The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-04-25
SKOWHEGAN MAN To
RAISE GINSENG
Is One of a Few In The
State of Maine
Great Revenue He Believes In Gold
en- Seal Which Also is to Be Raised
in Auburn.

! w. II. Norton for many years the
largest bee raiser in this County,
shipped all of his hives to Auburn
! Monday. He will continue his gem
seng growing at his home where he
has about half an acre.
Mr.. Norton is no stranger to this
business. He has grown the plant in
Skowhegan on quite large scale, but
believes that the soil in that vicinity
is better adapted chemically for the
purpose and hence has transferred
his seat of operations to Auburn.
For the past % years he has been
one of the great bee keepers of the
State and has on an average 100 COL
onies of these insects. The raising
of ginseng goes with that business
very nicely and the two will also be
carried on.
The raising of ginseng is for the
Chinese market, as the plant is uni
versally used in that country. No
Chinaman will go without his gin
seng If he can possibly procure it.
In that country it is regarded as a
universal cure all and is held in the
same regard that the betal is in In
da. The wealthy classes use it as a
constant drink and they believe that
it wards off disease of all kinds. The
poorer Cinnamon will also sacrifice
any earthly possession to keep at
least small supply on hand. In
short, ginseng, both as medicine
and a stimulant, is of greater value
in that land than opium, popular
opinion to the contrary notwithstand-
ing Unlike opium, the use of gin
seng leaves no bad effects and hence
is universally popular. Ii is most
emphatically a Chinese plant but
perfectly adapted to the soil of Maine.
Up to a recent date the Chinese
have been able TO grow enough to
years a fly has appeared that Is very
destructive to the plant and they are
now obliged to look to other coun-
tries for a large part of their de-
mand. The United States govern
ment, through its consuls, estimates
that this country might easily find a
market for all that could be grown
on 900 acres, while at the present
| time there are but about $50 acres
devoted to this plant. Korea former
! ly grew 10000 pounds of the dry root
annually for the Chinese market but
new diseases have crept in until its
cultivation in that country is well
nigh abandoned. The Japanese wal
was the finishing stroke to the indus
try and Korea can now barely supply
her own market Last year the en-
tire crop in Korea was only between
two and three thousand pounds.
small supply of the root is now
being grown in Canada, while New
York state supplies much more, but
the quality is not satisfactory to the
Chinese. Neither do they like the
plant grown in Japan and this leaves
a great opportunity for Maine. The
limited quantity already grown here
is very superior and much liked In
the Chinese market. That there is a
chance for the development of new
industry here is the firm faith of Mr.
Norton, and with him faith and works
go hand in hand.
Ginseng requires five years to de-
velop suitable for the market. The
top looks something like sarsaparilla
while the root is more like the pars-
nip. 1t requires to be sprayed in or
| der to protect the tops from insect
pests and this prevents the leaves be-
ing used. The dry root is the only
part of the plant that is now used
A light and dry soil is required and
the plants can only be grown in the
shade. When convenient 1t can best