Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-09-05
AN ORIENTAL TIDBIT.
GINSENG IS DEEMED A LUXURY 6<
CELESTIAL GRANOEES.
The Root In China Is Worth More
Than It's Weight I'm Gold. and In
Korea 1t Is Death 10 Export IL
without Imperial Permission.


It is not well known fact that a
large percentage of the shipments OF
ginseng (Aralia ginseng which so an,
nually to China is contributed by the
forests of northern Ohio Nevertheless
II is true. Large districts there were
and still are comparatively we'll stocked
with the herb, and many residents
have made hundreds of dollars by gath.
eriDg the roots in years gone by. The
first sign of spring calls the ginseng
diggers from their homes, and many of
them are already afield. seeking prob
ably the most precious plant that
grows. y spade and bag over his
shoulder identify the man who seeks
ginseng from other men. BE goes &c
rich woodlands and then singles out
the butternut trees. under which the
herb is most commonly found.
The roots Of the plant, sometimes
feShy tubers the size of a forehnger,
are of that shape and easily go TO make
UP n pound Of the matter desired.
When dried, they bring from So 10 SIC
a pound, according TO their size, the
older and larger the higher the price
Although gathering the roots is a prof.
liable business, that Of selling direct
to the consumer is much more profit.
able. In China ii is sold by the ounce
and Ofttimcs brings rs high as $500 an
ounce. that weight in all cases bringing
more than the pound upon the Ameri-
can market With the Celestials 1t is
prize, and upon perfect specimens as
high as $500 has been lavished. With
- 4 e,
natural power strengthen and invig.
crate the weakening tissues, so that
the eater Will live 10 be 100 years old
And not only is the power thus ascrib
ed. but 10 the poor mentally IL imparts
knowledge and. above all, prepares
the olive eyed prince for a long and
luxurious sojourn on earth.
In fact. the ginseng root is almost
sacred to the Chinaman the upper
class, and TO present II TO ones friend
is a homage difficult of appreciation
by the sons Of the west who gather Il
In the woods. The entire growth of
the herb is protected by the govern
ment IN the Chinese empire. at one
time the emperor detailed 10000 Tar
tars to gather all that could be found
in his domain. Each man was obliged
TO give two pounds to his majesty, and
FOR what he succeeded in gathering aft
erward he was repaid by its weight in
silver. This. however. was no more
than one-eighth Of its value, and soon
II was exchanged evenly for it's weight
in gold, as is often the case at the
present time.
The American crop does not compare
at all favOrably with that Of Korea.
IN that country, however, il is found
practicable TO raise ii in gardens, and
here II IS impossible TO produce good
roots by SO doing. 1t is a crime pun.
ishable by death for a Korean TO sell
ginseng outside OF his own country
without imperial permission. Thus
protected it forms one Of the staple
products of Korea and is much appre
ciated by the Chinese owing to its su
periOr flavor. There Is naturally g
prejudice on the part Of the Chinese tC
receive from the west anything sc
highly regarded by them. Up to the
dawn Of the nineteenth century it was
exported from America in small quan.
titles, but as early as 1880 the ship
ments amounted TO nearly 100000 fl
one year.
There seems TO be an idea prevalent
in this country that the Chinese pow.
der the roots and smoke them. This Is
an error. 1t is never used as n quietus
The cOmmOner classes eat it much as
we do the common licorice root, but
those who employ 1t most are the gran
dees and even the royal households.
a truly oriental and luxurious man
ner Of administering the powdered roo
obtains among the higher classes. By
the highest caste the treatment is tax
en- during a period of 40 days once il
two years The patient is taken to
beautiful garden where flowers ar
blooming, birds singing, water spar
king from a fountain and usual.
where music is to be heard through tn
hours OF the day. In this retreat he i
told nothing of the outside world ant
is allowed to receive no letters from
friends for fear they might contain un
pleasant news. Here he is fed tn,
ginseng powder, a soft yellow stuff
with a slightly aromatic flavor. AS
natural consequence of his rest from
trouble and worry the patient comes
forth in brighter spirit, and in thi
way IT is sounded abroad that II wa.
the ginseng treatment which made hin
so.
1t is singular fact that the nam,
given the plant by the Chinese and tn,
North American Indian is strongl,
similar. Both names suggest the fan
cied resemblance Of root to the form
of the human body, the tuber being oft
times split into two divisions resem
bling the limbs Of a man. On accoun
of this similarity to mans form tn
supernatural powers were ascribed t
II, and there is much evidence to SHOW
that 1T was in high favor with the In
dams on the same account-Pittsbur
Dispatch.
Antiquity Of "a Regular shfndx.o
The antiquity of many famiIia
terms is surprising when it Is known
Many people are not aware that "Wha
the dickensP' occurs IN Shakespear,
but fewer still will be prepared to hea
that the phrase "a regular shindy" /
found in an authors note to a poeI
called THE Popish Kingdom" pull
liShQd in 157O A xvrttpr I'm Tho Afb.