Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-01-10
indians and Other In
Ginseng Business

nv VI bihoNhtss "hlah 10
a remarkably profitable industry, for
the plant may be raised in a window
box or on more elaborate scale, has
for some time been engaged in by the
Indians OF northern Wisconsin. Dur
ing the last few years the growing OF
ginseng has attracted considerable at.
tention in the United States, and now
many of the States boast farms" OF
this commodity. To have ginseng
bed II is not necessary to own broad
acres. A respectably-sized bed may
be planted in back yard, on the north
side of a building or in the angle of a
house.
Every farmer might have a ginseng
bed in his garden, and grow the plants
at comparatively little expense, after
once getting a start In ginseng grow
ing II is the fleshy, succulent roots that
are desired, unless one be in the nurs-
cry business when, of course. he would
wish to raise seeds and young roots TO
sell to those just starting into the bus
ih'oSs INtH NhtH tht buSihtoo UNI
to secure the roots for dying the grow
er Is always anxious to gave all the
seeds formed each year in order to in
crease his paintings.
So many extravagant tales have been
told of the profits from ginseng grow
ing that many are led into tie business
with unreasonable expectations. while
others of a more cautious nature be-
come suspicious and do not engage In
1t at all. The truth of the matter Is
that present conditions seem to insure
a reasonable amount of profit in the
business where II is begun on a small
scale and increased gradually as the
grower becomes more familiar with the
work. Enormous profits have been de-
rived from small areas of ginseng
plants, and writer's have taken advant-
age of the fact to multiply the acre
age and also the returns, assuming
that the profits would increase accord
ingly, which is unfair under most con-
ditions and with most persons.
Ginseng, or sang, has been known,
and to some extent collected in Mis-
souri, probably since It's early settle
ment. Even now there is scarcely a
rural community without its sang
hunter" However, II was only with
the increasing scarcity of ginseng to-
gether with the high prices paid foc
Il, that has drawn attention to the sub
ject of its artificial culture for the
market.
The demand for ginseng comes from
China and, to a limited extent, from
Japan. For ages It has been used al.
most exclusively by the Chinese and
japanese, who consider 1t tonic OF
marvellous quality to be employed in
cases OF debility, much as we use Qui-
nine II Is said to be to some extent
mixed with quinine by Chinese doctors
That 1t has some medicinal value Is
recognized by those who have investi'
gated its properties, but II is nowhere
a recognized remedy except In China
There II is a standard cure for all Ill.
and equally efficacious as preventive
That the value set on the ginseng roo
by the Chinese is largely sentimental
or superstitious Is evidenced by th'
fact that they are said to be willing tC
pay much higher prices for root
which, in their shape, happen to re
semble the human form or that OF som'
animal These facts are of import
ance as indicating the probable Ions
continued demand for ginseng.