4 'I' 7 ■ *> OK IssuedJune ! U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUEl M OF PLANT INDUSTRY— Circular No. 6. is. T. GALLOWAY Chief of Bureau. THE CULTIVATION A\l> HANDLING OF GOLDENSEAL. ALICE HENKEL, Assisi \m. AM> (i. FRED KXiUGH, Scientifn Assistant, I >i:i G-Pl \vr [nveS'J [GATK ins. WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFF1CI T ORY BUREU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. Physiologist and Pathologist, and Chief of Bureau, Beverly T. Gallowaj Physiologist and Pathologist, and Assistant chief of Bureau, Albert I'. W Is Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Erwln F. Smith. Pathologist in Charge. Investigations of Diseases of Fruits, Merton B. Waite. Pathologist in Charge Laboratory 0/ Forest Pathology, Haven Metealf, Pathologist in Charge. Cotton and Truck Diseases and Plant Disease Survey, William A. Orton, Pathologist in Charge. Plant Life History Investigations, Walter T. Swingle, Physiologist in Charge. Cotton Breeding Investigations, Archibald D. Shamel and Daniel X. Shoemaker, Physi- ologists in Charge. Tobacco Investigations, Archibald D. Shamel. Wightman W. Garner, and Ernest II. Mathewson, in Charge. Corn Investigations, Charles P. Hartley. Physiologist in Charge. Alkali and Drought Resistant Plant Breeding Investigations, Thomas II. Kearney, Physi ologist in Charge. Soil Bacteriology and Water Purification Investigations, Karl F. Kellerman, Physiolo gist in Charge. Bionomic Investigations of Tropical and Subtropical Plants, Orator F. Cook, Bionomist in Charge. Drug an. Shanahan, Crop Technologist in Charge Subtropical Laboratory and Garden, Miami. Fla., Ernst A. Bessey, Pathologist in Charge. Plant Introduction Garden, Chico, far. August Mayer. Expert in Charge. South Texas Garden, Brownsville, Tex., Edward C. Green, Pomologist in Charge. Farmers' Cooperative Demonstration Work, Seaman A. Knapp, Special Agent in Charge. Seed Distribution (Directed by Chief of Bureau). Lisle Morrison. Assistant in General Charge. / ditor, .1. E. Rockwell. Chief Clerk, James E. Jones. [Circ. 6] 2 - ONTENTS. [ntroduction ' Habital and range of goldenseal 6 ription of the planl 6 Description of the rhizome, or rootstock Collection and preparation of the root ' 10 Brief medical history 10 ( lultivation 11 Necessary soil conditions 11 ISJfiaif ized; by the I nternet Areh i ve I se of trees as shade j..— . Q-A4Q '■' Attention required U.I.^.V J.P L3 Methods of propagation 13 Experiments with seeds 13 Experiments with divided rhizomes 15 Experiments w ith plants from librous toots 16 Yield of roots 16 Time necessary to mature the crop 17 Hydrastin content of cultivated roots 17 Market conditions 18 Highest and lowest prices 18 [Cil 3 http://archive.org/details/handlOOunit USTRATIONS I'age. Fig. 1. A flowering plant of goldenseal 7 2. A fruiting plant and a fruiting branch of goldenseal 8 3. Rhizome, or rootstock, of goldenseal 9 4. Rhizome, after division 14 5. Plant formed from bud on fibrous root of goldenseal 1 •"> 6. Seedlings of goldenseal Hi 7. Goldenseal, showing bud on fibrous root 17 [Circ. 6] 4 B p i— r?; THE CULTIVATION AND HANDLING OF GOLDENSEAL" INTRODUCTION. Few drugs <>n the American market have been subject to such wide fluctuations in price as goldenseal, the dried root of which forms one of the most important articles in the crude-drug trade of this country. While for many years high and low prices depended mostly upon the alternate scanty or oversupplied market, and while this, of course, still holds true to a certain extent with goldenseal as well as with other commodities, there seems little doubt now that the increased values of the past lew year- and the present unprecedented high prices may he attributed to the tact that the plant is fast becoming exterminated from American forests. Although in Mime secluded localities goldenseal may still he found rather abundantly, the supply i- rapidly diminishing, and there i- a growing scarcity of i lie plain throughout its range. With the advance of civilization and the increase in population came a growing demand for many of our native medicinal plant- and a corresponding decrease in the sources of supply. A- the rich forest land- of the Ohio Valley and elsewhere were required for the