Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-19
QUERIES ANSWERED
ZEE CULTIVATION oF aNsENG.

THE CULTIVATION OF GINSENG.
W. c. L, Headen. Ca, writes: I wezaM
like all the information Tou can give me
on the cultivation OF ginseng. and also
where can purchase the roots.
One Of the most important factors ia
growing ginseng successfully is the selec-
ton OF a soil suitable to the crop. The
land should be light, loamy and rich
in vegetable matter. and IL must also be
well drained and In a friable condition. a
clay loan may be made to answer, though
II is not a very satisfactory soil. The
land should be prepared by enriching
with woods earth to the depth Of several
inches and then spaded so as TO mix II
thoroughly with the soil. Well rotted farm
yard manure in large quantities might
answer as well as compost. In the sum-
mer the surface OF the ground should be
kept free from grass and weeds The
seeds or roots of ginseng may be plant.
ca in late October or early November.
The roots should be set about eight inches
apart in each direction. They. may be
planted with dibble and care should be
taken not to bend them. The top of the
root or the bud" should be set two inches
below the surface of the ground The
seeds should be planted in shallow drills
one inch apart and covered to the same
depth with fine soil. In late November
the bed should be mulched with forest
leaves and brush, this mulch to be re-
moved I'm the early spring so as to let the
sun warm the soil. The bed selected for
ginseng should be well shaded, either nat
urally or artiicially. Where the CONNER
cial growing Of ginseng is undertaken, a
lattice frame work should be constructed
over the bed. Posts should be sunk in
the ground and laths may be used for the
ErFf rtalff tan fo
required. though the bed should be brok-
en- up with sufficient frequency to prevent
the growth OF weeds and keep the sur
face in condition to hold moisture
In tests which have been made to as
certain the advantage of setting native
plants as compared with plants grown
under more favorable conditions, it has
been found that it is best to set out the
cultivated plants even though they cost
a good deal more. One Of the largest
growers Of ginseng is George Stanton,
Summit Station, New York, and he is
in position TO furnish roots to those
who desire to cultivate this crop. Not
more than SO per cent of the native
roots are likely to survive, while only
a small percentage OF plants obtained
from seed live unless under exceptional.
ly favorable conditions. It has also
been found that the cultivated plants
produce much larger quantities Of via.
BILE seed than do either the native or
seeding plants. Roots produced under
favorable conditions will weigh from
IL TO ounces when trimmed and
prepared for market. The roots should
be dug with great care so as not to in
Jure them, and after digging they
should be trimmed so as TO place them
on the market in the most attractive
form. The loss from drying will
amotnt to about two-thirds OF the
green weight. good method to use in
curing is 10 spread the roots out In the
sun, or artificial heat OF 100 to 40 de-
grees F. may be used.
The profits to be made from the Gull
tivatiOn Of ginseng vary greatly High
class roots will bring anywhere from
So to $40 a pound; poor roots any
where up 20 IS. AS a matter of fact,
the cultivation Of ginseng on a small
area is no criterion OF what may be
earned from larger paintings, and the
statements made Of the probable profits