these must be removed by hand1 harvesting is slow and expensive4 ,the plants continue to blossom for several weeks1 and the florets must be harvested almost daily4 ,it is best to collect them early in the morning and to dry them in the shade on trays having muslin bottoms4 ,the florets should be turned daily until thoroughly dry and then stored in tin containers4 ,the yield is estimated at #abe to #aej pounds of dry florets per acre4 ,the price for safflower is variable and ranges from #ai to #fj cents a pound4 ,,saffron4 ,the true saffron 7,crocus sativus7 is a low-growing1 fall-blooming1 bulbous plant of the iris family1 native to southern ,europe1 where it is cultivated commercially4 ,it was formerly grown as a small garden crop in some localities in this country1 chiefly in ,lancaster and ,lebanon ,counties1 ,pa4 ,the stigmas of the flowers form the saffron of commerce4 ,saffron is used in cookery and for coloring confectionery1 and was formerly widely used in medicine4 ,a rich1 well-drained garden soil favors a vigorous growth of the plant1 but a better quality of saffron is secured on land of medium fertility4 ,it is propagated from bulbs 7corms71 which may be planted in ,august about #f inches apart each way and #f inches deep in well-prepared soil4 ,when grown on a large scale the bulbs are often set late in the spring4 ,the ground is laid off in rows about #bj inches apart1 and a furrow #f to #h inches deep is opened for each row4 ,in this furrow the bulbs are set in two parallel rows about #d inches apart and about #b inches apart in the row4 ,the furrows are then filled and the surface of the soil brought to a uniform level4 ,thorough cultivation and freedom from weeds are essential for good results4 ,the purplish blossoms usually appear about ,october1 but the main leaf growth of the plant is made in the following spring4 ,the bulbs may remain undisturbed for three or four years1 or they may be taken up yearly and the clusters divided4 ,all unsound bulbs should be rejected1 as they are often attacked by a fungus which readily spreads to the sound bulbs1 causing them to rot4 ,during the blossoming period1 which frequently lasts from two to three weeks1 the flowers are collected daily just as they open4 ,the orange-colored stigmas are then removed from the flowers1 either by pulling them out or by cutting them off with the finger nail1 after which the flowers are thrown away4 ,the stigmas are dried immediately1 a common method being to spread them in a thin layer on a sieve which is suspended over a low fire4 ,when fully dry they are placed in linen bags and stored in a dry place4 ,the yield of saffron is variously estimated at from #aj to #cj pounds per acre1 according to the situation where it ,is grown4 ,about #ej1jjj flowers are required to produce a pound of dry saffron2 consequently1 the amount of hand labor involved in removing the stigmas is quite large4 ,the price usually received for saffron in normal times is not far from #h a pound1 but the prices in ,june1 #aibj1 ranged from #ad to #ae a pound4 ,owing to the high cost of production1 it is not thought probable that saffron culture would prove profitable in the ,united ,states4 ,,sage4 ,the common sage plant 7,salvia officinalis7 is a hardy perennial of the mint family1 widely cultivated in gardens1 and when once established it persists for several years4 ,the leaves are used extensively for seasoning meats and soups1 and a tea made from them is an old household remedy4 ,sage is easily cultivated and will grow in any well-drained fertile soil1 but seems to thrive best in a rich clayey loam4 ,for cultivation on a large scale the seeds are sown in early spring in rows from #b to #c feet apart1 and when the plants are well up they are thinned to stand about #ab inches apart in the row4 ,seedling plants have a tendency to produce narrow leaves2 hence1 the broad-leaved varieties which do not flower readily are the most desirable1 since they give a larger yield of leaves4 ,as the plants rarely set seed1 they are usually grown from cuttings1 which may be obtained from seed houses having their own propagating gardens4 ,cuttings set as early in the spring as weather conditions will permit usually give a large crop4 ,in the ,north the plants should be protected ,in winter by a mulch of manure4 ,sage may also be grown as a second crop after early vegetables4 ,a fair crop of leaves may be harvested the first season and a much larger one for five or six years following4 ,only one picking should be made the first year1 after which two or three pickings may be made in a season4 ,if a product of fine quality is desired1 