The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-08-12

and secured a few roots. These he planted
IN a little patch OF tho richest soil along
the banks of Piney Fork. The soil was ex-
cellent: there was no doubt OF 1t. The gin
seng came up nicely, and Uncle Frank was
much elated. But Piney Is an erratic little
stream, and 1t got on a rampage. 1t spread
all over both banks and in one night the
ginseng crop was gone.
This misfortune only strengthened Uncle
Frank in his determination to raise gin-
senS. He figured ard read about ginseng.
and learned as much about its value and
Feculiartties as he could. When spring time
came around again. he had some more roots
ana planted them. This time, however. he
kept out Of the way of Piney. He estab-
lished his ginseng farm in a corner of his
garden In town. 1t was Il little bit of n
piace-not over ten feet by four feet. In
this he planted his ginseng roots. A few
came up-most Of them did not. The soil
was bad, or something of the kind. ANY
now, the crop was practically a total fall
ure. Inc same sentiment of nee
stuDpornness, perhaps-kept him at It. and
lie got more roots and planted another
crop In about the same place. He had III
lie more success. But all this time he had
peeh studying ginseng as diligently as n
physician ever studied a Inicrobe. He had
learned much about it that was not In the
DOCKS. But he had not learned enough. for
the third crop. also. was practically a
failure.
by this time Uncle Franks ginseng fad,
hau oecome known to all the neighbors; and
'hey began to regard him as a confirmed
crank on the subject. His wife, even.
laushed at him. and tried to persuade him
that he was wasting his time and energies.
But all of this only made him more set n,
MIS- ways He would raise ginseng or hrs,
a button So he planted again. He fol-
lowed a different plan in many resnects
HOW he went about 1t I do not know. for
ina was before l began to take an interest
IN H. But he raised ginseng this time. And
then there was positively no turning him
from his project. The growing plants gave
MIN more JOY than the sale of a big bill of
goods to a rich farmer would lave done.
he almost lived in the ginseng bed-tha
httie patch Of ground scarcely bigger than
a grave or a dining-room table. He watched
II Jay and night. l guess he dreamed of
IL. AT any rate, he talked Of 1t and Thought
of it almost wholly.
And when in the fall the plants headed
up with their tiny clusters of berries he was
the happlest man In the country. He knew
that he had succeeded. And his success was
not a chance. He had carefully studied the
habits OF the plant and kept memoranda of
the conditions under certain influences and
at certain times; he had sent roots to noted
chemists and had them analysed for the
purpose of learning what was the best fer
tilizer to use in their culture. and he had
tried the plants in almost every kind Of
ground. with almost every degree of heat
and moisture. He had carefully weighed the
roots at different times and under different
circumstances, and he had kept a complete
record Of both failures and successes.
well. hat was the beginning of his
progress. People asked him what he was
going to do with the stuff after he raised
it. He told them he was going to get ricl