Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-08-24
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CULTURE OF GINSENG
IN HIGHLAND COUNTY
Mysterious Root in Great Demand
in China

pendent of the Times Dis patch in
that region, has come across with a
very entertaining story of how A.
Z. Suddarth OF Monterey the coun.
ty seat of Highland, has made gin
seng paying product of Virginia
soil. Mr.. Slaven writes an intense
ly interesting letter, which is brim
full OF matter that willbe real new
sy to large majority ofNeur read
ers. Mr.. Slaven writes:
Gingseng culture in Highland is
10 its infancy. In fact, in one in
stance alone, perhaps, can it be
said to have passed the experiment
al stage. While this is true, those
who have engaged ia it as a side
line are doubles helping to solve
one OF the great problems OF the day
the dawn Of which is now here
where high prices, dense poplla-
ton, soaring real estate and the love
OF rural life unite in their demand
upon mother earth for q pountiful
yield-the very best return OF
which every square feot Of soil is
capable. =, ~
When, as youth, stood il the
village store and I saw the seng
digger receive cooking stove for
his scoopful OF aromatic vroots,
marveled at it's value. To-dky, with
ginseng quoted at $3.50 per pound
and the secret Of cultivation solved,
wonder that every tiller OF the
soil doesn't have seng garden.
Mr.. Suddarth' s experiments be-
gan six years ago. Heowns small.
lotin the town-one-eighth OF an aero
and on this he laid of a seng bed 4
five by forty feet; securing q few
roots and buying 5000 seed with
which to start. Through mex pc ri
ence he lost four-fifths OF the first
planting of seed. He persevered,
however, and during the six years,
has sold $3.50 worth OF seeds and
roots, and on this small town lot.
occupied as residence, he now has
10000 plants, twenty fruit trees,
twelve grape vines and numerous
flower beds. Some three years ago
be purchased another lot in the sub
urbs and has converted part OF it
into a seng garden. Most OF his
plants are four years old, and he
estimates the roots now on hand at
$1,000. These, however, will not
be marketed until six years old, at
which age they are at their best.
The plants begin to have seed when
they are three years old. Last
years crop of seed was $4,000. and
this year he will sell double that
number. For these he finds ready
sale at g per thousand for strati6ed
and 50 for the unstratified.
From all the information I can
gather, the open ground, properly
shaded, is the better place for the
herb, for while the forests furnish
the shade, the roots Of the trees rob
it OF both substance and moisture.
1t can be grown successfully on
Lard that is lsvel or sloping in any
direction, but ground that slopes to
the north or east is preferable. All
OF the authorities agree one thing.
and that is that ginseng will not
grow unless it is shaded. The best
way to me Ike this shade is TO use
laths for covering, mailing them
on the frame work one half of an
inch apart. However, if one should
set posts in the ground and build
frame work over the beds high
enough to walk under, and then
cover this with brush, the shade
would be sufficient.
TO prepare the beds, dig or plow
the ground deeply and pulverize
thoroughly, taking out all rubbish
shat may interfere with the growth
Of the roots. Lay off the beds
'our feet wide and any length
desired, leaving two feet between
the beds for walks. After the
ground is prepared, the seed or
roots planted, IL is but little work to
care for the roots until they are
ready to dig for market Keeping
the beds free from weeds is nscss-
sary.