The Penn's Grove record., 1893-04-07
THE GINSENG HABIT
Che Country's Yield of the Famous Zoo
Has Greatly Diminished.

Has Greatly Diminished.
The ginseng industry of this o
try is steadily decreasing, although
the demand for that peculiar root 10
China is apparently as great as ever,
says the New York Times. Dealers
in ginseng who have kept themselves
posted in the ours of that traffic
for several years say that since 1884
there has been a constant diminution
10 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 oyerworked. No oppor.
tunity has. been given them to recu.
perate, and sections of the country
wnere ginseng has been produced
most abundantly show gns uf stuuted
growth.
To the Ghinaman ginseng Is 'carce'y
less sacred than his joss 1t is TO
him the most potent of charms, as
we'll as a cureall for physical and
mental ailments He chews 1t and
drinks 1t as a tea. Medical author.
tiles the world over deny that the
ginseng root possesses any especially
medicinal value. But the Chinese
with their habltual loyalty to their
traditions, have held firmly to gin.
scng worship for 500 years.
The expectation of ginseng from
this country for the twenty years
prior to 1884 averaged 400, 600 pounds
Il 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, chen trappers
and farmers were won't t. ollcct the
root wherever they could find it and
use it as a species of currency in pay
ing for goods bought from the village
store. its value ranged from 30 to 40
cents a pound. Now the price ranges
from So. so to 81 a pound.
In China it is sold for much more,
fancy prices being charged, especially
amoug the more ignorant classes.
The ''gilt-edged" ginseng, whichiis
grown In Corea and Manturia, often
sells in China and japan for 500 aud
$500 a pound. This precious root is
credited by the Chinese with almost
supernatural powers as a 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 1t became
a common practice with fur dealers
to alternate the two tratfics as the
seasons changed. Throughout the
Southern States a considerable pro-
portion of the poorer white people
are known by no other name than
t.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 a
ligbt.green, succeeded by a bunch of
red berries. Until these berries have
disappeared the roots should not be
dug, as the sap then goes back into
the roots, making them heavier and
consequently more valuable. The
ginseng root, after being we'll dried,
is ready for the market. 1t Is mildly
afo .natlc to the taste and bears d
slight resemblance in quality to sweet
nag.
The cultivation of ginseng has not
oeen extensively followed in this
country. The only Chinese ginseng
farm known here is the n estab-
tished at Summit Station. Onondaga
County, this State, by George Stanton.
That farm was started as an expert
ment 10 1856, and in 1890 Mr., Stan
ton set out about six thousand roots
and sowed about ten thousand seeds,
He paid as high as Sl.l5 for green
seed to transplant.
T. A. Bronson of "a Cedar street,
Is the principal dealer in ginseng in
this city. He has been in the bust.
ness a great many years and thas
handled ar immense quantity OF the
root. When he entered the business
ginseng could be bought for So cents
q pound. Soon the price rose to so
cents, and from that point it grad.
ually advanced to 81 so and 50. SO.
This increase in price is due partly
to the Jealous efforts of Chinese agents
who travelled through the country
and bid above the market price for
ginseng, In order to get it in advance
| of the city dealers. Some years ago
there were a few central paints where
| ginseng was dealt in in iarI. ql,nti-
ties. Competition has div Gcd an
distributed the tralhc In 1890
Mr.. Bronson used to buy from rs, 600
to 80, 900 pounds of ginseng In one
) place. Now If any M person gets
together 1000 or 5000 p ponds of the
-oot he Is doing pretty well.