198 TWENTY-FIRST REPORT. 



not so important or that the natural conditions in Michigan are very 

 promising. 



In the case of stramonium and also belladonna there have been some sci- 

 entific experiments made which show that of these plants we have several 

 varieties. Of belladonna there is not only the one form bearing purple flowers, 

 but there is another which yields yellow flowers. The relative alkaloidal 

 value of these two plants has never been established. The same is true of 

 stramonium, of which we have not only the common form producing spinose 

 capsules, but another form in which the capsule is perfectly smooth. Of the 

 comparative alkaloidal contents of these two varieties little is known. 



FUTtJRE DEVELOPMENTS. 



There is a good deal more to the farming of drug plants than the mere har- 

 vesting and disposing of the crop. If the farmer understands the science of 

 pharmacy and is intimately acquainted with the products that his drug crops 

 yield, and their economic uses, he will enjoy many advantages and obtain not 

 only competence but an independence that will make the work far more 

 attractive than mere farming. Probably in no position which one can select 

 are there the opportunities and possibilities for the man of ambition and 

 initiative. Very few plants are used at the present time in the crude form. 

 They are mostly made up into tinctures or fluid extracts and in many instances 

 the active principles are separated as the essential oils. Anyone who takes 

 up drug farming will sooner or later desire to engage in some form of manu- 

 facturing. This is not only desirable from the point of view of the cultivator 

 of medicinal plants, but also of benefit to the consumer. If, for instance, one 

 is growing plants yielding volatile oils it follows quite naturally for him to 

 install stills for obtaining the oil and if it is of a high grade it follows quite 

 naturally that he would like to put it up in special containers with his name 

 on the label. High grade finished products always command a good price and 

 there is a great deal of satisfaction to the man who can produce them in 

 having his products so recognized. 



1. Essential oil industry. As has already been stated, Michigan today is 

 one of the great centers in the production of the volatile oils of peppermint 

 and spearmint. There are some indications that some of the other plants 

 yielding essential oils could be successfully grown here. The lavender plants 

 which have been grown at the University Gardens are among the finest that 

 I have ever seen. We hope within the next year to carry on experiments 

 with a view to determining the profits that can be derived from a lavender 

 perfume farm. 



At the present time there are large quantities of several essential oils 

 which are distilled from our native plants. Among these are sassafras, win- 

 tergreen, sweet birch, cedar, wild ginger, and sweet golden rod. All of these 

 oils are largely used and attention to anyone of them would furnish a very 



