The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-08-05
Cbe 5arri and Grove.
Copyrighted BY Rural Press Syndicate.
II. E. STOcEBRlDGE, PHI. D., Editor.
ABOUT GINSENG.

The extent to which ginseng grow.
ing has recently been exploited, the
constant and skillful advertising civ
en- by those having seeds and plants
Tor sale, and the almost fabulous
tales in common circulation, as to
the profits easily obtained from the
crop under cultivation have resulted
IN giving the plant Il prominence far
IN excess Of its present or prospect
i've Importance. The press fairly
teens with more or less unreliable
statements concerning the plant; al.
most every neighborhood in many
sections OF the country Possesses its
future millionaire from the prospect
i've profits Of his tiny patch of the
Fabulous plant and constant inquir-
les are being sent me by parties in
whose minds the virus of ginseng
propagation has begun to take hold.
1t is therefore perhaps time to set be-
fore the reader IA few of the impor-
Jant actual facts as to this crop ia
which the interest has suddenly be-
come so general.
My first personal experience with
ginseng came about through camp
ing near band Of Chippewa Indian
"seng ulggers in the woods of nor
them Minnesota nearly a score of
years ago. The root was found grow
ing in the most inaccessible recesses
Of the northern woods, along the
banks of unknown streams and by
the shores Of small lakes. Moist soil,
dense shade aud cool locaiitieS and
climate being the essentials to the
natural development OF the plant,
the growth of which is 50 slow that
the Indians claimed to never visit
locality the second time till after the
lapse of at least seven years. | men,
ton these facts to show the charac-
ter of the habitat, and the conditions
under which the wild plant thrives
and the cultivated crop must obtain
for the best development.
The first point worthy of consider
alton is, that ginseng is not a native
Of the south, except in the Blue
Ridge mountains. None of the ma
tural conditions for It's development
are offered by this section of cUun-
try. If made to grow here, it must
be under wholly unnatural surroud-
ings, attended by comparatively
slight prospect of success. The next
point to which attention may advan-
fageously directed, is the fact that
the present prominence of the crop
is chiefly the result of advertisers
who offer book of Instructions for
sale, and claim therein to have made
IL net profit Of $25, 600 from one quar-
ter of an acre in this plant in sim
gle year. They offer plants and seed
for sale, at profitable prices, to en-
able any one to duplicate this won
derful fortune. That ginseng may
be made profitable crop is probable.
That those who succeed in its cult
walton must be well equipped and
exceptional is equally probable. 1t
would seem that anyone with sense
enough to avoid a gold brick vender
in a dark night ought to see that any
one with such snap AS a secret by
which a fortune could be made from
II crop taken from a quarter of an
acre of land annually, would be slow
about selling the secret, and the
plants whereby whoever will pay the
small price of the little books and
,,,i.a and heco,na q romnetitor in
the limited market. The fact is that
there must be more money in getting
other people into the business, than
in remaining in it.
Another point worthy of cOnsidera-
ton is the fact that though the wild
plant has been supposed to be re-
mani ahlv tree from disease and pest,
its rnntinned cultivation has de-
vaIonad numerous serious enemies:
~ nIrmnL 80 that IRONS have been ru-
,nn ,i'. and several exnerimpnt stations
have felt called mon to make special
'.trdias nT hose trouhIrs and issue
hnlIatins ON the same,
Tbnm~h we are ont of the natural
oraa nf gsnsino Urowth if does NOT
%iu ,hat If miGht NOT he snccess-
f UiiT" i"trn6nceds buf cultivation of
any ulnnt outside of it's natural hab-
itat nr snrronndiurs to which nature
i,as ',d.ntnd if is necessarily attend
I'D ',%I h". Ji#rnIfias and sprious prob
IS U -! ,i,iii visa Ills nartirnlariv in.
t,,''' tn EInridinnS that fine natn-
roi , ,Gado nf the forest, essential to
H. S't ,,.iij rlant h,s hpen substituted
!iie -" Nv Pi h,, thn bnlf-shadn Slated
In 0Tt t,,rentod in Fiorida AS nrotec-
s ti,' tL,r nineannIes and later modi-
ged for for P grange tree and tobacco
nrvU '",
siT T%a ,5sa and probable demand for
.;, ime use o "n" in,nortant considera-
ti ,nSs"S The old Indian chief of whom
7 'i imnnired the nse of the roots he
! 1t, multi rnniiad as f"IIows. Won know
W. ~, i fdhm GSbinamanl John make
I hiII ,, ""Ii, naka God-smoke. ont
piE lii ,T % harmed that ginseng
was exported to China for use in.
medicine and for burning as incense
The demand is probably limited
as the purchasing power OF emma
men is limited, and there is no other
market. The wild root is becoming
aytarminated through the constant