Several years ago a series of articles was prepared by the author of this book for press publication on the subjects of medicinal herbs. A tremendous amount of interest was exhibited in the course of instructions and a vast amount of correspondence followed. I have continually been besieged since then for still further information along the same line and also urged to have the material printed in book form. Indeed so great was the interest taken in the simple and honest old fashioned home remedies, which nature has so abundantly supplied upon every hand that several large commercial enterprises have been greatly stimulated and many people enabled to turn into profit herbs that were previously considered pests.
At about the same time that I wrote the series of articles which are now supplied to you in this book, the Department of Agriculture, at Washington, issued a bulletin upon the subject of weeds used in medicine and gave some very practical information regarding the collection and preparation of the roots and herbs for the market.
In order that you may gain an idea of the commercial importance and value of some of the valuable herbs which are annually destroyed as weed pests, I will quote the estimate given by the bulletin on the importance, amount and value of such plants as are very, very common so that you may get a small idea of the tremendous amount of money sent annually to foreign countries which might well be saved by the children on the farms and by school children during their summer vacation.
The quantity imported and the prices paid for roots, flowers, and seeds with which nearly all are familiar are as follows:
Pounds Imported Annually / Prices Paid Per Pound
About
Burdock.........................................50,000............................3 to 8 cents
Dandelion.....................................115,000............................4 to 6 cents
Yellow Dock, Broad Leaved
Dock, Yellow Rooted Water
Dock............................................125,000............................2 to 8 cents
Couch Grass, commonly known
as Quack Grass, a dangerous
pest...............................................250,000...........................3 to 7 cents
Pokeweed, Roots..................................................................2 to 5 cents
Pokeweed, Seeds.........................................................................5 cents
Foxglove, Digitalis............................60,000...........................6 to 8 cents
Mullen Leaves....................................5,000.....................2 1/2 to 5 cents
Mullen Flowers.....................................................................15 to 20 cents
Tansy...............................................30,000...........................3 to 8 cents
Boneset..................................................................................2 to 8 cents
Catnip....................................................................................2 to 8 cents
Horehound......................................125,000..........................3 to 8 cents
Yarrow..................................................................................2 to 5 cents
Fleabane................................................................................6 to 8 cents
Jimson Weed, Leaves......................150,000..........................2 to 8 cents
Jimson Weed, Seeds.........................10,000..........................3 to 7 cents
Poison Hemlock................................20,000..........................3 to 4 cents
Wormseed..............................................................................6 to 8 cents
Black and White Mustard.............5,302,000...........................3 to 6 cents
In many states the law compels the farmers to gather and destroy the mustard growing in their fields and it must be done before the seeds fall. By gathering just at the right time the seeds will not only pay for all the labor, but a profit besides.
Those who do not care to collect herbs for profits can at least collect for their own use. Even if this is not done a very valuable amount of information is gained by being familiar with the various roots, herbs and plants. I am always glad to advise you where any special herb or combination of herbs can be procured of reliable parties, if you are unable to find them growing near you.One of the best herb formulas I know of is made by adding equal parts of a certain variety which grows only in the north and a variety of the same herbs which grow only in the south. These are prepared in the form of an extract to which is added simple syrup. It would be useless for me to give you for formula, however, as you could not use it without specific directions and would have to send to the parts which do not grow near you. This would make it more expensive than to purchase the prepared remedy.
I will always be glad to answer questions regarding any subject discussed in any of my books, and as provision has already been made for carrying on the Home Health Club indefinitely, you can always feel safe in corresponding freely with me, either addressing me direct or address the Club.
In the lessons which follow, much the same copy is used and in the same manner as prepared by me for publication several years ago in various newspapers and magazines.
