Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-07-28
GINSENG AND HIS USES.


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 N China,
attains a very large size. Ginseng Is
very highly priced by the medical fra
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
1t has been exterminated by the hunters.
This Is generally the case IN all the
States east Of the Mississippi river. 1t
does not long flourish in the presence
Of civilization, but is ruthlessly digged
up by theb boys and girls, dried and sold
to the nearest village or cross roads
dealer.
Perhaps the heaviest trade ever done
ii ginseng IN this country was from
the year ISIS to 1880 when men made
a business Of digging it IN the West
gIn forests. At that time the root
when dried commanded from SL5O to
$3.50 per pound, and full grown men
found 1t profitable to so beyond the
confines Of civilization and by working
some three months during the season
when it was dug, secure one or two
hundred pounds of the'dried root, re-
alizinp from 5000 to 500 for their
labor Of course these ginseng hun
tgrs 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 trade was a rival of
the fur trade. At the beginning Of the
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 built up from this trade.
The Chinese always paid lmmenseprlces
for it, for although 1t was inferior to
the native article. It was the best sub
stituLe that could be found. In times
Of great scarcity, we are told that 1t
was the habit in China to fix the price
Of the drie. ginseng root at Its weight
In'goid. At such figures, II 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 al
ready named. After being prepared 1t
is said to be equal TO opium for chew
ing and smoking, and Is much sought
after by the dissipated opium caters and
smokers. 1t Is also burned rs an
incense in their temples and joss
bUus s, and a preparation of 1t is used
IN cOloring and glazing china ware, etc.
But as we have said, IN this country
the medical fraternity attach bat
little Importance 70 1t, and thou IN
frequently prescribed, 1t Is only IA
particular cases, and Is not regardcl
as having any extraordinary virtues.
But whatever may be Its virtues, and
whatever want 1t may supply in the
Celestial Empire, the supply Is doomed
to an early extinction. Outside of the
mountain regions in the Middle States,
II Is a rare1hing to find specimens. a
new impetus for It's destruction Is eL-
tant. For the last two or three years
the price has been high; as much as
C--pN anu SD.by pei l'S-ANs VIC D~-tNh e
IN localities. The result is that 1t Is
being rapidly hunted to death. One
Calse of its destruction is shat 1t Is dug
early in the summer and the seed does
not ripcn until autumn. In this WV
II is prevented from reproducing itself
like Cnary plants, for 1t is not dug
until the seed ripens the root Is utterly
worthless.
Ginseng Is Of slow growth, as It takes
three OF tour years before 1t bears seed
or produces a root one inch in circum
ference. But with it's present high
price l. is dug at every stage, and eacl
year the pO.uCt being smaller ani
mailer, the price is kept up o. ad
yauced, so that the practical destruc
ton of the plant is only question Of
time. It takes ten pounds OF the greer
roos 10 make one pound dry, auC
mersaal Is are often deceived by having
other TO is, such as dock, young pop
lar, colombo and young parsnePs, put
off on them.