The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-11-18
Stark County Man Gull
tivates the Ginseng
Plant.
NOVEL HERB Which IS
Valued BY CELESTIALS
In China This Un-Ameriean
Com m odity Brings From
$6 TO So Per
Pound.

~" ptOple are aware tndt STARK
county has an agricultural pro.
duct of which practically the entire
crop is exported to China. This is the
case, however, with the ginseng that
is raised in the county Martin Coy,
of Louisville, has been engaged in
raising this root for some time, and is
preparing to go into tue business on
a somewhat extensive scale. He will
this fall plant 700 roots and next
spring expects to SOW several hundred
seeds which he grew on his small
patch the past summer.
The root of the ginsong Is held in
high esteem by the Chinese as a medi-
cine and has been in use in China as
a cure-all FOR centuries. American
physicians have found it'll, in the
root that has curative powers. Gin
seng somewhat resembles the horse
radish root. About five years are
required for the plant to attain size
giving it the nest n,ai kS table value
For the good sized plant the price Oh
tanned is from Sc to So per pound.
During the first two yeats Of its life
the stem attains a. leigh. of only
few inches, and las three leaves. 1t
has a flower of n greeri sh-wkite color
which gives place to a compact clus-
ter of green berries the size of peas,
which as they ripen change to a bright
red color. Eigl teen months are re-
quired for the seeds to ;yerrIinate.
Mr. Coy has an ideal place for the
cultivation of the plant. Vt requires
a fertile soil, and can be grown best
in a spot which is we'll drained. The
plant cannot be grown in the open,
and must have plenty of shads or it
will not thrive. The plant grows wild
in this section of The state in dense
woods, and a skilled wDoGsmal can
make good wages gathering the wild
crop. Most of the wholesale druggists
of the country purchase AMI export
the roots while a ChirImGn anywhere
is always ready II purchase n quanti-
ty.
The department of agriculture, in
its last report encourages the cultiva-
ton of the crop. Consul Johnson, To-
Gated in China. in a report said that
he believed s20000,000 worth of the
roots might be sold annually in
China. The ginseng most eagerly
sought by the Chinaman. however, Is
not the crop from the United States,
but that grown in Corea Reports Of
American consuls say that a high
grade of the plant, Imperial Ginseng"
Is grown in the royal parks and gar
dens, and that the death penalty is
meted out to any one who molest or
steal the plants. Whenever the root
Is procurable, a preparation made from
the root is used daily by tic almond
eyed followers of Confucius
Sang Kee, Canton ChinamdR says
that the root is an excellent crre for
any disease of the lungs. He says that
L is regarded among his countryme1
as a most acceptable gift, and it is Of
ten sent by the wealthy to their
friends. He described the process by
which it is prepared for use. This is
lone by placing quantity ot the root
n water in a small covered pot, which
Is placed in larger pot FULL of water.
When the water in the larger pot has
been brought to the boiling point the
lecoction is ready for use Sometimes
he decoction is poured over prcpara-
ion of rice. 1t is claimed by these
people that this tea is an excellent
onic, and valuable IN the treatment
If dyspepsia and nervous diseases. 10
which, however. the Chinese as a ma
ion are little subject.
Sang Kee has sent quantities Of tho
DOT to relatives and friends in China,
nut states that little ginseng is to be
obtained in this section. When the
rop which Mr.. Coy is putting in the
ground this fall natures. he will be
more than able to supply the local de-
nand.
A number Of Canton people have be-
ONE interested in ginseng, and will
secure seeds or roots and
commence the cultivation of the plant
n their gardens. Considerable pa
ience is necessary as in many cases
will be necessary to supply artifi-
ial shade to keep the plants in
ealthy condition, and the product can
Iot be marketed in less than five years
fter being first planted.