New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-28
GINSENG CULTURE IN WISSOCR H.
a NOVEL INDUSTRY LIKELY TO MAKE BIG
TRADE WITH CHINA

China is sending its noblest sons to this country
to investigate the properties of the Missouri SOIL
raising ginseng for the use OF the rhiihohs
of Chinese across the water. Within recent hfoitS
several delegations of notable Chinese among
them being the Hon Ho Vow. Chinese Consul at
San Francisco have journeyed 10 the country
lying in the heart of the Ozarks. and there they
have found propitious place. they say. LOT
the culture ginseng. the favorite opiate OF the
Chinese
There has been for some time ginseng farm III
the Ozark country and this novel industry-novel
for the Southwest at least-is now likely 10 gro"
rapidly. Arrangements have been made TO export
the ginseng raised here direct the principal
ports Of China where il will be sold AT present
American raised ginseng is considered of inferior
quality.
In travelling by rail across that rugged upllft
known as the Ozarks few persons would THINK OF
connecting the landscape with the ancient customs
and supersttions of the faraway Chinese Empire
Yet here mas begun the industry which may estab-
lish gigantic commercial relations between TINS
country and the opposite side of earth Inc con-
Meeting link between such wide apart localities is
ginseng. that tabled root of antiquity. generally
believed by learned men to be idehtlcal WITH the
mandrake of the Bible.
About hundred years ago ginseng was dis
covered among the North American Indians. and
ever since then the growth found wild. princi-
pally in the CatskH Mountains has died out until
there is hardly any wild ginseng 10 be found Most
OF the ginseng cultivated in the United States is
found in Missouri and this is indeed small area
compared its possibilities
Ginseng is used alone in China where the people
believe it is a cure for all ills They think il is
blessing sent from heaven and when the plant or
root grown certain shapes to represent idols.
then the Chinese willing to pay almost any
price for il eat. They make tea out OF the
root or eat IT dry. II produces sensation similar
to that of opium. The rest of the world, except
Corea. has little for the root except TO raise
and sell it to the Chinese II Is estimated mat
seng TO perfection they could build up a trade OF
$4,000 90 annually AT the present time the pant NJ
ginseng have absolute corner on the i'm
been reported, the Corean planters fearing there
to be overproduction Of the root burned
at least one-hfth of their stock in hand. This was
done TO keep the prices up ,,.
in gold II has been known to bring 500 a pound
The poorer class cannot afford TO puy TINS: ana
tty imported from America and Japan is not forth
coming The wild ginseng in the United states naT
with care Re grown at all The biggest ginseng
on the Frisco Line OF railway. Fifteen years ago
c. F. Willard. then a merchant and iar In, o1
ginseng culture He investigated the matter eare.
wheat II took him three years to E g. ms
first crop started Ginseng Is like horseradiSn IN
srens sr4T he Mard ranch Contains
teen acres, and it brings huge profits ms year ar
from fourth Of acre the Millards sold S4oup
But the results have not been accomplished with
out serious difficulty. In the beginning MI Miliard
suffered failure after failure. He studied the plant
as ii grew Its wild state among the sandhiiis OF
the Ozarks. and his efforts at home culture were
finally successful
Ginseng requires two primary elements-sha1e
and moisture Given these. IL can be grown IN
Missouri to perfection because Of the climate II Is
brush arbors should be erected over each Ded 10
keep out the sunlight While ginseng thrlveS on
water IT does not necessarily have to have H. as a
ginseng plant has been known to out1Ve any other
plant without water. II IS very hardy.
The Mards ship most of their ginseng direct 70
Hong Kong and Picking. where they secure from 80
to IS pound. They say the actual cost Of Produc-
ing il is less than p cents pound. The culture Is
rapidly spreading throughout the Ozark region