THE ALUMNI JOURNAL 41 



South Carolina used to ship more crude drugs than any other 

 state in the union, but is now shipping only a very small percent- 

 age of the quantity it formerly produced. I see only one remedy, 

 and that is the cultivation of drugs. Conservation is impossible, 

 you cannot enact laws to prohibit the collection of certain drugs 

 except in certain months. The Department of Agriculture is do- 

 ing splendid pioneer work under the supervision of Dr. True, in 

 the direction of cultivation. It surprised me when Dr. True re- 

 cently in my office showed me samples of the drugs which his 

 department had .grown in Florida, South Carolina, Oregon, Texas 

 and other places. This, though, is another story. I can only 

 touch upon it, as it has a bearing on the commercial end of the 

 business. 



In conclusion, I want to say that the buying and selling of crude 

 drugs is a very fascinating business. Aside from the speculative 

 end, which is attractive to all merchants, the scientific side appeals 

 to evervbodv that is at all interested in his dailv work. The man 

 that deals in shoes or buttons or jewelry or umbrellas does not 

 and cannot take the same interest in the merchandise which he 

 sells that the dealer in crude drugs does. The latter is confronted 

 with ever changing conditions, aside from mere price. The field 

 is unlimited ; he can buy and sell in all parts of the earth ; he comes 

 in contact with people of a higher type and of more culture than 

 the average merchant does, whether he be importer, manufacturer 

 or distributer. 



PRIZE OFFER. 



Through the generosity of Mr. Theodore Weicker, of the firm 

 of E. R. Squibb & Sons, the Editor is in a position to offer two 

 cash-prizes for the best essays on the following subject: 



How can the Alunii Association best promote the interests of 

 the College of Pharmacy ? 



The following conditions are to be observed : 



t. The writer must be a graduate or student of the N. Y. C. P. 



2. The essay must comprise about 1,000 words. 



3. The essay must be submitted to the Editor on or before the 

 20th of April, 1912. 



4. The value of the essays submitted will be determined by a 

 committee of three; $15.00. respectively, $10.00, will be paid for 

 the two essays judged to be the best. 



5. The Editor reserves the right to publish or reject any or 

 all essays submitted. 



