Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-08-18
AT LEAST ONE WRITER SEEMS
TO THINK so.
BRIGHT POSSIBILITIES
Takes Seeds Eighteen Months to Ger
inmate BIT the Roots Sell for SO
per Pounu-Chinamen the Chief
Consumers and they Require $780,
100000 Worth Year.

What about ginseng? Is it a profit
able crop?
Give Hall Dye of Cuba, N. Y, thinks
it is, and says so. Writing on the sub
ject he declares that for the past five
years hs has devoted a great deal OF
his time to the study of profit bearing
crops and, next to the rubber industry
of South America, there is nothing he
has seen so profitable as the culture OF
ginseng.
After reading the government statis-
tics concerning the plant, he wrote
to w. A. Bates of Cuba, N. Y, who is
probably the largest grower in the
United States, stating the object he
had in view and asking for such in
formation as he could give me. In re-
ply, he received work or ginseng writ
ten by himself and also an invitation
to visit his garden.
1t is not his purpose, he says, to give
description Of his garden, but rather
to show what profit there is in the
business in order that many who are
in ignorance of this valuable crop may
have their eyes opened to it and per-
haps join in swelling the amount an
nually exported to China, and incl
dentally assist in creating a new source
of wealth for the agricultural communi
ties of the United States.
The amount of ginseng which can be
annually exported to China without
overstocking the market, is reported by
United States Consul Johnson, (who
made very exhaustive examination
of the subjecD to be over $20,000,OOQ
worth Now, as the United States mas
never exported ginseng to the extent
of 100000 annually, it will readily
be seen that the field for an extensive
and lucrative business is open to those
who are willing to avail themselves OF
the advice of those who are posted on
the subject.
Ginseng grows in rich and damp,
but not wet or muddy soils such as
llrevail in hardwood forests and is
found wild in Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, Massachusetts,, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia. West Virginia, North and
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama,
Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin
Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri, but by
cultivation and proper treatment Of
the various soils this natural range can
be greatly increased in fact it can be
grown almost anywhere in the tenn
perate zone.
From figures furnished by Mr.. Bates
the following, showing how an acre of
ginseng can be started from 1000 fine
selected seed bearing roots planted
in 1904 and figured for period of five
years, is more than justified by the re-
suits of his garden.
These 1000 plants should average
20 seeds to the plant summer of 1905
and so seeds to the plant each follow
ing year; first year 10000 seeds; sec
ond year 100000 seeds. AS it takes IS
months for ginseng seed to terminate.
seeds of the 1905 crop will produce
plants in the spring of 1907; seeds of
the 1906 crop will produce plants in
the spring of 1908; seeds of the 1907
crop will produce plants in the spring
of 1909 and at the end of this period
of time there should be 200, 900 growing
plants, allowing 10000 seeds for loss,
besides having the 1908 and 1909 crops
of seed on hand, and the 1000 roots
you began with figured on the same
basis as above, viz, 2 ounces to the
root, would give 1915 TBS. of dry
root. which, figured at SO per pound.
would make a total of $3.50 cash, 2Oo,-
600 growing plants, or an acre and
100000 seeds on hand
In speaking of ginseng Mr.. BATES
says: Anyone can start in the ginse
business who has the will and a
of ground. | have started quite a
Der with few seeds and roots
my garden, who are today in d
to realize comfortable forum
from in the next few years.
By the courtesy 9'Mr 3
Mr.. Dye found ready to as
obtaining information q
letter is enabled to ma
of his method of carind 49,
the results obtained
cate that his method
there are beds in hi
1S6 ft-) which W
vested after the seed
crop worth about SO.
the entire income fri
planted to ordinary c,
This, says Mr.. Dye,
ers to pause and CO
priety of planting at
The expense attached
tai bed is so trivial th
afford to neglect the
Dyes conclusion.