need- of the early settlers they were cleared of timber and cultivated, and the goldenseal, deprived of the -hehcr and protection necessary to it- existence, gradually dis- appeared, a- it will not thrive on land that i- cultivated. Where it The Increasing use of goldenseal in medicine lias resulted in a wide demand for information about the plain, its Identification, geographical distribution, the conditions under which it grows, the methods of collecting ami preparing the rhizome, the relations ol 3upply and demand, and the possibilities of cultivation. This paper, entitled "The Cultivation and Handling of Goldenseal," was pre- pared by Miss Alice Ilenkel. Assistant in Drug-Planl investigations, and Mr. <;. Fred Klugh, Scientific Assistant in the same office, under the direction of Dr. Rodney II. Tine. Physiologist in Charge, and is a revision of Bulletin No. 51, Pari VI, id' 'he Bureau of Planl Industry, entitled "G ildenseal." in the prep- aration of this paper, which was undertaken to meet the demand for informa- tion relative to goldenseal, now fasl disappearing from our forests, many farts have been obtained from Lloyd's Drugs and Medicines of North America.— P.. 1. Galloway, Ch 1 1 -i 6 5 6 THE CULTIVATION AND HANDLING OF GOLDENSEAL. w;r- not destroyed in this manner the root diggers, diligently plying their vocation, did their share toward exterminating this useful little plant, which they collected regardless of the season, either before the plants had made much growth in spring or before the seeds had matured and been disseminated, thus destroying all means of propa- gation. The demand for the root appears to be increasing, not only in this country but also abroad, and the cultivation of goldenseal seems now to have become a necessity in order to meet the demand and save the plant from extinction. Prior to 1900 there seemed to be no one, so far as the Department of Agriculture could ascertain, who had ever attempted the culti- vation of goldenseal for the market. From that time on many inquiries were directed to the Department by persons Avho were quick to note the upward tendency of prices for goldenseal, and there are now several growers in different parts of the country who have under- taken the cultivation of goldenseal on a commercial scale. It is necessary, however, to remind prospective growers to proceed with caution, for if goldenseal is universally cultivated it will, of course, eventually result in overstocking the market and bringing about such a depression in price as to make goldenseal cultivation a profitless venture. HABITAT AND RANGE OF GOLDENSEAL. Goldenseal occurs in patches in high open woods where there is plenty of leaf mold and usually on hillsides or bluffs affording natural drainage, but it is not found in very moist or swampy sit- uations, on prairie land, or in sterile soil. It is native from southern New York to Minnesota and western Ontario, south to Georgia and Missouri, ascending to an altitude of 2,500 feet in Virginia. Tt is now becoming scarce throughout its range. Not all of this region. however, produces goldenseal in abundance. Ohio. Indiana. Ken- tucky, and West Virginia have been the greatest goldenseal-producing Slates, while in some local it ies in southern Illinois, southern Missouri, noil hern Arkansas, and central and western Tennessee the plant, though common, can not be said to be sufficiently plentiful to furnish any large quantity of the root. In other portions of its range it is sparingly dist ributed. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT. In addition in "goldenseal," many other common name- have been applied to this plant in different localities, most of them bearing some reference to the characteristic yellow color of the root, such as yellow root, yellow puccoon. orange-root, yellow-paint, yellow Indian- paint, Indian-paint, goldenroot, Indian-dye, curcuma, wild curcuma, [Circ. til THE CULTIVATION AND HANDL1 i GOLDENS] Ohio curcuma, wild turmeric, Indian turmeric, jaundice- root, and yellow eye; other names are eye-balm, eyeroot, and ground-rasp- berry. Ifellowroot, a popular name for it, is misleading, :b ii has been applied to oilier plants also, namely, to goldthread, false bitter- sweet, twinleaf, and the yellowwood. The