the leaves are picked by hand and dried in the shade4 ,sage leaves are apt to turn black while drying unless the removal of moisture proceeds continually until they are fully dry4 ,a cheap grade may be obtained at a smaller harvest cost by cutting the plants with a mower1 the cutter bar of which is set at such a height as not to include the woody stems4 ,the dry herb should be marketed promptly1 since it loses its strength rapidly with age4 ,returns from experimental areas indicate that on good soil a yield of #b1jjj pounds or more of dried tops per acre may be expected4 ,in case the leaves only are harvested1 the yield will be proportionately less4 ,american leaf sage usually brings a considerably higher price than that imported from ,europe4 ,during the last three years the price has ranged from #bj to #gj cents a pound1 according to supply and demand4 ,illustration3 ,fig4 #h4--,seneca snakeroot 7,polygala senega74 ,,seneca ,,snakeroot4 ,seneca snakeroot1 known also as senega or seneca root 7,polygala senega1 fig4 #h71 is a small native perennial1 occurring in rocky woods in the eastern ,united ,states and ,canada4 ,seneca is not yet grown on a commercial scale1 although cultivated experimentally in a number of places4 ,the root is used in medicine4 ,seneca can be grown in good garden soil or in rather firm1 stony soil1 provided it contains a fair proportion of leaf mold or very well rotted manure4 ,shade is not essential1 although the plant thrives in partial shade or under modified forest conditions4 ,roots for propagation may be obtained from dealers or may be collected from the wild in autumn or early spring4 ,if set #ae inches apart in rows1 the plants may be readily cultivated until they reach a marketable size4 ,the seeds ripen in ,june and may then be planted1 or they may be stratified by mixing with sand and buried in boxes or flower pots in moist soil until the following spring1 when they may be sown in seed beds or shallow boxes of loam and leaf mold4 ,the seedlings when old enough to be handled safely may be transplanted to the permanent beds and set in rows to facilitate cultivation4 ,in cold situations they will probably need to be protected during the first winter after transplanting4 ,a light covering of straw or pine needles will be sufficient to protect them from severe frost4 ,the plant is slow in growth1 but experiments thus far indicate that about four years are required to obtain marketable roots4 ,the roots should be dug in the fall1 thoroughly cleaned1 and dried4 ,there are no reliable data on the probable yield4 ,seneca root is in constant demand1 and collectors formerly received from #ce to #ej cents a pound4 ,the price to collectors in ,june1 #aibj1 was #ij cents a pound4 ,,serpentaria4 ,serpentaria1 or ,virginia snakeroot 7,aristolochia serpentaria71 is a native perennial plant occurring in rich woods in the eastern part of the ,united ,states1 and most abundantly along the ,allegheny ,mountains4 ,the roots of this plant are used in medicine4 ,like many other woodland plants1 serpentaria requires a rich1 moist loam and partial shade for its best development4 ,it may be readily propagated from seeds1 which1 however1 require several months for germination4 ,the seeds are best sown in a well-prepared seed bed as soon as they are ripe4 ,they may also be sown broadcast or in drills #f inches apart and lightly covered with leaf mold4 ,a thin mulch of straw or leaves will afford the necessary winter protection4 ,in the spring the plants may be set #f inches apart each way in the permanent beds4 ,plantings have been made in the open1 in which case the plants were set #d inches apart in rows #af inches apart1 but the results have been less satisfactory than with plantings made under shade4 ,the roots are collected in the fall1 thoroughly cleaned1 and carefully dried4 ,satisfactory data on probable yields under cultivation are not available4 ,the price usually ranges from #cj to #de cents a pound4 ,,spearmint4 ,spearmint 7,mentha spicata7 is a well-known perennial of the mint family which is very frequently found growing wild in moist situations throughout the eastern half of the ,united ,states4 ,it is widely used for seasoning meats1 and the leaves and flowering tops1 as well as the volatile oil distilled from the whole herb1 form marketable drug products4 ,spearmint is easily grown in any fertile soil which is fairly moist4 ,its culture and the method of distilling the volatile oil are the same as for peppermint4 ,to prepare the dry herb for market the leaves and flowering tops are collected when the first flowers appear and before the leaves begin to fall