The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-01-24
RALEIGH, N. c., JANUARY "a, 1899.

formation regarding it's culture. We
shall be glad to hear from some OF our
readers on this subject. Something
was said regarding it in THE Fro
GREssIvE FARMER of January 3rd.
The .. g. Department of Agriculture
issued last year a revised edition OF
Bulletin No Is, Division of Botany,
entitled American Ginseng, Its Com
mercial History, Protection and Guilt
vation." The bulletin was originally
published in 1895, under the direction
OF the B0tanist, the information in it
having been collected by Mr.. Geo. V.
Nash. In the revised edition Of the
bulletin the subject matter is brought
up to date by Mr.. Maurice G. Kains,
who is now engaged in Investigating,
for the Division OF Botany, various
plant products that are new or little
known in the U0ited States. 1t ap
gears from the bulletin that during
the past few years the price Of ginseng
has continued to increase, the best
wild root bringing, in the wholesale
market for the season Of 1892 81 to
s. rs per pound. 1t is stated that the
demand for ginseng in China is steady,
and that the exports OF ginseng may
be largely increased without overstock
ing the market. The subjects discussed
in the bulletin are the following: His
tory, description. range, medicinal
properties, commercial value, exporta
tIoD, protection, cu tivation, improve
ment Of the root, chemical analysis,
the cultivated root, selection and prep.
aration Of the root, profits, adultera-
tion and fraud.
The bulletin contains 80 pages and is
illustrated by five text figures, one of
which is a map showing the natural
range of the ginseng plant in the United
States. Copies may be obtained by
miscellaneous applicants from the Su
perrin tendent of Documents, Union
Building, Washington, D. c., at the
price affixed by him, namely, cents.
Another ginseng bulletin recently
issued is Bulletin No. 78 of Kentucky
station, by Prof. H. Garman. It is q
profusely illustrated treatise on the
nature, value, culture and profits Of
the plant The bulletin gives details
of cultural tests by it's author, with
Photographs of the stems, leaves, flow,
ers and roots of the plant at 1, 2, 8 and
4 years Of age.
The growth of the ginseng industry
in the United States and the almost
fabulous increase of price are shown
by the following figures taken from the
government report:
The value per pound in 1921 was 48
cents; in 184l. II cents; in 1861. "a
cents; in 1892. So 81; in 1897, 81 68. The
total value of ginseng exported from
the United States in 1921 was $171, 786
in 1897 it was $84O 686 This export
consisted almost entirely of wild roots
gathered by women and children in
the woods of rough and mountainous
| regions.
For, while ginseng has for many
years been grown in China, Japan and
probably Russia and other countries,
it is only recently that attempts, more
or less successful, to grow our species,
have been made in a small way in this
country. Tue plant occurs over much
of the eastern United States from Can
ada to Alabama and is gathered over
the whole OF this territory, the bulk of
it eventually going abroad from New
York city.
The small quantities gathered by in
dividual collectors.ar sold to druggists,
grocers and others in the immediate
neighborhood, and by these in turn
sent to the nearest city. Travelling
agents of dealers in hides, waste iron,
ETC., pick up good deal of ginseng in
the mountain counties.
The high prices ruling of late years
have caused such industrious search
for the wild plants that Canada and
several of the United States have
thought it wise to pass laws forbidding
the gathering OF the roots while the
plants are bearing seed, lest it became
extinct.
Here is a crop that has increase d in
price much more rapidly than cotton
and other farm crops have decreased.
Why not try it's culture7 This Ken
lucky bulletin tells how. The expert
ment station is located at Lexington,
KY, aud NJ. A Scovel is the Director.
Address him for a copy of the bulletin.
FERTILIZERS IN NORTH CARO-
LIMA.