Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-04-15
THE GINSENG HABIT.
The Country's Yield of the Famous Root
Has Greatly Diminished.

The ginseng industry OF this coun-
try is steadily decreasing, although
the demand for that peculiar root in
China is apparently as great as ever,
says the New York Times. Dealers
In ginseng who have kept themselves
posted in the course of that traffic
for several years say that since 1854
there has been constant diminution
in the production OF that root in the
| United States and Canada
There are evidences of a process OF
gradual determination of the root
The principal fields of its growth
have been overworked. No oppor-
tunity has been given them to recu-
perate, and sections of the country
where ginseng has been produced
most abundantly show signs ofstunted
growth.
To the Chinaman ginseng is scarcely
less sacred than his joss 1t is 10
him the most potent of charms, as
we'll as a cureall for physical and
mental ailments He chews 1T and
drinks it as a tea. Medical author
tiles the world over deny that the
ginseng root possesses any especially
medicinal value. But the Chinese
with their habtual loyalty to their
traditions, have held firmly to GIN
seng worship for 500 years,
The expectation of ginseng from
this country for the twenty years
prior to 1884 averaged 400, 000pounds
year. Since 1884 the yearly average
OF shipments has not exceeded 275,
900 pounds. The price in the local
markets has advanced, however. A
generation or so ago, when trappers
and farmers were won't to collect the
root wherever they could find it and
use it as species of currency in pay
ing for goods bought from the village
store, its value ranged from 30 to 40
cents pound. Now the price ranges
from 50. so to S4 pound.
In China it is sold for much more,
fancy prices being charged, especially
among the more ignorant classes.
The 'gilt-edged" ginseng, whichlis
grown in Corea and Manturia, often
sells in China and Japan for 800 and
$500 a pound. This precious root is
credited by the Chinese with almost
supernatural powers as physical and
nerve restorative.
Ginseng is found in all parts Of
this country east Of the Rock Mount
aims 1t has always been particularly
plentiful in Canada and in the South
ern States. For many years. as an
industry, 1t went hand in hand with
: the fur business. Trappers dug gin
seng roots in the periods when the
fur business was dull, and it became
a common practice with fur dealers
, to alternate the two tratlics as the
J seasons changed. Throughout the
Southern States a considerable pro-
portion of the poorer white people
J are known by no other name than
' ''seng dealers.
The root is found in largest quaint.
ties in hardwood timber 1t has one
stem with three branches, each branch
!. containing five large, light-green,
= thin leaves. The flower Is at first {
. light.green, succeeded by bunch Of
= red berries. Until these berries have
|, disappeared the roots should not b.
= dug, as the sap then goes back int
= the roots, making them heavier ant
: consequently more valuable. Thu
y ginseng root, after being well dried
Is ready for the market. 1t is midi
aromatic TO the taste and bears
y slight resemblance inequality to swee
L flag.
y The cultivation of ginseng has no
~ been extensively followed in thi
- country. The only Chinese ginsenl
y farm known here is the one estab
: lished at Summit Station, On0ndag
= County, this State, by George Stanton
|, That farm was started as an expert
u ment in 1886, and in 1890 Mr. Stan
= ton set out about six thousand root
Il and sowed about ten thousand seeds
- He paid as high as $1.l5 for gree
q seed to transplant.
q r. A. Bronson of "a Cedar street
~ is the principal dealer in ginseng /
81 this city. He has been in the bus
~ ness great many years and kha
II handled an immense quantity of tn
5, root. When he entered the busine.
~ ginseng could be bought for 80 cent
~ pound. Soon the price rose to s
~ cents, and from that point it graC
Is ually advanced to 81 80 and $3.50
= This increase in price is due partl
10 the jealous efforts Of Chinese agent
who travelled through the countT
m md bid above the market price fC
~ ginseng, in order to get it in adyanc
al Of the city dealers. Some years az
ne there were few central points wheI
M ginseng was dealt in in large quaint
!, ties. Competition has divided an
IN distributed the traflic, In 1873
~ Mr.. Bronson used to buy from 20, 0C
ID to 80 900 pounds of ginseng In OF
70 place. Now If any one person ge
e together 1000 or g. 900 pounds Of I'll
lie root he is doing pretty well.
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