The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1905-02-16

There is no part OF the nul Sectlon
of Mississippi that could not be util-
lied in the cultivation Of ginseng. 1t
grows wild in the northern and CEN
trail counties and is gathered for sale
in some places with profit. With a
small amount Of cultivation, but with
considerable care, the plant could be
made a great money producer. The
beauty about its cultivation lies in the
fact that very little land is necessary,
one fourth of an acre being as much
as any single family would attempt to
cultivate and carry on the regular
pursuits at the same time. The most
favorable conditions for the growth OF
the plant are a loamy, rich, cool, loose
soil, shaded during the hot weather
and a mulching of well rotted horse
manure, sawdust or leaves in the au-
tumn, which is left to decay and retain
the moisture. 1t will grow on any soil
that is we'll drained. Standing water
is fatal and will cause the roots to rot.
Slopes to the north and east are the
best. 1t is generally planted in beds
of four feet in width and of convent
ent length. This width allows of weed
ing and c~ultivating. The soil is pre-
pared by deep spading, and if the soil
is heavy, by the mixture of leaf mold,
straw or sawdust TO make it loose and
light. Several kinds of fertilizers are
recommended. all of which are easily
obtained in the state. The ground
must be shaded or the plants will
wither and die. This is done in some
instances by setting trees along side
the beds, but artificial shade of brush
or laths and made some times by
planting velvet beans and other plants
to run we a %trellis, is said to bemuch
better. The setting of ground is done
by planting seed, which require 18
months to terminate, or transplanting
the plants which can be had at a nur-
sery at from 81 to $18 per hundred,
owing to age and condition. Seed can
be had at from So to $12 per thousand.
A bed 4x16 feet will accommodate about
$50 plants. Plants begin to bear seed
at the age of three years and average
about 20 to the stalk. The roots be-
come marketable at from five to sew
en- years. The plant has no known enc
mics and thrives well in all parts Of
Mississippi. The dried root brings
from So to $12 per pound according
to quality. The market is largely
abroad, but the prices quoted are for
the stock in this country. Now, why
should not a number of our people
start the culture Of this root ON a
small scale, charging as experience
was gained and profits justified. The
housewife with a small spot of ground
could make a nice sum. From a spot
of ground 10 or IL feet wide by 20 feet
long after three or four years she
could realize from 800 to 5000 per
year. The Pennsylvania experiment
station made a practical test Of what
could be done on an acre. 80,040
plants were required to set it out at
a cost of $8,004. The other expense
for five years of cultivation and care
was $1,245. 1900 pounds Of dry roots
were gathered and sold for $3.50 per
pound, or a total of $24,650. After
deducting all expenses the profit was
$15,401. Counting interest at 10 per
cent. on the money invested, the net
profit was still something over $1O,-
600 and if the plants had been allowed
to attain and age of seven years before
harvesting it is claimed that it would
have been greater. AT any rate, it
does seem that the people of Missis-
sippi who live in the hilly and loamy
sections, could afford to give the bust
ness a trial on a small scale at least.
A gentleman in the northern portion
of the state has decided to find what
there is in it and has planted a small
piece of ground. He transplanted the
young roots which were found growing
wild in the woods and also planted
seed gathered from the older ones,
selling the matured root for a hand
some price per pound. If he succeeds
in getting them to grow and thrive he
will enlarge on the business, and who
can say that in a few years his gin
seng patch may not be worth more
than the finest cotton plantation in
the state? The writer is by no means
trying to discourage the raising of
cotton, but to encourage our people to
diversity more, and especially in the
poorer section Of the state where cot
ton planting is not always profitable.
The cotton seed oil mills over the
state are preparing to close down
within the next thirty days. The clos
ing of the mills is considerably earlier
than usual. It is expected that all Of
the mills of the Mississippi Cotton
Oil Company will close within the next
two weeks.
Indianola refuses to stand still and
comes to the front again with the an
nouncement that large water mains
are being put in and a perfect system