and are carefully dried in the shade4 ,the demand for the dry herb is small1 but the annual market requirement for the oil is about #ej1jjj pounds4 ,on ordinary soils the yield of oil varies from #aj to #bj pounds per acre1 according to stand and season1 but on muck lands the yield is usually only a little less than that of peppermint4 ,before the war the wholesale prices for the oil ranged from #a4ej to #e1 averaging about #c4cj a pound4 ,the price in ,june1 #aibj1 was #ab a pound4 ,the dry herb1 which formerly brought from #c to #d cents1 is now quoted at #f to #ab cents a pound4 ,for further information on the growing of spearmint1 see ,farmers' ,bulletin #fid1 entitled ,the ,cultivation of ,peppermint and ,spearmint4 ,,stramonium4 ,stramonium1 ,jamestown weed1 or jimson weed 7,datura stramonium71 is a poisonous annual of the nightshade family1 which occurs as a common weed in almost all parts of this country except the ,west and ,north4 ,the leaves and seeds are used medicinally4 ,although stramonium grows wild on a variety of soils1 it thrives best under cultivation in rich and rather heavy soils which are fairly well supplied with lime4 ,it grows readily from seed1 which may be sown in the open early in the spring in drills #c feet apart and barely covered4 ,when the plants are well established they are thinned to stand #ab to #ae inches apart in the row4 ,the plants can be readily transplanted1 and gaps occurring in the rows may be filled in with the plants removed in thinning4 ,cultivation sufficient to keep the soil free from weeds is necessary for good growth4 ,cultivated plants are frequently attacked by leaf-eating insects1 especially in the early stages of growth1 and it is often necessary to use lime or other insect repellents to prevent the destruction of the crop4 ,the leaves1 which are collected when the plant is in full bloom1 may be picked in the field1 but time will be saved if the entire plant is cut and dried in an artificially heated curing room at a temperature of #ajj to #aaj ,f4 ,when the leaves are dry they can be readily stripped from the stems1 and should be baled for shipment4 ,such seed as is ripe may be easily thrashed out of the capsules after the leaves have been removed from the stems4 ,yields of dry leaf at the rate of #a1jjj to #a1ejj pounds per acre have been obtained4 ,the yield of seed is much more variable1 and is estimated to range from #ejj to #b1jjj pounds per acre4 ,the prewar price for the leaves varied from #b to #aj cents and for the seed from #c to #g cents a pound4 ,the price in ,june1 #aibj1 for the leaves was #bb cents and for the seed #ab cents a pound4 ,,tansy4 ,tansy 7,tanacetum vulgare7 is a ,european perennial plant1 long cultivated in this country in gardens1 from which it has escaped1 and it now occurs as a weed along fence rows and roadsides4 ,the leaves and flowering tops are in some demand for medicinal purposes4 ,the herb also yields a volatile oil1 for which there is a small market4 ,tansy grows well on almost any good soil1 but rich and rather heavy soils well supplied with moisture favor a heavy growth of herb4 ,it may be propagated from seed1 but is more readily propagated by division of the roots early in spring4 ,the divisions are set #ah inches apart in rows #c feet apart4 ,seed may be sown very early in the spring in the open or in seed beds1 and the seedlings later transplanted to the field4 ,such cultivation as is usually given to garden crops will be sufficient4 ,the plants are cut late in the summer when in full flower1 the leaves and tops being separated from the stems and dried without exposure to the sun1 as the trade desires a bright-green color4 ,for the volatile oil the plants are allowed to lie in the field after cutting until they have lost a considerable portion of their moisture4 ,they are then brought to the still and the oil removed by the usual method of steam distillation4 ,a yield of about #b1jjj pounds of dry leaves and flowering tops per acre may be obtained under good conditions4 ,the yield of oil varies1 but about #bj pounds per acre is a fair average4 ,in the ,united ,states the center of production of oil of tansy is ,michigan1 where about #b1ejj pounds are distilled annually4 ,the price of the oil in ,june1 #aibj1 was about #h a pound4 ,the price of the leaves and tops usually ranges from #c to #e cents a pound4 ,,thyme4 ,thyme 7,thymus vulgaris7 is a shrublike perennial plant of the mint family1 native to southwestern ,europe4 ,it is a common garden plant1 which lives for many years under good culture4 ,the herb1 often used for seasoning and flavoring1 yields the oil of thyme1 which