DRUG PLANTS 145 



"Most of the people who have been in the business, notably 

 the Shakers, who used to do the most of it, are gradually 

 getting out of it. The few men who make money raising 

 drugs keep it to themselves." 



In many cases when weeds have been dug the work of 

 handling and curing them is not excessive and can readily 

 be done by women and children. 



Too much emphasis cannot be placed upon the importance 

 of carefully and thoroughly drying all crude drugs, whether 

 roots, herbs, leaves, barks, flowers, or seeds, and putting 

 them under cover at nightfall. If poorly dried, they will 

 heat and become moldy in shipping, and the collector will 

 find his goods rejected by the dealer and have all his trouble 

 for nothing. Leaves, herbs, and flowers should never be 

 washed. 



It is important also to collect in proper season only, as 

 drugs collected out of season are unmarketable on account 

 of inferior medicinal qualities, and there will also be a greater 

 shrinkage in a root dug during the growing season than when 

 it is collected after growth has ceased. 



The roots of annual plants should be dug in the autumn 

 of the first year just before the flowering period, and those of 

 biennial and perennial plants in the fall of the second or 

 third year, after the tops have dried. 



After the roots have been dug the soil should be well 

 shaken from them, and all foreign particles, such as dirt, roots, 

 and parts of other plants, should be removed. If the roots 

 cannot be sufficiently cleared of soil by shaking, they should 

 be thoroughly washed in clean water. Drugs must look 

 wholesome at least. It does not pay to be careless in this 

 matter. The soil increases the weight of the roots, but the 

 purchaser is not willing to pay by weight for dirt, and grades 



