PHARMACAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 17 



evening the drug should be heaped and covered with canvas to prevent 

 the reabsorption of moisture from the atmosphere. Fleshy drugs 

 (roots, rhizomes, tubers) may be left uncovered for the first few nights. 

 Some drugs can no doubt be dried in the field on the ground, as most 

 herbs, mustard, fennel, caraway, mountain balm and some others. 



Whether artificial heat is necessary or desirable must be ascertained 

 experimentally. Suitable arrangements for artificial drying will gener- 

 ally give the best results. Kilns like those used in the hop-growing 

 areas of California will serve for drying leaves, herbs, flowers, etc. Such 

 drugs as jalap, rheum, curcuma, ginger, salep, sarsaparilla, and a few 

 others are often dried in ovens, in houses over an open flame, and in 

 other artificial ways, but that is done only in countries where the sun 

 and natural dry air is not available. 



Packing and Shipping. As soon as the drug is thoroughly dried, it is 

 ready for packing and shipping. No drug should be packed, either in 

 small or large packages, unless thoroughly dry throughout. Containers, 

 for shipment, whether large or small, should be porous so as to permit 

 the escape of atmospheric moisture and the escape of moisture, slight 

 though it may be, from the drug itself. Gunnysacks, grain sacks, 

 barrels, wooden boxes, paper bags, pasteboard boxes, etc., will be found 

 useful. The problem of size and nature of containers, modes of ship- 

 ment, will solve itself with experience. The important facts to be 

 kept in mind are that the drug should be thoroughly dry when packed, 

 should be put into dry, clean, porous containers, should be stored in a 

 dry place, and should be kept dry in shipment. 



Marketing Drugs. It may be assumed that no one will attempt the 

 cultivation of any drug unless there is a market for it. Nor is it rea- 

 sonable to suppose that growers will so glut the market as to reduce the 

 market value very considerably within, say, several years. No doubt the 

 numerous ginseng plantations which have sprung up all over the United 

 States within recent years will sooner or later reduce the market value 

 of this drug, but such effect is not yet appreciable. The grower can 

 easily ascertain by inquiry where he can dispose of his product. 

 Whether he deals with the wholesale houses or with the retail druggist 

 will depend upon his personal inclinations, desires, and ideas of business. 



Drug Culture and Manufacture. In many instances it would be most 

 desirable, or even necessary, for the grower to become manufacturer. 

 The grower of lavendula, for example, should manufacture and market 

 the oil of lavender. The California growers of insect flowers manu- 

 facture and also market the insect powder (buhach) . The manufacturer 

 of belladonna plasters should cultivate the belladonna required in his 

 business. The grower of mints should also manufacture the oil and 

 menthol. This applies especially to the growers of those drugs which 

 2 BF 



