As with other medicinal portions of plants, the best time to collect the barks is at a period when the greatest quantity of the active constituents is contained therein. In the case of barks this is in early spring, before active growth takes place, or in late fall or even winter.
There are various methods of obtaining the bark. In some cases the outer corky layer is first shaved off before the bark is peeled, a process which is known as “rossing.” This is generally done where the outer layer is considered inert. Then incisions a few inches wide are made, and, depending upon the nature of the bark, sometimes strips several feet in length are peeled. The barks of some branches or roots are removed by making long, lengthwise incisions, permitting the bark to be readily slipped off, or in other cases the bark is first loosened by pounding with a mallet.
After collection, the bark is taken to a clean, well-aired place for drying, spread out on shelves or on the floor and protected from moisture. Barks contain less moisture and absorb less moisture than other parts of plants, but they nevertheless need to be protected from wet weather. Sometimes barks are strung on wires or strings to facilitate drying.
When the barks are thoroughly dried and have been broken or cut up into suitable lengths, they may be packed in dry, clean barrels or other proper containers ready for shipment.
It will be well to repeat here what has been said in the first of this series of papers, entitled “American Root Drugs,” with regard to the advisability of correspondence with crude-drug dealers previous to shipment, in order to ascertain whether a particular drug is desired, how large a quantity is wanted, and what price will be paid. Samples representative of the drug to be disposed of should be sent at the same time.
It is necessary also to emphasize the fact that the prices given in this bulletin are approximations only, being those paid at the present writing, and it must be remembered that before this bulletin is off the press a drug now listed at 10 cents a pound may have declined to 5 cents or less, while a drug quoted at 2 cents may be worth 5 or 10 cents or more. The object in noting prices is simply to give prospective collectors an idea of the range of prices, but with the constant fluctuations that take place in the drug market it will be readily understood that these prices can be but remotely approximate and that the actual price to be paid can be ascertained only through correspondence with drug dealers.