178 TWENTY-FIRST REPORT. 



of mint oil produced by tliem to the agents under the contract. These con- 

 tracts continued to be observed for about three years by the producers, when, 

 the house having gained the desired end of this monoply, a large fortune, it 

 ceased to enforce the contracts. By this time, also, many of the producers had 

 amassed fortunes fi-om their mint product, retired from the business and 

 seeded down their farms. Other fields had run out and new ones were con- 

 verted into mint fields ; the production of the oil again became general, and 

 has since continued so, but limited mostly to Florence. 



No one ought to engage in the work of cultivating medicinal plants with- 

 out consulting thbse who can give him some information as to the probable 

 quantities of drugs that may be required. Unfortunately, statistics are not 

 easily procurable, and I have never been able to satisfy myself as to the 

 quantities that ai"e annually used of any one drug, but drug dealers will 

 supply information as to market conditions and probable needs at any one time. 

 I, however, think that the greatest danger does not lie in the over-production. 

 Some mistakes will doubtless be made, but the mistakes of wrong decision in 

 this matter will not equal those of indecision, which is very vital at this time. 

 The assuming of a negative attitude or a "do-nothing position" on this subject 

 means the dwarfing and killing of the whole problem, unless the antagonism 

 may put those who are giving the subject consideration on their mettle. The 

 fact is, however, there are so many practical problems that require attention 

 that we need all the constructive thought possible. The first question that 

 should be answered is, "Why is it necessary to grow medicinal plants ?" The 

 principal reason is one which is seldom emphasized or taken into considera- 

 tion. We ought to grow drug-yielding plants in order that we can obtain 

 drags of uniform quality. At the present time any lot of drugs may represent 

 the work of a great many unskilled collectors, situated at widely different 

 points and collecting at widely different seasons. The only way that this can 

 be avoided is to establish farms where the drugs can be harvested under 

 competent directions, assaying the material so as to check up its real medicinal 

 value. It is almost self-e\'ldent that we never will secure drugs of uniform 

 quality unless they are derived from plants developed under contx'ol and 

 which have been grown from seed, the origin and nature of which is known. 

 A second reason for growing medicinal plants, which is usually given 

 precedence, is that the amount of active principles be increased. If plants 

 are kept under surveillance and the experiments conducted under scientific 

 management, this increase in active principles is sure to follow, for by selec- 

 tion and conservation of the seed, plants particularly rich in active principles 

 will continue to be propagated. Ultimately drug products, like farm products, 

 will represent the sum of experience and include only those desirable varieties 

 of the highest grade. • 



The third reason that is usually given for taking up the cultivation of 

 medicinal plants is that our drug supplies, and that applies especially to native 



