Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-09-23
cuLrlvArlNc GINSENG
5eanvllIeite Who Is Raising the Rare
Plant with Success.


Plant with Success.
| Charles K. White, who has a small
farm in Beanville, has started a new
branch OF agriculture, that OF cuItivat-
ing the ginseng root, 80 valuable as an
article OF export to China. The root
grows wild in North America, but has
been so industriously dug for years that
II is becoming scarce and has risen in
value accordingly.
Six years ago Mr.. White set out his
first plants which be got out of the
woods and he now has beds, 65x45 feet.
covering an eighth Of an acre of ground
near his house. The plant requires five
years to grow before the root can be
pulled, but then it brings in the New
York market from $3.50 to 1925 q
pound. Last fall he pulled his first bed
OF roots and had six pounds that Melted
him S35. This fall be will have a little
more than six pounds; then he will have
to wait year but in 1911 q third bed
will be ready to yield another six or
eight pounds. After five years he expects
to be able to harvest 5000 ounces OF
ginseng every year at a profit of $1,000.
Last year he planted 5000 seeds, which
require Is months to grow above ground,
as they must have the frosts of two win
ters for their development. Five
thousand plants from these seeds are
growing vigorously. This season be has
put in 1000 seeds and has Z, 900 more to
plant. When the plants from 15, 900 seeds
are three years old they will bear approx
mately 1,0O0,000 seeds, OF which the
market price at present is two cents
apiece. The plants grow a ball OF little
red pods and each pod contains two seeds,
while a good full ball has at least 80
pods. From S75 to 500 worth of seeds
have already been taken from the older
plants and used in extending the cultiva-
tion.
After the seeds are up out Of the
ground they have to be transplanted and
are no harder to manage than turnips or
any similar vegetable. To make room for
transplsnting, Mr.. White will add to his
beds another strip of land 12x65 feet aud
eventually will have quarter of an acre
under ginst ng cultivation, when he will
be able to transplant from bed to bed as
he pulls the o d roots to supply trade
The seed beds are covered with sawdust
or any mulch that will keep down weeds,
and a soil which will grow corn is
sufficiently rich for ginseng. By fertiliz-
ing each spring, the same tract can be
used from year to year, and crop worth
more than all the other products of
the farm can be raised on less than an
acre Of ground. The plants require SO
little care that their cultivation does not
interfere with other farm work at all. A
young man Just starting in an agricultural
career might give a little attention to
ginseng culture. as q side line, and after
a few years find a small gold mine on his
farm that he would need no capital to work
and no machinery except aspade operated
by a couple OF stout arms. In dry
weather the plants will do better, OF
course, il irrigated a little but even that
is not necessary; for the roots grow deep
into the ground and reach more moisture
than do other things. The beds are
covered with stats of lath around the sides
and over the top for protection from too
much sunlight, rs ginseng grows
naturally in the woods and not in the
open.
The Chinese call the plant jintsang,
meaning likeness OF man." from its
forked root, and those specimens which
most resemble the human form are some
times sold for their weight in gold.
This resemblance has led the Chinese 20
ascribe almost miraculous powers to
the plant, which they believe to possess
extraordinary virtues for all diseases,
I particularly for exhaustion of body ard
mind, and they think it is also able to
I increase vigor and prolong life. Chinese
physicians have written many books
about its medicinal value and always use
it in their prescriptions for the nobility.
II is cultivated in China and Korea, ex-
clusively by the emperor Of China, who
allows only picked men to handle it. In
China the native plant grows from one
to two feet high Its description led to
the discovery of the American plant,
which so closely resembles the Asiatic
that an extensive export trade soon
followed its introduction into China.
1t was first discovered in Canada by
Father Laitau, missionary to the Iro-
quois, and in 171s a description Of il was
published in the "Memoirs" Of the
French Academy. Its natural range is
from the borders OF the Mississippi east
ward to the highlands and mountains.
The northern root is considered OF supe-
rior quality and commands the highest
prices.
1t was so industriously pulled that the
wild supply decreased until the price rose
from 5S cents pound in 1858 to 1886
in 1902 In 1885, George Stanton ex-
perimented in growing the plant in beds
in the forest at Apulia, n. Y, and later
succeeded in growing it under an artificial
shade OF lath. There is hardly any now
in the forests and 20 years ago a man
was doing well il he could make $3.50 a
day hunting for il. At present it is culti-
waited a little in Missouri, Wisconsin,
Minnesota and Pennsylvania. Those in
Bsanville are the only beds OF ginseng
known to be in Vermont.
Its only medicinal value is that Of an
aromatic stimulant, and it is used in this
country merely for a gum, by people who
have acquired liking for its bitter-sweet
taste. The Chinese brew tea from its
leaves and make the roots into lubricat-
ing mucilage that has some aromatic
warmth. Ginseng resembles licorice in
taste and external qualities more than
any other drug.
Soothes itching skin. Heals cuts or
burns without a scar. Cures piles,
eczema, salt rheum and itching. Doan's
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