Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-03

| to store the crop. no outlay for horses
stock, tools. OF hired help an "a woman
can as easily do the work required for
| half an acre as man. One gardner in
CORTLAND county. n. Y, has been bank
| Ing 5000 year regularly for the past four
| years, and that alone from the sale OF
seeds raised on less than one third OF
an acre.
There are in this country alone about
seventy-fve gardens under cultivation
and it is not eSagerating to say that most
| of the owners are to-day worth thousands
Of dollars. many of whom, five years ago.
| were not worth $500. United States Coun-
sui johnson is quoted as saving that $50,
| oao 600 worth of sinsing could be marketed
each year in China if America could sup
ply that amount of roots.
In 1898 there were exported 36boo0
pounds, while in 1900 there were exported
less than los.1oO. the price in this time
having advanced steadily from 81 cents
per pound in 1888 to an average to $6 per
pound in 1900. while to-day the price
varies from 81 to $40 per pound according
to grade.
If the average housewife realized that
from ground space in her OWL door yard
ten or twelve feet wide by twenty feet
long sch could realize $3.50 to 5000 each year
with no more attention than is required
for flower bed, it is reasonable to sup
pose that ginsng would become one of the
most widely cultivated crops in America.
It seems like a tale from Arabian
Nights to say that an investment OF 80
will increase yearly in value; until at the
end of eight years it will have a total Of
over $4,000; yet statistics prove that even
these figures have been exceeded by the
growers who have gardens under cultiva-
ton to-day
THE OUTLOOK.
Those who have studied the conditions
governing the use of the plant in China
are of the opinion tilet enough ginseng
cannot be produced in the next fifty years
to cause the price to fall. AS a meter
of fact, the known source from which
ginseng can be gathered for export are SO
limited that the price of the root must
needs advance for the mex. Zen years
The roots often form in grotesque
shapes and it is not infrequent that the
root takes the general shape Of a man s
body-head, arms, legs complete. For
such a root of good size the Chinese will
pay fabulous prices.
When any member of a Chinese family
is seriously sick the priests are called in
Gas many priests as there is money to pay
for), who dispose themselves in semi
circle around high altar, erected for
the occasion. on which is an image Of
Buddha. fanked on each side by tall
candlestick. At the feet Of the immage
is carved tray, on which is paced the
wondrous ginseng, which is to bring the
sick one back to health
During the prayer the priests sit Tur-
kish fashion. with their feet tucked under
them. Their prayers invoke the blessing
Of the idol of the magic root, which is
afterwards ground fine and STEPPED into
tea. which is then given to the patient.
The prayers are always intoned,, and,
in some cases, are so well rendered as to
remind Americans Of the cathedral SER
vices held in Christian lands. Nearly al
ways the prayers are rendered to the
accompaniment Of weird music from horns
and shells and the shrill noise of an in
strument made from a human thighbone
followed out and converted into musical
nine