Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1905-02-18

There is no part of the hill section
Of Mississippi that could not be uti-
'zed in tho cultivation Of ginseng 1t
grows wild in the Northern and Cen
tral 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
onefourth 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, shade during the hot
weather and mulching of well-rotted
horse manure, saWdust or leaves in
the autumn, which is left to decay and
retain the moisture 1t will grow on
any soil that is well drained Stand
ing water is fatal, and win cause the
roots to rot. Slopes to the north and
east are the best. It Is generally
planted in beds of four feet in width
and Of convenient length. This width
allows of wedding and cutivating
The soil is prepared by deep spading,
and, If the soil is heavy, by the mkt
ure of leaf mold, straw or saw dust,
to make 1t 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 alongside the beds, but artificial
shade Of brush or laths, and made
sometimes by planting velvet beans
and other plants to run over trellis,
Is said to be much better. The setting
of ground is done by planting seed,
which require eighteen months to ger.
inmate, or transplanting the plants
which can be had from nursery at
from 81 to SIS per hundred, owing to
age and condition. Seed can be had
at from So to Sl2 per thousand.
A bed 4XlG 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 become marketable at from five
10 seven years, The plant has no
known enemies and thrlyes well in all
parts Of Mississippi. The dried root
brings from IS to $l2 per pound, ac-
aording 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 small scale enlargins as
experience was gained and profits jus.
tifed? The housewife, with a small
spot Of ground, could make nice sum,
From spot of ground 10 or II feet
wide by 20 feet long, after three or
five years, she could realize from 500
to $500 per year. The Pennsylvania
experiment station made practical
test of what could be done on an acre,
S0,0i0 plants We're required to set it
out at a cost of $1,000. The other eX-
pense for five years of cultivation
and care, was $1,245; $500 pounds of
dry roots were gathered and sold for
$3.50 per pound, or a total of S24,65O
After deducting all expense, the profit
was $l5,401, Counting interest at 10
per cent on the money invested, the
net profit was still over $4,000, and If
the plants had been allowed to attain
an age Of seven years before harvest
ing, 1t is claimed that it would have
been greater.
At any rate, 1t does seem that the
people of Mississippi who live in the
hilly and loamy sections, could afford
TO give the business trial on a small
icale, at least A gentleman in the
Northern portion Of the State has de-
cided 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 handsome price per pound.
II 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 ginseng 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 espe'
cially in the poorer sections OF tho
State where cotton it not always
profitable.
The growth and prosperity Of the
Southern Truck Growers League is
source of great satisfaction to thou
nr ,Nnpn1n ufhn q hAnnHtnI h,'
the splendid work accomplished j.
NJ. Lidnsey, a large grower was in at
the beginning, and has been instru-
mental in the spread of its influence,
1t is claimed to be the largest asso-
citation of its kind in the United States,
and is still growing. Lands in the sec
ton under its influence have appre
ciated in value faster than anywhere
in the State, and the increase has only
Just begun. Its members are pros
porous and happy, have good homes,
good stock good vehicles, and the
best Of everything that makes life
worth living. The example set is well
worthy of emulation by other sections
of the country. This is the day of
combinations and there is every rea-
son why the farmers should organize
for mutual protection instead of al
ways being the victims of organization
on the part of others. Think of this.
One of our most forcible writer's
has this to say Of the successful South
ern business man, and there is lot
of wholesome truth in it; "One pecu-
liarity of the South. and not an OBJ
jectiona one, is the fact that the sue
cessful business man here does not
become a snob. The attainment of
little wealth does not swell mans
head, but rather sharpens his inspira
tion to see his section of country push
forward, and he has no time to waste
in showing off. Instead, he carefully
lays his plans for an enlargement of
his usefulness and he becomes a set.
tied citizen of worth by the time he
can grow a beard
What has become of that railroad
out to Charleston from Oakland?
While there are so many rumors Of
roads to be built, why not revive this
project? 1t is a good section Of coun-
try and should have road by all
means. Nothing would tend to de-
velop it faster. 1t is to be hoped that
the project will be awakened and
something substantial developed
Vegetables from the coast country
Of Mississippi come on to the market