Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-10-19
Ginseng.

cuiuouc.oia) is one Of the most
grscefl and beautiful plants that
adon our forests. 1t has a feshy
pencnd 1905, varying according to
age, from gn inch to eight and nine
inchss in length From this root
springs astraight stalk, terminating
IN three and sometimes four petlOled
leaves, each with three DIVISIONS.
From lie points of divergence OF
tile poiioles raises an umbel, COW
cred wiih minute whitish flow ers,
that develop snto large green ber-
res containing seeds, turning rich
glossy ac2slet when fully ripe.
Tie root, tie part Of the plant
Of commercial value, is of a faint
salmon cslor without, nearly white
within. II has numerous fibrous
roo.s t,,at served to attach it firmly
20 ;he soil, and also to diminish Its
value. for there is fashion even in.
ginseng and Just now a smooth
rec. Rtaout fibre commands a
higher price fh9a any other, and as
, Dig ia Minnesota and certain coun-
ties of tic State Of Pennsylvania
. fuifis these requirements, it is Gag
ely sUg,t after by dealers.
Fer centuries this root has been
held in tie most extravagant es-
teen by the Chinese, who regard
e as-aUaNcrsal panacea, and also
. believe that virtue, long life and
Happiness arc conferred on those
..usip t. i was originally found
in Chinese Tertiary, and great guam
tties are annually dug in all north
westera parts Of the Flowery
Kingdom, especially in the noun
famous regions Of the province of
llorgo.i.. where it received its
name o. ginseng, or ghenseng,
irst O. plants" or as other sina-
Iocurcs havc, manu. from an in
tE,-ent resemblance the root has
lor1od, as if frequently is, to the
.orm @. human body.
hboat tie middle Of May. orI
crlcr in favored localities, the
fender green stalk Of the ginseng
qopuar.y called sang shows it
SELF above the ground, and then the
"sargers,' as the diggers are called,
who have been impatiently await
ing Its appearance to begin opera
t.cns. Whole families, generally
tac lowest Of the poor whitas, mi
ge.c % tie forests and mountains
tor f.e season that, commencing
' t,cs ends about the middle Of o. |
.oi.-, when the berries having
II ned and fallen, the plant turns
yellow, Nithers away, and is indis-
tneuishab.e from the other nader |
growth.
Thee sang diggcrs are such
peculiar raeo that they deserve more |
than q Jric. notice. 1t is true that
many respectable people dig GIN
scns. On amateur, but "sanging' as
profession is not considered the
fling At an. Sangers are the most
'ornery7 sort Of people, and one ia
miliar with the byways OF South
EN- phraseology will understand
the io,ce Of that deformed adiec-
tive.
Ginseng root is sold green to the
country stores, which offer prizes
for the heaviest root brought in,
and FOR the greatest number of
pounds Dug by any one person DUR
ing the season. The price paid
wares with tie season, all calcula-
tions being made upon the basis
Of dry sang. Thus in May and
JTc tic root is light, taking be
tween four and five pounds OF
s'sen to make enc of dry; in July |
'so AUGUST between three and four,
adj a September and October,
when Tie root is mstured, two to
Stree. As tic great exporters will
only'cnly buy Ii when flint dry, |
aAd perfectly free from all other |
roofs, ere MIST be taken 10 pre-
vet TT It'd on the part of sangers, !
Wiose ooneoiehces do not appa
1ently trouble them when they mix |
polc, angelica snd other roots with |
ihe ginseng. A mere innocent way
Ct pIacticing imposition is to soak
the green porus roots well in water
before selling, and sometimes (but
not oiten) 70 insert fine shot in the
arger roots. II is quite needless.
Qpeasc, to say that storekee pers,
WHO Ea5,Tgoods for all they buy, |