The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1908-01-25
GINSENG CULTURE.
Interesting To Kentucky Farmers.
Mr.. J. w. Sears, One Of The Most
Successful Growers In the State,
Tells How II is Grown.

Tells How II is Grown.
That the farmers of Kentucky, espe-
cially in the eastern part of the State.
are becoming interested in the grow
ing of ginseng is evidenced by the
many inquiries that are constantly
being made of the State Department
of Agriculture.
There are number of successfuL
growers in the State and it will only
be short time unt2At will be grown
in eastern KentuQ8 THE high prices
received attracting he attention Of
the farmers in the mountains.
Mr.. ]. w. Sears wrote the following
article by request. He says:
Ginsen9 Ia wild plant and to at
tempt ton hesticate or change it's
character results in it's destruction.
1t grows in almost any soil, except
low, wet land. 1t is mostly found.
growing on rich north hillsides. The
plant must have shade either natural
or artifcialiy supplied. BY the use of
lattice or brush shade the plant cam
be successfully grown in open field or
garden soil. Artificial shade is not
only used in the portions OF the
United State that have timbered lands
but is successfully used in the western
States, where the natural forest is
unknown to ginsen~ and where
they irrigate gardens and crops of ALI
kinds.
In 1891 / began in a small way to-
grow ginseng, as l understood the
habits and characteristics Of the plant
In it's cultivation followed nature
as closely as possible
It is not SO difficult to grow as 10
supposed by many. The beds are made
in the forest, by first raldng away
the leaves and trash. Dig up soil
and make beds to plant seeds or
roots. The beds are made three feet
wide, with IL foot alley between
them. Beds any length desired, say
twenty to thirty feet, or even sixty
to seventy feet is all right. Seeds are
planted one inch deep, roots 6-S inches
apart and about 1 IL to 2 inches
deep Make rows across the bed eight
inches apart. Plant about six inches
apart in the row.
One square rod will make about
$3.50, one crop. 1t requires about 5,
to years to grow one crop to be of
good marketable size, from the seed.
About all the care or attention giveni
the growing plants, is to keep out.
all weeds. The beds are mulched as
soon as planted with leaves or straw
or some good mulch, and need no cut-
tivation at all.
II open field or garden is to be used
to plant in, there should be rich soil
from the woods or humms either nat
ural or artifcially made, to mix within
the soil and to plant the roots and
seed in. This is easily obtained m0st>
anywhere. and has given perfect satis-~
faction.
The Chinese have used ginseng as
medicine as long as they have been
people The price has been gradu-
ally getting higher, as the root il
becoming more scarce, We have
dealers in all large cities that buy
the root. sold the dry root this past.
season at $7.25 per pound, the high
est price for the season, sold same at
| ~ IN, r@(s
it's scarcity we expect to see prices far
better in the future than this.
In the years 1916 to 1920, ginseng
sold here at 16 IL cents per pound.
1910 at 50c. In 1880 at 81. In 1891
the root was worth $2.25.
There has been a great deal of fairy
tales about ginseng, many statements
were made extravagan;ly and not
based on practical experience, yet IL
one will engage in the business In q
business way, it win bring in more,
profit than any other crop grown ON
the same area of land, requiring but
very little labor.
The plant is perfectly hardy and
can lie transplanted without injury.
The Cinnamon are not the only peos
pie who use ginseng as a medicine.
There are large quantities of 1t con-
sumed by Americans and also by peo-
pie OF other countries. The United
States, no doubt, will soon have very
little ginseng to export.
LEAGUE FOR SCHOOL IMPROVE,