name goldenseal, how- ever, derived from it- yellow color and the seal-like sear- on the root, has been generally adopted. Goldenseal I Hydrastis t anadt nsis L.) belongs to the same family as the buttercup, namely, the crowfoot family (Ranunculacea?). It is a perennial plant, and the thick yellow rootstock sends up an erect, hairy stem about a foot in height, around the base of which are two or three yellowish scales. The -terns as they emerge from the ground are over, the tops still remaining under "round, and sometimes the stems -how some distance above the sur- before the tops are brought out from the soil. The yellow color of the roots and scales extends partly up the stem so far as it is covered 1>\ soil, \\ hile the portion of the stem above ground has a purplish color. I roll [enseal has only two leaves ( rarely three ). the -tern bearing these seeming to fork at the top, om branch supporting a large leaf the other a -mailer one and a fio 1 ( >ccasionally there i- a third leaf, much -mailer than the other two and stemless. The leaves are prominently veined on the lower surface, and are palmately 5 to 9 lobed, the lobes broad, acute, sharply and unequally died. The leave- are only par- tially developed at flowering time and are very much wrinkled, bul tiny continue to expand until they are from C to S inches in diameter, becoming thinner in texture and smoother. The upper leaf subtends or incloses the flower \n\t\. (Fig. I.) Early in spring, aboul April or May. the flower appear-, but few ever see it. a- it lasts only five or six day-. It is greenish white, less than half an inch in diameter, and has no petals, but instead three small, petal-like sepals, which fall away a- soon a- the flower expand-. [Cln s THE CULTIVATION AND HANDLING OF GOLDENSEAL. leaving only the stamens — as many as 40 or 50 — in the center of which are about a dozen pistils, which finally develop into a round, fleshy, berry-like head. The fruit ripens in July or August, turning a bright red and resembling a large raspberry, whence the common name " ground-raspberry " is derived. Each fruit contains from 10 to 20 small, black, shin- ing, hard seeds. (Fig. 2.) If the season has been moist, the plant some- times persists to the beginning of winter, but if it has been a dry sea- son it dies down soon after the fruit is ripe, so that by the end of Se2Dtember no trace of the plant remains above ground. In a patch of golden- seal there are al- ways mairy sterile stems, simple and erect, bearing a solitary leaf at the apex, but no flower. Mr. Homer Bow- ers, of New Ross, Ind., who propa- gated goldenseal from seed for the purpose of study- ing its germination and growth, states that the plant grown from naturally sown seed often escapes observation during the first year of its existence owing to the fact that in this entire period nothing but two round seed leaves are produced, and at this stage the plant does not look materially different from other young seedlings. Dur- ing its second year from seed one basal leaf is sent up, followed in the third year by another smaller leaf and the flower. "A Contribution to the Life History of Hydrastis Canadensis, Bot. Gaz., vol. 16, pp. 73-82, 1891. [Circ. <;| Fig. 2.— A fruiting plant nnd a fruiting branch of goldenseal. THE CULTIVATION AND HANDLING "I GOLDENSEAL. DESCRIPTION OF THE RHIZOME. OR ROOTSTOCK. The rhizome ( rootstock i and rootlets of goldenseal, or hydrastis, as ii is also known in the drug trade, arc the parts employed in medicine. The full-grown rhizome when fresh is of a bright yellow color both internally and externally, about 1! to 2i inches in length and from one fourth to three-fourths of an inch in thickness. Fibrous yellow rootlets are produced from the sides of the rhizome. (Fig. 3.) The fresh rhizome contain- a large amount of yellow juice and gives off a rank, nauseating odor. When dry the rhizome measures from 1 to 2 inches in length and from one-eighth to one-third of an inch in diameter. It is crooked. knotty, wrinkled, of a dull brown color outside, and breaks with a clean, short, resinous fracture, showing a lemon-yel low culm- i f the root is not old. I f the dried root is kept for a long time it will be a greenish yellow or brown internally, and becomes inferior