The following cultural directions and suggestions regarding the
handling of a number of drug plants have been compiled in part from the
records of the Office of Drug, Poisonous, and Oil Plant Investigations
and include data secured by various members of the staff of that office
connected with testing gardens in several widely separated localities.
The probable yields per acre are in many cases estimates calculated
from smaller areas, and considerable variation from the figures given
must be expected in actual practice. The prices mentioned are given
merely to indicate the comparative value of the products concerned and
not to fix the actual price which the grower of drug plants may expect
to receive. This will depend very largely upon the state of the market
at the time the crop is offered for sale.
The plants mentioned in the following pages were selected for
discussion because information regarding their cultivation is in
constant demand. The purpose of this bulletin is not to recommend
these plants for cultivation, but to give information concerning
their culture which may be helpful to persons who are considering the
production of drug plants on a commercial scale.[2]
[2] For information in regard to weeds used in medicine not herein
considered, see Farmers' Bulletin No. 188, which may be obtained from
the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, for 5
cents.