310 



selections of bydrastis (Hydrastis oaiiadeusis L. ) ten years ago npon a 

 basis of alkaloidal percentage, their plantings made at that time might 

 now be yielding interesting and valnable data upon the behavior of this 

 plant under cultivation. I'roblems relating to propagation, cultivation, 

 collecting and curing have been solved, but the cause of the wide range 

 in the percentage of alkaloids in this drug remains an unknown factor. 

 P'rom JanuaiT G, 1909 to November 8, 1911, this range in the percentage 

 of alkaloids was found to be from 2.79 to 7AV). 



Another illustration of cuitivatidu without improvement which will 

 nt the same time serve to demonstrate the practical value of the applica- 

 tion of a single standard method is the growing of the drug burdock. This 

 drug consists of the root of Arctium Inppa L. collected from plants of 

 Ihe first year's growth. For the past tifteeu years this plant has been 

 gi-own under cultivation oii a conunercial scale near IndiMuapolis for the 

 p'.'oduction of the first year's routs in the recent condition. TIk^ superior 

 (juality of the resulting jiroduct over that obtained from wild plants was 

 early recognized. The drug was more uniform in every resivect, almost 

 free from fibrous tissue and is believi-d to pnxhice a mure iictive prei)ara- 

 tion. With this favoraltle beginning it is surprising, indeed, to learn that 

 the final results of fifteen or more years of continuous cultivation have 

 failed to advance tliis iilant beyond the point readied at the end of thi' 

 first year. Upon seeking an e.xiilanation of this fact it was found that 

 from one year to the next the total seed snpjily came from wild i)lants 

 found growing liy the roadside. This jilant being a biennial and the crop 

 being harvested at the end of the first year's growth has left the farmer 

 at the end of each season to search for a new seed supply. Wh(>n inter- 

 viewed as to why see<l plants were not selected u]n>u a basis of green 

 weight of root produced, the answer has been that it would not pay. That 

 seed and plant selection could be made to pay can be demonstrated upon 

 a basis of original investigation and reliable data. A study of the results 

 obtained in the Division of Botany of the T'nited States Department of 

 .\gricultnre upon "the Superior Value of Large, Heavy Seed," indicates 

 an increase in the weight of the plant which is in direct proportion to 

 the weight of the seed emjiloyed. To obtain data for calculations upon 

 such a basis, burdock seeds were taken from a lot collected miscellaneously 

 from wild plants and separated into light and heavy portions. The sep- 

 aration was accomplished by the use of an ajtparatus designed after one 