has well-recognized medicinal properties4 ,thyme grows well from seed1 which may be sown early in the spring in drills #c feet apart1 or the plants may be started in a greenhouse or in seed beds outside and later set at intervals of about #ah inches in rows #b to #c feet apart4 ,thyme may also be propagated1 like geraniums1 from cuttings rooted in sand under glass4 ,the plants grow well in mellow upland soil of good quality1 and should be well cultivated and kept free from weeds throughout the growing season4 ,for preparing the dry herb only the flowering tops are used1 and these are cut when the plant is in full bloom and carefully dried in the shade in order to preserve the natural color4 ,the volatile oil is obtained from the entire herb1 which is preferably cut when in full flower and subjected to steam distillation without previous drying4 ,returns from experimental areas have shown great variations in the yield1 which has averaged about a ton of green herb per acre4 ,normally the yield from a planting increases for several years1 as the plants become better established1 and yields at the rate of about a ton of dry herb per acre have been reported4 ,the wholesale price in ,june1 #aibj1 for the dry herb ranged from #aa to #ae cents a pound2 for the imported oil1 from #a4he to #b4be a pound1 according to quality4 ,,valerian4 ,valerian 7,valeriana officinalis7 is a hardy herbaceous perennial1 well known under the name garden heliotrope and often grown as an ornamental plant4 ,it has also been cultivated as a drug plant in ,new ,york and in parts of ,new ,england4 ,the dried roots 7rhizome and roots7 form the marketable drug4 ,valerian grows well in all ordinary soils1 but thrives in a rich and rather heavy loam which is well supplied with moisture4 ,it may be readily propagated by dividing the old roots1 either in the fall or in the spring1 and setting the divisions about a foot apart in rows #b to #c feet apart4 ,if the divisions are set very early in the fall in time to become well established before frost1 a good crop may usually be harvested the following autumn4 ,plants may also be grown from seed1 which are preferably sown as soon as they are ripe in well-protected seed beds in the garden4 ,early in the spring the seedlings may be transplanted to the field and set at the same distances apart as the divisions of the root4 ,growth will be favored by a liberal application of farmyard manure1 which should be well worked into the soil before the plants are set out4 ,thorough cultivation is essential4 ,the roots of the plants propagated by division may be dug in the fall of the first year's growth1 although the yield will probably be small4 ,those of seedling plants do not usually reach a size suitable for harvesting before the end of the second growing season4 ,after digging1 the roots are washed1 preferably in running water1 until all adhering soil is removed4 ,washing and drying will be facilitated if the thick portion of the roots is sliced lengthwise4 ,the drying should be very thorough1 and the use of artificial heat will be found advisable4 ,under good conditions a yield of #b1jjj pounds or more of dried roots per acre may reasonably be expected4 ,the prewar price ranged from #f to #cj cents a pound1 depending upon the place where grown1 that from ,england usually commanding the highest price4 ,the wholesale price in ,june1 #aibj1 was about #bb cents a pound4 ,,vetiver4 ,vetiver1 or cuscus grass 7,vetiveria zizanioides71 is a perennial of the grass family1 native to southern ,asia4 ,it is occasionally cultivated in this country in the warmer portions of the ,gulf ,coast ,states as an ornamental and also for its aromatic roots1 which are often used to impart a fragrance to clothing4 ,in other countries an oil is distilled from the roots and used in the manufacture of perfumes4 ,vetiver will grow in almost any soil1 but light1 sandy soil enriched by farmyard manure is to be preferred4 ,propagation is effected by dividing old ,clumps1 which may be set in the field1 either in the fall or spring1 about #d or #e feet apart each way4 ,during the growing season the plants are given sufficient cultivation to keep them free from weeds4 ,vetiver grows in close bunches from #f to #h feet high1 the numerous roots spreading horizontally about #b feet on all sides of the plant4 ,harvesting the roots1 which usually takes place in ,november1 is a laborious operation4 ,the soil about the plants is opened with a stout1 sharp spade in a circle large enough to include most of the roots4 ,the earth is then dug from beneath the center of the plant and the entire clump lifted4 ,the roots