Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  \ 
January,  1915.  J 
Current  Literature. 
43 
the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  inquiring  about  the  possibilities 
of  the  American  farmer  growing  drug  plants  profitably.  The  depart- 
ment's specialist  in  charge  of  drug-plant  investigations  has  written 
a  number  of  these  correspondents  that,  although  it  is  probable  that  a 
number  of  important  drug  plants  could  be  grown  profitably  here  if 
the  present  high  prices  continue,  nevertheless  there  is  a  possibility 
of  the  early  restoration  of  shipping  facilities,  and,  in  any  event,  the 
inexperienced  grower  of  drug  plants  would  be  more  liable  to  meet 
with  failure  than  with  success. 
Some  medicinal  plants,  says  the  department's  specialist,  may  be 
grown  as  easily  as  ordinary  garden  crops ;  others,  however,  require 
the  special  knowledge  and  skill  of  a  practiced  gardener.  There  are 
many  varying  factors  in  the  commercial  production  of  drug  plants. 
The  constituents  of  many  of  them  vary  in  quantity,  according  to  the 
time  of  gathering  and  method  of  drying,  and  a  knowledge  of  proper 
methods  of  harvesting  and  curing  is  absolutely  essential  for  the 
production  of  drugs  of  high  quality. 
Even  if  the  prospective  grower  possessed  some  knowledge  of 
drug  plants,  beginning  now,  he  could  scarcely  hope  to  harvest  a  crop 
before  the  late  summer  of  1915.  In  the  case  of  some  varieties  he 
might  even  have  to  wait  until  the  end  of  the  second  or  third  year 
after  planting.  Therefore,  the  farmer  who  began  at  once  might 
not  find  himself  with  a  supply  of  crude  drugs  on  hand  until  after 
prices  had  returned  to  their  former  level. 
In  any  case,  the  quantity  of  crude  drugs  required  by  the  market 
is  relatively  small  as  compared  with  fruits,  vegetables,  or  staple  crops. 
Therefore,  numerous  or  extensive  plantings  by  individuals  throughout 
the  country  might  easily  result  in  overproduction,  which  would  cause 
a  decline  in  the  market  price  independent  of  the  conditions  abroad. 
For  successful  production  of  drug  plants  on  a  commercial  scale 
there  must  be  an  available  market.  Its  accessibility  must  be  con- 
sidered above  all  things  by  the  successful  grower.  The  cost  of  pro- 
duction must  be  carefully  estimated,  and  to  this  must  be  added  the 
cost  of  packing  and  shipping  to  this  market.  The  packing  and 
shipping  expenses  might  easily  make  the  enterprise  unprofitable. 
Drug  plants,  to  be  profitably  grown,  should  yield  returns  at  least 
equal  to  those  from  other  crops  which  may  be  grown  on  the  same 
land.  The  farmer  must  determine  that  this  is  the  case.  The  fact 
that  much  hand  work  is  necessary  in  the  production  of  most  drugs 
is  liable  to  make  the  cost  of  labor  high. 
