44 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



is in the winter, when it is dried and crushed under heavy- 

 stones drawn round on it by mules, much like olives are 

 crushed to extract their oil. 



The plant grows wild, and some of the natives regard it 

 as a pest. In the eyes of the Bedouins who transport the 

 product by caravan to seaport, the root in itself is of no value 

 except as it may be used to kindle fires. The industry is a 

 great blessing to a comparatively poor region, requiring hun- 



Piles of Licorice Root. 



dreds of natives to harvest and prepare it for shipment. The 

 ■crooked and imperfect sticks are used for firewood, while the 

 straighter and more perfect sticks are tied in bundles, to be 

 shipped to America, the principle market for it. 



The large pile of roots shown in the illustration was 

 found near Antioch, Syria. It represents thousands of tons. 

 Such gigantic piles of licorice root are to be seen all over 

 Syria. The American Tobacco Company, the largest buyer 

 of this root, owns the pile here shown. 