are first beaten or shaken to free them from adhering soil1 then cut off close to the root crown and thoroughly washed4 ,they may be dried in the open air1 but it is preferable to dry them in a closed room at a low temperature1 since they lose in fragrance if exposed to the hot sun or to a free circulation of air4 ,yields at the rate of #fjj to #a1jjj pounds of dry roots per acre have been obtained4 ,the prices in the markets of ,new ,orleans are said to range from #ge cents to #a a pound4 ,the oil is not produced commercially in this country4 ,the demand for both roots and oil is quite small1 and it has not yet been shown that vetiver would be a profitable crop in the ,united ,states4 ,,wintergreen4 ,wintergreen 7,gaultheria procumbens7 is a low-growing1 broad-leaved1 evergreen plant with a creeping stem4 ,the shoots from this stem grow to a height of #d to #e inches and bear solitary white flowers1 which are followed by red berries4 ,these berries are edible and are widely known as teaberries or checkerberries4 ,wintergreen is a common plant in woods and clearings from eastern ,canada southward to the ,gulf ,states1 but its collection in quantity is somewhat difficult4 ,both the dry herb and the oil form marketable products4 ,like other woodland plants1 wintergreen thrives only in partial shade1 and plantings should be made in a grove or under a specially constructed shade1 such as is used for ginseng or goldenseal4 ,a fairly good growth may be expected in soil which is thoroughly mixed with leaf mold to a depth of #d inches or more4 ,wild plants may be used for propagation4 ,divisions of these may be set in the fall or spring1 about #f inches apart each way1 in permanent beds4 ,wintergreen is usually gathered in ,october or at the end of the growing season4 ,the plants are carefully dried and packed in bags or boxes for marketing4 ,for the production of the volatile oil the plants are soaked in water for about #bd hours and then distilled with steam4 ,over #bb1jjj pounds of wintergreen oil were produced in this country in #aiji and #f1jjj pounds in #aiad4 ,the prewar price of the oil distilled from the wintergreen plant as quoted in the wholesale drug markets generally ranged from #c to #e a pound4 ,recently the lack of labor has reduced the output of oil1 and in consequence the price has advanced4 ,the oil became practically unobtainable on the markets in ,october1 #aiai1 at which time it had reached a price of #aa a pound4 ,collectors usually receive from #d to #e cents a pound for the dry herb4 ,the results of numerous trials indicate that1 on account of the small yield1 wintergreen production under cultivation is not likely to be profitable at the prices quoted4 ,,wormseed1 ,,american4 ,american wormseed1 or ,jerusalem oak 7,chenopodium ambrosioides anthelminticum71 is a coarse weed1 occurring commonly in waste places and often in cultivated ground throughout the eastern and southern parts of the ,united ,states4 ,the seeds 7fruits7 and the volatile oil distilled from the tops of the plant are employed in medicine4 ,this plant grows well under cultivation in almost any soil1 but a good sandy loam is preferred4 ,it is now cultivated for oil production only in a small area in ,carroll ,county1 ,md4 ,the seed is sown in well-prepared beds about ,march #a1 and between ,may #ae and ,june #ae1 when the seedlings are #d to #e inches tall1 they are transplanted and set about #aj inches apart in rows about #c feet apart4 ,the soil is kept entirely free from weeds by shallow cultivation throughout the growing season4 ,harvesting is usually begun early in ,september or as soon as the seeds have taken on a black color1 but before the plants have turned brown4 ,if harvesting is delayed until the plants are fully mature there will be considerable loss through shattering and a diminution in the yield of oil when they are distilled4 ,the crop is harvested with large knives or sickles1 either by cutting off the entire plant at the ground or by cutting the branches separately4 ,the latter method saves the labor of handling a quantity of useless woody material and also requires a smaller still capacity to handle the crop4 ,after cutting1 the plants are laid out on the ground in rows and allowed to cure for about three days before they are distilled4 ,in the ,south wormseed has been grown successfully as a seed crop4 ,the ground is prepared in ,february and laid off in rows about #d feet apart4 ,a furrow is opened in each row1 in which a complete fertilizer is applied at the rate of #djj to #ejj pounds per acre4 ,the soil on each side of the row is thrown in with a turnplow1 forming a low