in quality. < m the upper surface of the rhizome are several depressions, left by former an- nua] -tem-. which resemble the imprint of a seal; hence the name goldenseal. The fibrous rootlets become very wiry and brittle in drying, breaking off readily and leaving only small protuber- ances, SO that the root as found in coin merce is sometimes almost hare. The dried rhizome also has a peculiar, some what narcotic, disagreeable odor, but not so pronounced as in the fresh ma terial, an exceedingly hitter taste, and a persistent acridity which causes an abundant How of saliva when the rhi- zome is chewed. The most important constituents of the rhizome are the three alkaloids— hydrastin, berberin, and canadin. it contains also starch. albuminous matter, resin, sugar, fatty matter, and inorganic -alts. Hydrastis act- chiefly upon the mucous membranes and glandular system, and to some extent upon the nervous system. It is a valuable drug in disordered condition- of the digestive organs and in catarrhal affections of any of t he mucous membranes w hen unaccompanied with acute inflammation. In the various diseases of the mucous membranes it is administered both internalh and locally. Hydrastis impart- it- properties to water, glycerin, or alcohol. 12004 I 'ire. G OS ick, of goldei 10 THE CULTIVATION AND HANDLING OF GOLDENSEAL. COLLECTION AND PREPARATION OF THE ROOT. The root should be collected in autumn after the plants have ma- tured seed. Spring-dug root shrinks far more in drying and always commands a lower price than the fall-dug root. After the roots are removed from the earth they should be carefully freed from soil and all foreign particles. They should then be sorted, and small, unde- veloped roots and broken pieces may be laid aside for replanting. After the roots have been cleaned and sorted they are ready to be dried or cured. Great care and judgment are necessary in drying the roots. It is absolutely necessary that they should be perfectly dry before packing and storing, as the presence of moisture induces the de- velopment of molds and mildews, and of course renders them worth- less. The roots are dried by exposure to the air, being spread out in thin layers on drying frames or upon a large, clean, dry floor. They should be turned several times during the day. repeating this day after day until the roots are thoroughly dried. If dried out of doors they should be placed under cover upon indication of rain and at night so that they may not be injured by dew. After the roots are thoroughly dried they may be packed as tightly as possible in dry sacks or barrels, and they are then ready for shipment. BRIEF MEDICAL HISTORY. As in the case of many other native medicinal plants, the early settlers learned of the virtues of goldenseal through the American Indians, who used the root as a medicine and the yellow juice as a stain for their faces and a dye for their clothing. The Indians regarded goldenseal as a specific for sore and inflamed eyes, and it was a very popular remedy with the pioneers of Ohio and Kentucky for this affection, and also for sore mouth, the root being chewed for the relief of the last-named trouble. In the herbarium collected by Captains Lewis and (dark on their expedition to the source of the Missouri and across the country to the Pacific coast, a specimen of goldenseal collected May '21. 1804, bears some notes in the handwriting of Captain Lewis concerning the use of this plant in " Kentucky and many other parts of the western country." He states that it is said to be a sovereign remedy for sore eyes, describing the nature of this disorder and giving also the method of preparing and applying this remedy. He states, further, that it makes an " excellent mouth water." Barton, in his " Collections for an Essay towards a Materia Medica of the United States," 1804, speaks of the use of a spirituous infusion of the root of goldenseal as a tonic bitters in the western part of Pennsylvania and of the employment of an infusion of the root in <-old water as a wash for inflammation of the eyes. [Clrc. 6] 'I'll i CULTIVATION VND HANDLING OF G 1NSEAL. I I According to Dr. C. S. Rafinesque, in his Medical Flora in l v -_' s . the [ndians also employed the juice or infusion for many "external