The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1904-11-11
GINSENG IN WASHINGTON
A Plant That is Highly Esteemed and
the Principal Market for
which rs China

Inc CULTIVATION OF InlS planI mas Oeeu
taken up in Washington by a company
composed OF Walla Walla county peo-
people located at Waitsburg. In re-
cent issue of the Waitsburg Times ap-
peared the following by A. w. Phil
lips; manager for the company:
The growing of ginseng has taken a
prominent place in the minds of many
people within the last few years from
the fact that the price has been stead
lily advancing and the wild plant has
became very scarce. AS result Of
high prices people began to experiment
with it's cultivation. Success was very
slow and doubtful at first, but by con-
tinuous experimenting success has been
achieved and as has been proven the
plant can be successfully raised. Many
stories Of its marvellous profits have
been put into circulation which in all
probability were never realized. Yet
enough may be learned from authentic
sources to show that it has proven very
profitable to those who have been en-
gagged in its culture for several years.
What may interest most OF us in the
northwest is, will it grow In Washing
ton? The writer has demonstrated to
the satisfaction OF all who have visited
the gardens the past year that it will
grow vigorously in Washington soil. A
company was formed in Waitsburg, and
its manager was instructed to go east
and investigate the habits Of the plant,
how it succeeded under cultivation, the
and nursery stock, the mode of culture,
etc. Also to form an opinion as To
whether it might be successfully grown
in Washington. After spending a
month in visiting some twenty gardens
he became SO fully convinced that it
could be grown in the west, that under
instructions from the company he
bought about $500 worth OF ginseng
nursery stock, and the past year's ex-
perience with it here has proven very
satisfactory.
Many letters of inquiry have been
sent to the state agricultural college,
and as they were not experimenting
with the plant the letters were referred
to US for reply as we were probably the
largest experimentors in the state.
They were answered to the best of our
knowledge at the time, and after an!
other years experience we will cheer
fully give any information which We
have gained to those who may be inter-
ested in its cultures-A. w. Phillips
Manager Washington Ginseng Co.
Waitsburg, Wash.
1t may be of some interest to Echo
readers TO know something OF this
plant, the roots of which are SO valu3
able that they have sold for their
weight in gold. Indeed, it is said that
the price ranges from twelve to over
four hundred dollars per ounce, ac-
cording to quality.
China is the principal market for the
root, where the tea is made from the
roots and the roots themselves are
eaten. Jt IS believed that IL mas tne
power of restoring viriiity to the aged
and impotent.
That formerly obtained from Man
churia was esteemed as the best, but
more recently the best quality comes
from Corea, and that which grows in
the wild state is preferred to the culti-
waited kind. The roots taken from the
older plants is also preferred. That
grown in the United States is not es-
teemed very highly by the Chinese.
The white races do not attach much
value to the medicinal properties in
the drug, though some experimentors
report that they have known instances
where it appeared that life had bee n
prolonged for time by its use.