Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-08-05
Ginseng and its Uses.
lPittsburg Pos.,l

What is known as ginseng in this coun
try and in CaDady is properly termed tn,
Panar TrifOlium, aud is a species of th'
gewarf ground.nut, which in Asia. anc
especially in China, attains very larg'
size. Ginseng is very highly priced BY
the medical fraternity of China for it
stimulating aud aphrodisiac quail ties
The ginseng Of American commerce is to
be found in almost all the heavily tim
bered laudS of America, except where it
has been exterminated by the hunters
This is generally the case in all the Sta to.
east Of the Mississippi river. 1t does no,
long flourish in the presence of civil.
zation, but is ruthlessly diggod 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 county was from the
year 1915 to 1880 when men made q
business of digging it in the Western
forests. At that time tho root when
dried commanded from $3.50 to $500
per pound, and full grown men found ii
profitable to go beyond the confines Of
civilizations and by working some three
months during the season when it was
dug, secure cne or two hundred pounds
OF the dried root, realizing from 500 to
800 for their labor. OF course these
gin'eng hunters supported themselves
with their rifles and sold their ginseng
at the nearest trading stations.
In fact, at the period we have men,
toned the ginseng traoe was a rival Of
the fur trade. AT the beginning of the
present century John Jacob Astor united
the two, and very large portion of his
wealth arose FROM his ginseng trade with
China. In several other instances we
have known of colossal fortunes being
brlt up from this trade. The Chinese
always paid immensive 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 scar
city, We are told that it was the habit
in China to fix the price of the dried gin
seug root at its weight in gold. At such
fgurs, it is easy to see how immense
fortunes could be made.
The medical fraternity as well as
artisans and others, no doubt use it for
many other purposes than those already
Eamed. After being prepared it is said
to be equal to opium for chewing 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 houses, and a preparation
Of it is used IN coloring and glazing china
ware, etc. But as we have said, in this
country the medical fraternity attach but
little Importance to it, and though fre-
quently prescribed. it is only in particu'
lar cases, aud is not regarded as having
any extraordinary virtues.
But whatever may be its virtues, and
whatever want it may supply in the
Celestial Empire, the supply is doomed
to an early extinction. Outside of the
mountain regionsi in the Middle States,
it is rare thing to find specimens. A
new impetus for its destruction is sxtant.
For the least two or three years the price
has been high as much as $3.50 and
$500 per pound, we believe. in local
tiles. The result is that it is being rap.
idly hunted to death. One cause Of its
destruction is that it is dug early in the
summer and the seed does not riPen until
autumn. In this way it is prevented
from reproducing itself like ordinary
plants, for it is not dug until the seed
ripeus the root is utterly worthless.
Ginseng is Of slow growth, as it takes
three or four years before it bears seed
or produces root one inch in circum-
ference. But with its present high price
it is dug at every stage, and each year
the product being smaller and smaller
the price is kept up or advanced, so that,
the plant is question Of time. 1t takes
ten pounds Of the green root to make
one pound dry. and merchants are often
deceived by having other roots, such as
dock, young poplar, colombo and young
ua-sneps. put Of on them,