The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-08-12
Ginseng and Its Uses.
From the Pittsburg POst.l

TIOll VIC 4 lJLnDNip oob'I
What is known as ginseng in this
country and in Canada is properly
termed the Panax Trifolium, and is a
species of the dwarf ground-nut, which
in Asia, and especially in China, al
tains n very large size. Ginseng is
very highly priced by the medical ira
ternity of China for its stimulating and
aphrodisiac qualities. The ginseng OF
American commerce is to be found in
almost all the heavily timbered lands
of America, except where it has been
extcrmiaated by the hunters. This is
generally the case in al! the States east
of the Mississippi river. It, does not
long flourish in the presence of civil
cation, but IS ruthlessly diggcd up by
the boys and girls, dried and sold to
the nearest village or cross roads
dealer.
Perhaps the heaviest trade ever done
in ginseng in this country, was from
the year 1915 to 1880, when men made
u business Of digging it in the Western
forests. At that time the root when
dried, commanded from 81 SO to $3.50
per pound, and full grown men found
it profitable to go beyond the confines
of civilization and by working some
three months during the season when
it was dug, secure n or two hundred
pounds Of the dried root, realizing
from 5000 to 800 for thei: labor. OF
course these ginseng hunters supported
themselves with their rifles, and sold
their ginseng ut the nearest trading
stations.
In fact. at the period we have men
toned the ginseng trade was a rival of
the fur trade. At the beginning Of the
present century John Jacob Astor
united the two, and a very large por-
ton OF his wealth arose from his gin,
seng trade with China. In several
other instances we have known of 10
lossal fortunes being built up from
this trade. The Chinese always paid
immense prices for it, for although it
was inferior to the native article, it
was the best substitute that could be
found. In times of great scarcity, we
are told that it was the habit in China
to fix the price of the dried ginseng
root at its weight in gold. AT such
figures it is easy to see how immense
fortunes could be made.
The medicalt paternity rs well as ar
tisars and others. no doubt use it for
many other purposes than those al
ready named. After being prepared it
is said to be equal to opium for chewing
and and smoking, and is much sought
after by the dissipated opium eaters
and smokers. 1t is also burned as an
incense in their temples and joss hous-
es, and q preparation OF it is used in
coloring and glazing china ware, etc.
But as w have said, in this county
the medical fraternity attach but little
Importance to it, and though frequent
ly prescribed, it is only in particular
cases, and is not regarded as having
any extraordinary virtues.
But whatever may be its virtues, and
whatever want it may supply in the &c.
~lestial Empire, the supply is doomed
to an early extinction. Outside of the
mountain regions in the Middle States,
it is a rare thing to find specimens. A
new impetus for its destruction is ex-
tant. For the past two or three years
the price has been high; as much as
81 so ard So 90 per pound, we believe,
in localities. The result is that it is
being Rapidly hunted to death. One
cause Of its destruction is that it is dug
in the summer and the seed does
not ripe until autumn. In this way it
IS prevented from reproducing itself
like ordinary plants, for if it is not dug
the seed ripens the root is utterly
worthless.
Ginseng is of slow growth, as it
lakes three or four years before it
seed or produces a root n inch
n circumference. But with its present
price it is dug at every stage, and
each year the product being smaller,
and smaller, the price is kept up and
advanced, so that the practical des-
truction of the plant is only a question
Of time. 1t takes ten pounds OF the
green roo, to make II pound dry,
and merchants are often deceived by
other roots, such rs dock,
young pop!in, columbo and young
par,upus uut of nn tLom