The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-10
W. A. BATEs's GINSENG FARM
1T Is LOCATED IN ALLEGASY CoUN-
TY, NEW YORK.
from a Visit TO His Farm to Sc
Information.

ginseng. One Of the interested parties has
Just returned from a visit TO the ginseng
farm OF ". A Bates in Allegany county,
New York. and is enthusiastic over what he
terms the fascinating work OF raising the
curious plant which is held in such venera-
ton by the Chinese. Mr.. Bates is meeting
with success in his peculiar occupation,
and as ne himself says that the climate Of
Indiana is favorable for the growing of
ginseng his followers hope to make big
thing out OF their new undertaking.
Not every one knows. Mr.. Bates says.
that the joys and sorrows OF most China
men seem 10 rest upon the small wild root
which they call ginseng-pronounced as IL
spelled ''gen-shing'-and which is the basis
OF nearly every medicine that is made by
the Chinese people. So great is the faith
OF tho Mongolians IN the medicinal value
of this root that IT is almost impossible to
cure a Chinaman Of any sort of disease If
he knows that there is no ginseng in his
medicine. He binds up his cut finger In a
rag soaked with ginseng tea, he takes gin
seng tea .onic. he takes 1t for head
ache and he insists upon taking IT for any
other real or imaginary sickness. He even
believes firmly that II will renew youth. and
no doubt feels that he might live a thousand
years II he could only get enough ginseng
into his system. The root used to grow
,-i.d in all parts OF China. but Of late years
r1s become 80 scarce that an imperial
tcic; has been issued prohibiting its collec-
tion by the public. and all that is now gath
cred in the Chinese empire is imperial prop
erty and is sold by those that have the
privilege of dealing in 1T at its weight in
gold. In price II varies from Sc or SO TO $500
800 an ounce, depending, of course. upon
its quality. The American grown ginseng
Is not nearly so valuable, but at the same
time those that are interested in it's culture
in this country getting mighty good
prices for their product. and 1t is surprising
that more people do not take up the indus
try.
VALUE LIES IN REVERENCE.
Mr.. Bates, who is an authority upon the
subject quite frankly admits that there is
no real value in the plant beyond the rev.
erence in which the Chinese hold it. They
regard il. he says. with a superstitious adj
miration and have a particular fancy for
certain forms Of the roots. One of these is
the "Manchurian FORM" which is much the
shape of a human being. They will pay
fabulous prices for these roots and will pre-
serve them in glass cases Mr.. Bates be-
lieves that he has one of these especially
sacred roots and is taking the best of care
OF II until he is ready TO offer it for sale
among the Chinese of New York city. Since
the roots are now so scarce and yet so val
liable to the Chinese the cultivated roots
will have TO take the place OF the wild ones.
though the wild roots are supposed TO be
the more desirable. These wild roots are to
be found in various part OF New York State
and in lesser quantities here in Indiana.
Ginseng is not pretty plant. II consists
of a single stalk that shoots Up to a dis
lance of from eight to twenty-four inches;
then four prongs sprout out, each of them
ending in a bunch OF five leaves: from the
point OF sprouting the plant stalk continues
upward three or four inches and terminates
in a close group OF berries. There are from
three 10 thirty berries on each stalk, and
each berry contains two or three seeds
Ginseng does not produce the seed until it
Is two years old; each year after that so
far Mr.. Bates's experiments have prog
ressed. II increases its productiveness at the
rate OF about 100 per cent a year In the
fall the stalk lies down but the root re-
mains alive and puts forth again in the
spring. Every three or four years the roots
covered with leaves
In New York besides that Of Mr.. Bates.
but as yet the raising OF the plant is a
very new business in the United States.
The Indianapolis man had no trouble in
finding the Bates ginseng farm by reason
OF the very peculiar structure visible from
the road, an entire acre being rooted over
with fine lattice work. AS the natural
home OF the plant is in the forests. arti-
fetal shade must be provided in this way.
and Mr.. Bates's place looks like a gigantic
rustic summer house. The four sides of
the acre are inclOsed by a heavy board
fence about seven feet high, with three
feet OF wire netting stretched along the
top. meeting the roof OF laths. In this
manner the space inside gets plenty of air
and the sunlight sits in through the lat
tice covering just as IL does through the
leaves OF the forest trees. The high fence
with the help Of three blOodhounds which
Mr.. Bates keeps on the place. protect the
valuable ginseng from thieves, who could
get rich in a night by stealing some of the
finest plants which have been raised with SO
much care.
THE LITTLE PLANTATION.
Upon entering the little plantation the
visitor could easily imagine himself in the
cool. shady woods. Before him. running
the entire length OF the place, were long
rows three feet wide OF low plants looking
very much like young strawberry plants.
with a narrow path running along between
each row. Each OF the rows contained
plants at different stages OF growth There
were the seedlings. which would take eight
months 10 terminate. the year-old plants
and the two-year-old plants. the latter
bearing seed. which their owner sells at $50
a pound. The roots OF the plants will not
be mature enough TO be marketable until
they have reached the age OF five years.
and when that time comes IL Is quite likely
that Mr. Bates will find himself a compare
lively rich man. When the roots are
shipped drug they are dried and boxed
with packages OF qulcklime TO keep them
very dry. and when the Chinaman sells the
roots he il very careful not 10 breathe upon
them. When placed on sale after being
dried the roots are from two 10 four inches
long; they are hard and brittle and have a
sweet taste that is at the same time slight
Iy bitter
The market for seeds is not among the
ginseng consumers. but among those that
wish 10 engage IN the business There In