Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-03-10
The Ginseng and its Uses.


acquainted with the ginseng as
perennial plant growing in our
country from Canada to the Gulf
Of Mexico and west to the Rockies
comparatively few know to what
extent and purpose it is used by the
Chinese; in fact, to the superstition
of our Celestial brother alone can
the value Of the plant be attribut-
ed, The name given signifies IMAM
plant from fanciful resemblance
of it's roots to the human form, and
the Chinese believe that root cre-
ated in the form of man was intend
ed to cure all his'ills and assert that
the wild root will prolong life for
DAYS after a person.has been at the
last gasp. The effects Of the gin
seng are supposed to be Alternative,
tonic, stimulant and demulcent.
That grown in the various coun-
tries is carefully marked with To-
cality, as each is supposed to pos
sess some different quality. China
receives her supply from Corea, ia
pan and America, as we'll as linn
tied quality grown in her own soil.
Next to the native growth, the &C.
rean article is given preference fol-
lowed by the American root, Japan
coming last on the list.
In China great care is exercised
in the cultivation Of this plant,
while little has been done towards
it's cultivation in this country; I'M
til recently New Jersy has its GIN
seng farm where it's cultivation is a
fixed fact. Not only has the seed
been grown to maturity, but the
young roots have been transplant
ed with satisfactory results, which
leads rs to believe that the cultiya-
ten OF this plant could be made a
profitable business by the forest
owners of America where suitable
locations can be had for plantations
OF this kind.
Even now with the weed grow
ing in it's wild state and almost
wholly unprotected the exports
from America reach 100000 pounds
per annun1 netting us a handsome
profit. This simple plant gives en-
ployment TO numbers Of poor peo-
pie in the country, gathering and
preparing it for market. In one
district back Of tie Catskills gill
seng grows in large quantities and
thousands Of pounds are yearly
gathered and sent to New York FOR
expectation. The whole population
! in this district, men, women and
children, turn out "ginsenging."
September is the month selected as
at that time the seed has fallen and
the sap has returned to the roots
making them heavier and conse-
quently more valuable. Closing
their houses for the day and taking
baskets of food and small spades
OF hoes, they trudge away for a
days outing in the woods, often
going many miles into their depths
and sometimes collecting as many
as ten or fifteen pounds in a day.
These annual harvests all over our
country have resulted in very
perceptible shortage in the supply
which is made apparent by the
dropping off in the yearly exports
Is If not time that some decisive
steps were taken that will in a
measure, at least, supply the def
cheney.
And now to return to the sup
erstitions Of the Celestials as re-
CARDS this Plant. Very little is us-
ed by people in the northern part
of the empire, but in the south our
Acknowledged brother uses it in both
drinks and food as a precautionary
measure against sickness. Pills,
confections and infusiyes however
are the principal ways of using the
root, the latter the most common.
The Chinese Tartars also use GIN
seng extensively by boiling it in
their soup every morning and a
half ounce dose being considered a
sure cure for consumption; also
detection Of the root is of intrinsic