complaints, a- a topical ionic" and '■-nine Indian- employ it as a diuretic, stimulant, and escharotic, using the powder for blistering and the infusion for the dropsy." He states further thai " internally it is used as a bitter tonic, in infusion or tincture*, in disorders of the stomach, the liver," etc. It was not until a demand was created for goldenseal by the eclectic school of practitioners, about L847, thai it became an article of com- merce, and in I860 the rout wa- made official in the Pharmacopoeia of the United States, which place it has held to the present day. CULTIVATION. The United State- Department of Agriculture has been carrying on experiment- in the cultivation of goldenseal on a small scale at Washington, I>. ( '.. since the spring of L899, in the hope that methods mili condition-. The -oil condition- should imitate a- closely as possible tho-e een in thrifty deciduous forests. The soil should contain an ample supply of 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 --. well worked into the ground, to secure the lightness and moisture-retaining property of forest -oils. The best form of humus i- probably leaf mold, hut good results may he obtained by mulching in the autumn or early winter with leaves, straw, well-rotted stable manure, or similar material-. After the -oil ha- been prepared and planted it is well to add a mulch in the fall a- a partial protection to the root- during the winter, and the decay of this material add- to the Value of the -oil by the time the plant- appeal- in the spring. The forest conditions are thus imitated l>\ the annual addition of vegeta hie matter to the -oil. which by it- gradual decay accumulates an in- creasing depth of a -oil rich in material- adapted to the feeding of the plant- and to the preservation of proper physical conditions. The growth of weeds is also hindered to a considerable extent. If suffi cient at tent ion is given to the presence of this mulch, the nature of the underlying -oil is of [ess importance than otherwise. In the ca clay the thorough incorporation of a large amount of decayed vege [Clrc. (>] 12 THE CULTIVATION AND EANDLING OF GOLDENSEAL. table matter lend- to give lightness to the otherwise heavy soil, facili- tating aeration and drainage. Since the roots of the goldenseal do not grow well in a wet soil, thorough drainage is necessary. A lighter, sandy soil is improved by the addition of humus, since its capacity to hold moisture is thereby increased and the degree of fer- tility is improved. The looser the soil, the easier it is to remove the roots in digging without breaking or injuring them. Before plant- ing, the soil should be thoroughly prepared to a depth of at Least 6 or 8 inches, so as to secure good aeration and drainage. The good tilth thus secured will be in a degree preserved by the continued addition of a mulch. A further advantage of careful preparation is seen in a decrease in the amount of cultivation required later. FERTILIZERS. The fertilizers that may be used with profit in the growing of goldenseal have not yet been determined, but it is probable that pot- ash and phosphates would increase the yield, especially if the soil is light. So far as is known, no preference can be given to any par- ticular compounds of either potash or phosphoric acid. Two hundred pounds of kainit or 50 pounds of muriate of potash and from 200 to 300 pounds of superphosphate per acre would in all probability prove useful. The nitrogen is supplied by the humus and need not be added in concentrated form. ARTIFICIAL SHADE. Since the goldenseal grows naturally in the wood-, it must be pro- tected from the full light of the sun by artificial shade. That used in connection with the experiments of the Department was made of ordi- nary pine plastering lath nailed to a suitable frame elevated on posts. The posts were of cedar Si feet long, set 2| feet in the ground in rows 11 feet apart and L6 feet distant from each other in the row-. Sup- ports 2 by 4 inches were set on cedar blocks 2 feet long sunk below the soil surface in the middle of the 16-foot "spaces. Pine pieces 2 by 4 inches were nailed edgewise to the tops of the posts and supports. The posts were notched to receive the 2 by 1 inch sticks. Pieces •_' by 4 inches