OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE WISCONSIN STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
Copyright 1916, by the Wisconsin State Horticultural Society, Madison, Wis. All rights reserved. 
Volume VII 
Madison, Wisconsin, September, 1916 
Number 1 
Caution to Prospective 
Dru g Growers 
Interruption of importations 
of many drugs, spices, and oils 
made from plants has resulted 
in certain cases in abnormally 
high prices for the raw materials 
and the products derived from 
them. As a result, many people 
are looking into the possibility 
of profit in growing these crops 
in the United States. Many 
letters are received each week at 
the U. S. Department of Agri- 
culture asking how to raise this 
)r that drug plant. 
In almost every case, the drug 
plant specialists reply that it is 
doubtful whether the inexperi- 
enced grower can grow these 
plants successfully, or, if he suc- 
ceeds, will find a satisfactory 
market for his crop. The raising 
of such plants, they point out, 
is a distinct specialty and calls 
for exact knowledge and skill 
comparable to that needed by 
the florist who, to satisfy his 
market, not only must raise 
flowers but must produce blooms 
at certain seasons and with un- 
usual characteristics. Of even 
greater importance, however, is 
the fact that the total amount of 
drug plants that can be con- 
sumed in this country in any 
year is very small compared with 
our consumption of any of the 
staple crops. Over production in 
the case of drugs is more serious 
than in the case of staple crops 
because staple crops such as 
corn and grain if not sold can be 
used at home for food or for 
feeding stock or chickens. The 
drug plant, however, is profitless 
(Continued on page 2) 
Cystopteris fragilis. Asplenium Trichoinanes. 
Two exquisite Wisconsin ferns. These and other ferns were plentiful through central 
and southern Wisconsin 20 years ago but the ruthless hand of the summer boarder and 
“resorter” has left but few of them. 
