Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-04-23
FARM N HOUSEHOLD.
CONCERNING THE cuLTIvA-
TIoN OF GINSENG.
How to supply the Increasing De-
mand-To Prepare stock for
MArket-Poaitry Pleklngs
and Household HslpL
eln,ln. and Its cultivation.

- ~ ~ ~ AHHN
cultivation. Ginseng is largely ~
ported from me United States TO China
where it IS highly esteemed for its
supposed medicinal virtues being
there universally regarded asa remedy
for all the diseases that flesh is heir to-
but particularly for exhaustion OF
body or mind.
The doctors in both America and
Europe have decided that there Is but
little real medicinal worth in the root.
We are more inclined to think that
the medicinal virtue Of this root is
wholly imaginary. from the fact that
the Chinese doctors claim that he
roots Of different shape possess widely
different medicinal properties, and
should one DO found. from its iancled
resemblance to the form OF a human
being. with body. legs, etc, 1t will
readily sell for It's weight in gold.
The Chinese believe that a root
which has been grown after the form
OF a man must have been intended 10
cure all his ills. They assert that
when a person IS in the last extremity
and is unprepared for death. the medi.
cine will ward oil the terrible enemy
for four or FIVE days thus giving the
man a chance Il arrange his family
affairs so that he can pass calmly and
contentedly to tho other shore. II we
could only have tho same faith. how
much trouble 1t would ave
This root, from its iancted resem-
blance TO the form Of man excltes
much superstition and fear among the
Chinese. ID Is said ito love moisture
and the depths OF forests and uestles
In recesses where tho sun v pcnc-
trates." And they believe that when
the root Is torn up from tho ground IL
emits cries and groans, aud ia some
places II is dug up with fear and
trembling as it Is supposed 70 be
guarded BY tho wolf tiger leopard
and snake in the gloomy forest depths
which II loves and can crawl under
the ground II II ploascs. but W. are
not 50 much Interested In what be-
comes OF the roots as 10 how We ar3
to supply the increasing demand.
The exports from the United States
are nearly 500. 900 pounds per anuum
writes J. w. Sears In the Journal oil
, Agriculture.
Many attempts have been made 10
, cultivate ginseng In America, but with
little success till recently.
Ginseng i indigenous to the great
or parts OF the cooler regions OF IN,
i. United States. In Georgia aud Ala
I bama II Is found in the mountains auS
! thence ~northward 70 Canada and west
70 the Rocky mountains II appear
10 thrive best IN loamy soils, such a
arc found In oak forests at tho North.
Shade seems also 70 b. uu essential
for when tho plants are exposed 10 III.
direct rays OF the sun they soon dit
out, and for this reason open field o
! garden cultivation OF the plants hn
rarely or never been attended wit
: success. Raising ginseng can be mad.
!, profitable where q man has suitabl
land in a forest or grove. The COS
!. Of preparing the ground cannot b
:, very much. and requires but it'll
labor for its cultivation. Az the 81
OF the third season the roots wi
have reached a marketable size an
may Their be dug. and the same groun
worked over and restocked with seeC
Setpeml or Is the month selected 70
u digging tho roots. as at that time u
E berries are fully ripe, and the sap ha
"a returned TO the roots, making thei
ig heavier and consequently more valu,
T able. and. when nicely dried, bein
70 worth from So TO 81 per pound
p market the price depending partly o
W the size.
The yield Is at tho rate Of 4.
pounds Of dry roo. or about 81, 81
le per acre.
be Ginseng berries arc OF a bright sea
let color when ripe. The season I
on ripening depending somewhat up
~ latitude. Each berry contains fro
one to three seeds. produced IN SIN;
n clusters at the top OF % Central pedn
IL Gle, elevated ABOVE the princip
re leaves Each seed makes n plant
berry containing two seeds will ha
two plants and so on; but one pla
may have from two 10 four rOotlet5.
single plant often bearing from fifty
se~venty-five seeds.
I'll The larger. cleaner and more emit
Ply roots have greater value when put
Ivy the market.
he This will doubtless open up a n
pie industry. important to those who o
.ng forest lands where they can establl
TO plantations OF ginseng which will !
in them handsomely. II we'll cared for.
he ~
ing Talk W. PraoticaI Facts.
The One OF the things dairymen In q
emit cality whore the dairy industry is ]
in becoming noticeable need to avoid
zen rushing into the manufacturing
or. butter and cheese before there is s
in icient material 20 work. and so {
BILE lapse the q. .terprise by simply a Ia
Of material to work with. The Prai
Farmer. Of Chicago, says that In |
nois alone there are 800 creamel
lew standing idle. from the fact that II
we're built in advance OF their nee
cry and then says further. that the grea
nd share of these creameries were cree
through the blooming" talk OF q
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