The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-07-27
THE USE OF GINSENG
BY the Chinese Involved In ConsId-
cradle Mystery-The Tea Theory
Doesn't Hold WAter-Is It Used IN
Idolatrv .

~ 'A1S co lHS iHiNtSe use ginseng
for?' IS question asked thousands OF
times. hut up 10 the present time no
person IN this country has been able 10
answer with any degree OF accuracy.
The correct name OF the herb is Gen
Sing" the literal translation and dch-
milton Is MANS Limb" This name l.
assigned because OF the peculiar rcscnl-
blancc the root has to human anatomy.
Sang" Is u wild native OF New York.
Pennsylvania, Ohio. West Virginia,
Kentucky, Illinois and indiana. and IT
Is found tn several other states. but
those named produce til. bulk OF III.
production Of ihiS country. 1t thrives
best in thickly wooded lands and sener.
ally on the west hill sides. II rarely
grows over fifteen inches In height and
is known by 4 cluster OF hve red berries
at the top OF the stalk. the root being
buried about one foot from the surface.
After the sang is dug II is washed and
dried in the open air and WHEN IN the
latter condition 1t readily finds Its way
to the seaport towns and Is exported to
China, Kong Kong being the principal
market where American dealers COM
pete with the natives and the cultivated
ginseng OF China. The native produc-
ton is very much superior TO the Amer
lean article both In size and appear
ancc. 1t being cultivated by the govern-
ment and the fields where the root is
planted are guarded by soldiers for Gen.
turtles.
Attempts have been frequent here to
cultivate gin seng. but invariably
proved utter failures. There are only
certain parts OF the Chinese empire
where ginseng Is used and known. ana
only with the wealthy. being too cx-
pansive for the poorer CLASSES.
1t Is said that sang" Is classified.
then ground and used I'm making i tea
which has many medical qualities, al
though the scientific men OF this and all
other Countries have failed to find more
than an aromatic taste. This theory
IS advanced by an American exporter
OF Cincinnati who gave literally III
support of missionaries in China, and
who was conscientious enough TO say,
III the Chinese we're using this root FOR
for missionaries and then sell them the
article deal in" The answer Is good
but II ginseng were not used for idola-
try, why is 1t that the large, well de-
VcloPed root viii always sell at 4 high
er price than the small, solid root which
pound for pound will produce more ex-
tract than the big root. and why Is II
that split roots-this Is often done by
the digger in order to make large root
dry more qu!ckly-arc generally liz
nored by the Cinnamon and always sold
at L reduction?
Then. again, the largest American ex-
porters at San Francisco, holds to III.
theory that ginseng is used as burnt
incense In the Chinese Joss houses. His
idea falls for the same reason as tn.
other. large and small roots would bring
the same price II they were to be ground
up. The split and oven dried article, In
consequence. would be the most valua-
BILE and 1t would necessarily be known
and used in all parts OF the Celestial
empire where a Joss house exists, and
this Is positively not n fact. because
only the rich use the herb
A prominent dealer, who has spent
much OF his time in China, ADVANCES
the idea that the roots are selected very
carefully BY the Chinese and those
which are the largest and best shaped
are ornamented and studded with rich
Jewels. after which they are placed in
jewelled cases and are sold to the rlcn
who make gifts OF sacred nature to
their children. relatives and the nobill-
ty. This explanation looks llttlc
plausible, but It gives no accounting for |
the small root and consequently Is en-
titled 10 no very great consideration.
The number OF pounds exported year
ly is from $4,000 10 $4,000 pounds, hu:
Just at present. owing TO the difficulty |!
in the empire. none has been shipped for |
several weeks, /; being all held either !
in New York or San Francisco 10 !
await the result OF the present troubles.
Ginseng, being very expensive art!.
Gle. causes many receptions to be prsc-
ticed by the "unsophstocated sang
digger" one OF which Is loading" This
is done by inserting shot into the root
while IL is in 4 green state: another is
to substitute parsnips loaded with na,.s.
as the latter Is not unlike the sang" In
color, but is very much lighter when
dried. however, the experienced eye will
quickly detect the latter and loaded"
roots are discovered best by dropping
into water. Those Containing any for
eisn substance will sink, white the other
Will feat. This scheme OF dishonesty !
originated In Kentucky several years
since. and is now practIced to some III !
tie extent wherever the roo; Is found.