]68 Journal of the Mitchell Society [Fehruary 



hill region, and mountainous districts, the State possesses not only 

 the variety of soils and altitudes necessary for the growth of these 

 drugs, but also a favorable climate for many varieties of what have 

 heretofore been considered strictly European and Asiatic plants. 

 North Carolina conservatism, which shows itself hurtfully in many 

 other ways, is robbing our rural people of a source of income which 

 would materially assist them in making their farming more 

 profitable. This state of affairs must not continue longer; the 

 farmer and his family must be shown how to augment their finances 

 by the collection and cultivation of medicinal plants. Boys' Corn 

 Clubs and Girls' Tomato Clubs are excellent institutions and 

 should, of course, be encouraged, but why ignore so valuable a 

 source of revenue as crude drug collection and cultivation would 

 soon prove itself to be? Why not organize Juvenile Herb Clubs 

 throughout the State ? Hundreds of wild drug plants — some recog- 

 nized and some unknown; some rare but many numerous; a few 

 almost valueless but by far the greater number worth a good price, 

 lie close at hand. Why not realize profits from them ? 



In the distribution of medicinal plants over the State, we have 

 distinctly marked districts, well characterized by their flora. The 

 peculiar growth of one district may penetrate, overlie and underlie 

 that of another, yet the predominating character of each be suffi- 

 ciently marked and striking to arrest the attention of even a care- 

 less observer. The absence of the long-leafed pine (Piiius aus- 

 tralis) marks the transition from the eastern to the middle botani- 

 cal district, a rough boundary being the main line of the Atlantic 

 Coast Line Eailway from Weldon down through Fayetteville. The 

 middle district reaches westward to the base of the Blue Ridge 

 Mountains. The western or upper district extends from this point 

 to the Tennessee line. It is in this latter district, perhaps, that 

 North Carolina offers the collector the greatest variety and abund- 

 ance of drug plants, although the eastern and central divisions are 

 not poor in their supply. This mountain district is as peculiar and 

 interesting in its plant products as it is attractive in its scenery. 

 The ascent of every one hundred feet presents new and varying 

 species until we reach the region of the dark and sombre firs, where 

 we have a vegetation almost entirely northern. There is also a 

 striking peculiarity in the vegetation of these higher regions which 

 rarely fails to attract the eye of a visitor in the profusion of grace- 