were nailed across these at intervals of 4 feet. The laths were nailed to these, leaving spaces about an inch wide. This shade ha-- been found to be satisfactory, as it is high enough above the ground to allow such work as is necessary in preparing and cultivating t lie land. 1 I' the lathing is extended l' or :'. fee! beyond the posts on the sunny sides, injury from the sun's ray- w ill be prevented, or laths may be nailed vertically to the pieces of pine -2 by 1 inches at the top and a I- foot -trip below. The -ides may be protected Im- portable board walls about ■_' feet high set around the edges. Pro- tection from injury by winds when the top- are large may be thus [Circ. 6 I THE CULTIVATION AND HANDLING 01 NSEAL. 13 secured. Too much dampness should be guarded against in the use of the board sides, since conditions might be developed favorable to the damping-off fungus and to aphides during hot rainy periods. The cost of lath shade over a tenth of an acre ai Washington was probably considerably greater than will be ne< essary in districts where Lumber is cheaper. The lumber will probably cosl from $700 to $800 per acre and the labor of the farm can be utilized at times when other work is not pressing. USE Ol l RE] S VS SH U>E. Trees may be used for shade, but this is in some ways to be regarded as unsatisfactory. When the shade produced is of the right density, the use of moisture and raw food materials of the soil by the trees is an undesirable feature. ATTENTION REQUIRED. The cultivation of goldenseal is simple. Having secured a deep, loose soil, rich in humus renewed annually by the application of new mulch, the removal of weeds is the chief care. The soil, if properly prepared, will tend to maintain it-elf in good condition. The manner of treatment is verj similar to that required by ginseng, which i- also a plant of the moist woods. It' the ground is thoroughly prepared, beds are not absolutely necessary. The plants may he grown in rows 1 foot apart and 6 inches apart in the rows. Beds may he thought by some to lie more convenient, enabling the grower to remove the weeds and collect the seed more readily. If beds are used, they may he made 1 feet wide, running the entire length of the shade, with walks 18 inches wide between. Hoard- 6 or 8 inches w ide are set up around the sides of the beds, being held in place by -take- on each -ide of the hoard- in the center and at the ends. These beds are Idled with pre- pared -oil. and the plant- are -et 8 inches apart each way. \| I ■ i Hi m- i >r PROPAGATION. There are three possible ways of propagating the plant: (1) By seed, (2) by division of the rhizome- (fig. I). and (3) l>\ mean- of small plant- formed from buds on the stronger fibrous roots (fig. 5). The second method will prove satisfactory as a regular practice, but the third has value where the root- are not divided every year. Propa gation by seed has the disadvantage of requiring several year- to produce a crop, being of special value where the outlay i- necessarily small and time i- not an object. I M'l KI MINI- \\ I 111 Bl Seeds planted jusl after ripening, July 11. 1904, in sandy soil mixed with well-rotted -table manure and lightly mulched with manure [Cii 14 THE CULTIVATION AND HANDLING OF GOLDENSEAL. gave a few plants in the spring of 1905. Other lots saved and planted the following spring produced no plants. A number of germinated seeds sent in by a goldenseal grower and planted in March, 1007. in sandy soil well supplied with humus and lightly mulched came up well about the 1st of May and grew nicely. The experiments made by the Bureau of Plant Industry thus far have shown that about 30 per cent of the sect 1 lings developed one or two true leaves, although in the majority only the seed leaves appeared in the first year (fig. 6 I. Stratification of the seed after ripening, in a mixture of sand and leaf mold, as in the case of ginseng, insures the highest percentage of germination, provided it is properly done. The essentials of stratification are: (1) Sufficient moisture to cause softening of the Flo. i R] livision. seed coat and prevent drying out of the seed and (2) a low tem- perature to prevent either rotting or germination. The usual pro- cedure in seed stratification is as