Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-06-04
GINSENG PROJECT A SUCCESS.
Grinnell Couple Now Have 10000 Wig
orous Plants-Other News.

Special to IlmeS-RepuDllcan
Grinneli, Jnne "A few years ago
the ginseng fever" struck this vicin-
ity. A large amount of literature on
the subject of ginseng culture, prepar-
alton for market and sale and the
enormous prices received for the prop
erly prepared root, was sent out and
many an Imagination was inflamed by
the prospect of making fortune from
a quarter of an acre of ground. Some
people in this region bought cultivated
plants one, two and three years OLD
and prepared beds for the culture of
the plants The slow growth of the
roots and the long time of waiting to
get any substantial financial results,
together with the numerous obstacles
that are met in the development OF
any new project, drove most of the
experimenters out of the business
within two or three years from the
time of the starting. Mr.. and Mrs. j.
p. Skinner, of this city, went into the
culture with the intention of making
it business. Their first venture was
with a little plot of ground in their
garden After a few years, the increase
in the seeds and plants demanded more
ground and they bought few acres
just outside the city limits. Here
piece of ground 40 feet by 20, was
prepared and surrounded and covered
with Stats for the necessary shade, and
today they have 10000 helathy and
vigorous plants on that space. They
nave on hand also $4,000 seeds for
termination, and will have to add to
their grounds a piece "a feet by 20
this summer. They have been offered
each year high prices for the seeds
they have gathered, but have chosen
to keep them and enlarge their facili-
ties for maturing the roots. They
have sold one lot of the oldest roots
for commercial purposes realizing,
about 81 a pound for the thoroughly
dried roots.
Mr. William Berry, living few miles
southwest of this city, has also been
of this plant, having gotten consid-
cradle portion of his present extensive
stock by digging the wild roots in the
woods and putting them under cul-
ture.
w. L. Fowler, son of j. w. Fowler!
and for some time recently connected
with his father in the management o.
the creamery and artificial ice plant
in this city, has severed that connec-
ton and plans to remove from Grim
nell. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler will travel
thru the northwest in the direction OF
Seattle, at which place they rather ex-
pect to make permanent stop.
E. B. Brande is walking by the aid
Of a cane, and suffers considerable
pain and inconvenience because Of hav-
ing strained the ligaments of his right
knee is recent base ball contest be-
tween local teams.
At the special election called by Col.
F. w Bishop of the 54th regiment of
the Iowa National Guards, on Tues
day evening last in this city, for the
election of a captain for Company K
in place of Captain E. f. Bump, who
resigned some months ago. Walter J
Nicely was unanimously elected. John
NcRiain was e'c"ted first lieutenant to
fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Neely's
election, and Ralph Wiltamuth was
elected second lieutenant There is the
feeling among the members of Com
pany K and of the citizens that the
is now we'll Differed and the
hope is expressed that it may be re-
cruited up to the full standard and at
tain the high state OF efficiency that is
the ambition of both officers and men.