ridge1 which is then flattened with a light roller4 ,the seeds are sown on this ridge with a drill4 ,the plants are thinned to stand #ah inches apart in the row and are given frequent shallow cultivation4 ,the crop should be ready for harvesting late in ,july or early in ,august and should be cut before the tops begin to take on a brown color4 ,the plants are cut either with a mower or old-style grain reaper and are left in the field until thoroughly dry4 ,they may be housed and the seed thrashed out when convenient1 but1 since the seeds shatter easily1 waste will be avoided if the plants are thrown upon large canvas sheets and the seed thrashed out in the field4 ,the seed is light and not easily cleaned1 but wire sieves of suitable mesh have proved very satisfactory for this purpose4 ,the yield of seed per acre averages about #a1jjj pounds4 ,the yield of oil varies1 but under favorable conditions about #dj pounds per acre is regarded as a fair average4 ,the area planted varies according to the price of the oil and may range from #age to #dej acres4 ,the average annual production of oil is estimated by producers to be #aj1jjj to #ab1jjj pounds4 ,the prewar price of wormseed ranged from #f to #h cents a pound4 ,the price in ,june1 #aibj1 was about #ae cents a pound4 ,the prewar price of the oil ranged from #a4dj to #e4ej a pound4 ,the price in ,june1 #aibj1 was #i to #i4ej a pound4 ,,wormwood4 ,wormwood 7,artemisia absinthium7 is a hardy herbaceous ,old ,world perennial of the aster family1 which has escaped from cultivation in this country and now occurs as a weed in many localities in the southern part of the ,united ,states4 ,for many years it has been grown commercially on a small scale1 chiefly in ,michigan and ,wisconsin4 ,the dried leaves and tops have long been used medicinally1 but the volatile oil distilled from the plant now forms the principal marketable product4 ,wormwood will grow in almost any soil1 but the best results are to be expected in deep1 rich1 moderately moist loams4 ,the seeds are frequently sown broadcast early in the fall1 following a grain crop2 but if the plants are to be cultivated1 it is best to start them from seeds sown in seed beds early in the spring or from cuttings of the young shoots taken in the spring and rooted in sand under glass or in the shade of a lath shed4 ,the seeds are very small and should be sown on the surface of the soil in coldframes or seed beds and lightly covered with very fine sandy soil4 ,the plants are easily handled and may be transplanted in moist weather with good results at almost any time during the growing season4 ,they are set about #ah inches apart in rows #c or #d feet apart and are well cultivated4 ,the soil should be kept absolutely free from weeds1 since their presence in the crop at harvest time seriously damages the quality of the oil4 ,a fair cutting of the herb may be expected the first year after planting and full crops for two or three successive1 seasons1 after which new plantings will be found more satisfactory4 ,the plants are harvested when in full bloom and may be cut with a scythe1 or a reaper may be used if the area is large4 ,while still fresh1 the plants are distilled with steam to obtain the volatile oil4 ,to prepare the leaves and flowering tops for market they are stripped from the stems by hand after the plants are cut and carefully dried in the shade without the use of artificial heat4 ,experimental plantings have given yields at the rate of #b1jjj pounds of dry tops or #dj pounds of oil per acre4 ,when grown on a commercial scale the yield of oil appears to average about #bj pounds per acre4 ,the prewar price of the dry tops was about #f or #g cents a pound4 ,its price in ,june1 #aibj1 was #ag to #ah cents a pound4 ,the oil was once used extensively in the manufacture of absinth1 but when the use of this product was restricted in #aiab the demand for the oil fell off and the price declined1 until in the early part of #aiae it reached the low level of #b a pound4 ,the price in ,june1 #aibj1 was about #ac a pound4 ,the average annual production of oil of wormwood is about #b1jjj pounds4 ,owing to the limited use of this oil1 there appears to be little room for further profitable expansion of this industry4 ,,additional ,,copies ,,of ,,this ,,publication ,,may ,,be ,,procured ,,from ,,the ,,superintendent ,,of ,,documents ,,government ,,printing ,,office ,,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,,at #aj ,,cents ,,per ,,copy 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber ,note ,illustrations relocated to avoid splitting paragraphs4 ,minor typos may have been corrected4