follows: A mixture of fine -and and leaf mold i- sifted with a screen that will not allow the seed to pass through: the seeds, separated from the pulp, are then mixed with this in sufficient quantity to keep them separated and are put in a wooden box. If the box is very small, it may be put in a large box of sand and kept in a cool cellar or left out of doors covered with a cloth sack in a shaded place. The seed- can be sifted out when ready for planting the follow ing spring. Where only a few seeds are produced, it is probably best to plant them in light, loamy soil under shade and mulch lightly with leaf mold or well-rotted manure. It is advisable, [Cil Ill i; . II. I IVATH'N \NI> IIANIH.INC ' 'I II" V- 1 U,. 15 especially in the beginning, to buj germinated seed in preference to ungerminated seed, and thus avoid the losses from old or poorly developed seed and from mistakes in handling. EXPERIMENTS WITH DIVIDED RHIZOMES. Iii the spring of L902, 10 plant- were secured and planted under a shade of a temporary character, but the season was too far advanced to permit of much growth during that year. In 1903 proper -hade was supplied, all other conditions were better, and the plant- made ,i g 1 growth. The crop was duo- about the middle of Govern her. L903 : the root- wen' weighed and divided. They were again planted and in May. L904, there were found to be L50 strong plant- and a lew smaller one- as a result of this division, an in- crease of 275 per cent. This method of propagation seems to In' the most important and the other two of secondary impor tance. The processes arc simple and no .-kill i- needed. The plant dies down in late summer and the stem decaj -. leaving a scar in its place on the rhizome. Two or more buds are formed on the sides of the rhizome and these accumulate energy for growth the follow ing spring. I f the root is Cul into piece-, giving each plant a portion of the rhizome, some fibrous root-, and one or more laid- | fig. I i . t he number of the plant- can be doubled. The roots are planted and mulched and the process is complete. The rains pack lli"' -oil around the root- and they are ready to grow when spring come-. The process may he repeated e\ery year and the iitui, her of root- increased indefinitely. Since P.miI the small plat mentioned ha- been used a- a source for laboratory, botanical, and photographic material. There have been losses from experiment- in connection with the time of planting and transplanting and from using fresh manure a- a mulch, yet the number of plant- left i- al t the same a- in 1904. It ha- been found best to do all planting of rhizome* while tin \ are dormant. Roots i Plnnl ; cal. 16 THE CULTIVATION AND HANDLING OF GOLDENSEAL. moved after the buds have begun growth in the spring either die or are retarded in growth so much that a season is lost unless the condi- tions are very favorable for a hasty and careful transfer. EXPERIMENTS WITH PLANTS FROM FIBROUS ROOTS. The stronger fibrous roots of the larger plants dug in the autumn of 1003 were found to contain buds, which were formed from a few indies t<> a foot from the rhizome. (Fig. 7.) Some were about half an inch long, hut the majority of them were smaller. The larger ones need no special treatment and may be planted with the main crop. The smaller ones should be plant- ed in boxes or beds of well-pre- pared soil at a distance of about 3 inches apart, mulched with a thin coating of leaf mold or sim- ilar m a t e r i a 1 , and grown in shade until large enough to trans- plant to the shel- ter with the lar- ger plants. They will probably re- quire at least three years to reach their full development. If they could he left undisturbed in Fig. 6.— Seedlings of goldensi j-J le beds where they are formed they would receive nourishment from the older rhi- zomes and perhaps grow faster, but it is probably best to divide the older roots every year where propagation alone is desired, planting the smaller roots and the plants made by division of the rhizomes. The larger roots are marketed to more advantage than the smaller ones, so it is best to have the surplus consist of the larger roots. The frequent working of the soil allowed by this treatment will keep it in better condition than if left undisturbed lor a longer period. YIELD OF ROOTS. The yield obtained by the Department from small plats has been at the late of 5,000 to (5,000 pounds of green roots per acre, which on [Circ. 6] THE CULTIVATION \XI> BANDLING OF GOLDENSEAL. 