^ m "ap^i ; Soo.rm * }       Editorial  Notes  and  Comments.  187 
however,  necessary  in  working  out  this  subject  in  its  various  phases. 
In  the  first  place,  quality  and  quantity  of  yield  may  be  made  com- 
mensurate with  relatively  high  price  labor.  Certain  classes  of  plants, 
as  annuals  and  biennials,  are  more  likely  to  yield  immediate  financial 
returns  than  the  perennials.  The  same  may  be  said  of  those  plants 
that  have  been  successfully  cultivated,  either  on  a  small  or  large 
scale,  over  those  that  have  not  been  experimented  with  in  this  direc- 
tion. In  the  study  of  the  flora  of  any  particular  locality  it  is  pos- 
sible to  ascertain  what  plants  are  likely  to  be  suited  for  experimenta- 
tion ;  as,  for  instance,  in  localities  where  certain  species  of  aconite  are 
found  it  is  likely  that  Aconitum  napellus,  L.,  may  be  successfully  cul- 
tivated. It  is  well  to  remember  that  not  every  one  can  make  a 
success  of  drug  farming  and  that  it  requires  men  who  are  competent 
both  by  proper  training  and  inclination.  This  matter  will  be  con- 
sidered again  in  later  issues  of  this  Journal. 
EDITORIAL  NOTES  AND  COMMENTS. 
CREDIT  WHERE  CREDIT   IS  DUE. 
While  a  number  of  exchanges  are  accustomed  to  publish,  either 
in  full  or  in  part,  articles  appearing  in  this  Journal,  and  while  these 
for  the  most  part  observe  the  custom  of  giving  credit,  we  note  a  dis- 
position among  others  to  entirely  overlook  the  latter  feature. 
While  we  might  desire  to  appear  magnanimous  in  regard  to  this 
matter,  still  there  is  a  principle  involved  which,  if  lost  sight  of, 
would  reflect  discredit  not  only  upon  those  disregarding  it,  but 
upon  pharmaceutical  journalism  in  general. 
LIMITATIONS  OF  THE  U.S.P.  TESTS. 
The  matter  of  the  limitations  of  the  pharmacopceial  tests  is  one 
of  great  moment,  inasmuch  as  the  laws  of  trade  and  commerce  are 
being  made  to  conform  to  these  standards.  Dr.  E.  R.  Squibb  con- 
siders that  the  quality  of  the  drugs  of  the  three  large  markets  should 
be  accurately  ascertained,  and  the  U.S.P.  testing  should  be  adjusted  to 
the  higher  limits.  Using  asafetida  (see  this  Journal,  1900,  p.  97)  as 
an  illustration,  Dr.  Squibb  mentions  the  fact  that  the  U.S.P.  requires 
that  60  per  cent,  be  soluble  in  alcohol.  "The  B.P.  requires  not  less 
than  65  per  cent.  Mr.  Umney  thinks  this  too  high ;  so  high  that  the 
market  cannot  supply  it,  and  has  failed  to  supply  it.  Mr.  E.  M.  Holmes 
shows  that  the  market  does  supply  it  and  has  always  supplied  it  to 
