Raising drugs is one of those things that seems to be more profitable to teach others to do than to do yourself.  A well known Professor said to me:  “If I were twenty-five and knew what I know about drugs and the market for them, I should go into the drug-raising business.  But I should expect to lose money for some years.  If I were a small clerk, say, or an old man who wanted to get out of city life, and I had $500 I really wanted to venture in drug raising, I should divide it in half—­half I should put in the bank and the other half I should throw into the Hudson River.  Then I should be sure of $250 instead of being drawn on to spend it all.”

“Most of the people who have been in the business, notably the Shakers, who used to do the most of it, are gradually getting out of it.  The few men who make money raising drugs keep it to themselves.”

In many cases when weeds have been dug the work of handling and curing them is not excessive and can readily be done by women and children.

Too much emphasis cannot be placed upon the importance of carefully and thoroughly drying all crude drugs, whether roots, herbs, leaves, barks, flowers, or seeds, and putting them under cover at nightfall.  If poorly dried, they will heat and become moldy in shipping, and the collector will find his goods rejected by the dealer and have all his trouble for nothing.  Leaves, herbs, and flowers should never be washed.

It is important also to collect in proper season only, as drugs collected out of season are unmarketable on account of inferior medicinal qualities, and there will also be a greater shrinkage in a root dug during the growing season than when it is collected after growth has ceased.

The roots of annual plants should be dug in the autumn of the first year just before the flowering period, and those of biennial and perennial plants in the fall of the second or third year, after the tops have dried.

After the roots have been dug the soil should be well shaken from them, and all foreign particles, such as dirt, roots, and parts of other plants, should be removed.  If the roots cannot be sufficiently cleared of soil by shaking, they should be thoroughly washed in clean water.  Drugs must look wholesome at least.  It does not pay to be careless in this matter.  The soil increases the weight of the roots, but the purchaser is not willing to pay by weight for dirt, and grades the uncleaned or mixed drugs accordingly.  It is the bright, natural looking root, leaf, or plant that will bring a good price.

After washing, the roots should be carefully dried by exposing them to light and air, on racks or shelves, or on clean well-ventilated barn floors, or lofts.  They should be spread out thinly and turned occasionally from day to day until completely cured.  When this point is reached, in perhaps three to six weeks, the roots will snap readily when bent.  If dried out of doors they should be placed under shelter at night and upon the approach of rain.