17 drying was reduced to 30 per cent, making aboul 1,500 pounds per acre. The yield from small plats can not be calculated a accurately as from larger areas, but these figures constitute a good basis for a conservative est imate. TIM] NECESSARY TO MATURE THE CROP. The number of years necessary to produce a maximum crop de- pends on local conditions governing the growth. \<> advantage can come from growing goldenseal more than three year-, because the roots begin to decay al the oldest scar after the fourth year, thus destroying the central and largest pari of the root, leaving two or more small plant- in place of the old. For propagation alone one year will give g 1 result-, while for maintain- ing a constant area two or three years, depending upon the grow th made, will give a good crop of marketable roots. II YI>i: \-I 1 \ CON H XT OF CUL- TIVATED ROOTS. j<* Fici. 7.— Goldenseal, showing bud on fibn A -ample was taken from roots dug < >ctober L8, L907, the roots having been grown six successive seasons by the Department, being divided and transplanted several times. The assay made by Mr. A. F. Sievers, October 21, L907, in accordance with the process described in the United Stale- Pharmacopoeia, Eighth Revision, showed a hydrastin content of 2.98 per cent. This is considerably above the requirements of the Pharmacopoeia, which call for 2.50 per cent of hydrastin. According to Culbreth " the hydra-tin content of hydra-ti- root- varies from L.5 to 3.14 per cent. The cultivated root- -how a hydra-tin content very near the upper- most limit, such a- one would expect from healthy root- due- in the fall and carefully washed and dried: therefore, it seems a- if culti- vation doe- not influence the hydrastin content, except to the extent of causing a normal high percentage of roots that are healthy and well nourished. \ Manual of Materia Medica and Pharmacology, ::' cember Whole year H. I. 1899 1900. II. 1.. 1901. II. I 1902. II. L. 1903. II. L. 50 ..i . r >2 57.; 1904. H. L 52 0.75 ,4 I 541 !5 51 l.i:> 54 I 201. 53 l. in 1. 53 1. 10 . 531.501. 701.401. 71 I. 10 I. 741.40 1. 71 I. ... 1 ■ ' .5 L905 1906. II. I.. II. I.. 74 1. 55 76 l . 65 in I 65 I" I 6 ■ 15 1. <5 Mill .11 151.30 351.20 in i. to 35 l.:;7 35] 35 .11 65 1.551. 1.601. 1.661. L.601. L. 451 I. 1111. L.30'1. I 21 1 I . 1.201. 1 . 20 I . 1.351. 1.301. 1.201. 1907. II 1. 301.271 1.50 25 1.25 1 15 'Hi 20 I. 15 20 1 18 1. 17 181 15 I. 17 l- l 15 L.50 in 1.30 1.50 301.30 1.60 101.30 1.75 651. 10 601.60 , ,1 .i. 2. in 2. 10 I 90 . L. 15 2.10 1 1 1. 15 l. 15 1.45 l. (6 1,46 1. 18 I. 18 1.6 • L.85 1 '.in l 82 l 15 According to the market reports contained in the Oil, Taint, and Drug Reporter, the year 1908 opened with a quotation of $1.85 a pound, the price advancing steadily until at the present writing. the end of the first quarter, the minimum is $2, and the maximum $2.10. There has been a good export demand, and it is reported that primary stocks are almost exhausted. It is yet too early for the spring-dug root, which, though Less desirable than the fall-dug root. [Circ. 6] THE CULTIVATION \M> HANDLING (LDENSEAL. 19 nevertheless generally has the effect < » I" lowering prices somewhat. The fall-dug r<>i>t is not due on the market until about six months later. Meantime the outlook for continued high price- is believed to be l':'\ orable. It is impossible to ascertain the exact annual consumpt ion of golden- seal root, but the estimates furnished by reliable dealer- place these figures at from 200,000 to 300,000 pounds annually, about one-tenth of which is probably used for export. It will be observed that the price of this article is very sensitive to market conditions, and it seems probable that the point of over- production would be easily reached if a large number of golden- seal growers were to meet with success in growing extensive areas of this drug. Approved : .1 \ mis Wilson . s i ;v Ui rij of . Agriculture. Washington, D. ('.. April 11. I [Circ. <;] o UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 3 1262 08929 0182