1916^ Cultivation of Crude Drug Plants 177 



low temperature never prevails during the growing season, the 

 seeds may be germinated in large, shallow boxes, provided with 

 glass covers to conserve the moisture, and the young plants may be 

 transplanted to the desired plot, spacing the plants three by three 

 feet. With this spacing, approximately forty-seven hundred plants 

 can be set out to the acre. Subsequent cultivation for belladonna 

 may be about the same as for com until the plants begin to branch, 

 when some form of a single plow must be adopted. In the mean- 

 time the crop must be protected from insects and plant diseases. 

 The common potato beetle is the insect which must be constantly 

 fought, and curbing efforts should be resorted to during the earliest 

 stages of growth. If arsenical solutions are employed at this early 

 period, the leaves which have been sprayed will drop off before 

 maturity, and this eliminates danger of arsenic being present in 

 the leaves and roots when they are collected for the market. Plant 

 lice can be eliminated by tobacco sprays, which are harmless. The 

 young plants should be watered frequently. 



According to Rippetoe the leaves should be collected in July or 

 August to insure the greatest alkaloidal yield, for after that the 

 contents begin to decrease. Whether the alkaloids are lost during 

 the later plant processes or are returned to the root is a question. 

 The latter inference has much weight with many authorities. In 

 fact it is generally advised that the leaves should be pulled in July 

 or August of the second year, and the roots in the fall of the fourth 

 years' growth, the seeds for future propagation being of course 

 gathered in the fruiting season. 



Belladonna is now (January, 1916) bringing $2.00 per pound. 

 Since there is no apparent relief in sight from the present bella- 

 donna famine, and because of the fact that this is a much-needed 

 drug plant, it is urged that cultural methods be begun in this State. 



A fact upon which emphasis should be laid is that heretofore the 

 drug has been cultivated in the northern states where the climate is 

 somewhat too rigorous. In ISTorth Carolina it would doubtless be 

 profitable to raise the drug, since we have a temperate climate, the 

 kind of soil necessary, a six or seven months growing season, and 

 only an insignificant fall weed crop. 



The following plants could probably be cultivated successfully in 

 N'orth Carolina, though there is not sufficient evidence to justify a 

 positive statement. 



