Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1913-02-01
GROWING GINSENG.
F. S. Whitney's Successful Farm
at Taftsville.

- AteoNaAAGs
In the current number Of the Yer
monter e. Thales Emmons of Gem
eva, N. Y. a Taftsville boy now
engaged in newspaper work, has an
interesting article ON the cultivation
ginseng, with description of f. S.
Whitney's ginseng farm at Taits-
Vile.
In recent years careful handling
of the herb has shown that it can be
grown in almost any quantity de,
sired if it is reared under condi-
tons as nearly as possible like
those provided by nature,
Many of the roots grow in forked
fashion and these are believed to be
the most powerful, their fancied
likeness to the human form having
obtained for the plant the Chinese
name of Jin-chen and the Indian
title of Garan Toguen, both OF which
mean like man."
Ginseng is most highly valued in
China, where it is believed that the
aromatic root has great power in
combating fatigue and old age.
Ginseng could once be found in
considerable quantities in the woods,
but it has been hunted 80 closely
that now many of its accustomed
haunts are entirely barren of the
plant
IF S Whitney of Taftsville, VT,
says the writer, began his work by
transplanting few plants to little
shack that was near his barn. The
soil was carefully selected from the
woods and was rich, earthly leaf
mold. Yearly he added to the num-
Der of his plants and when they
bore seeds the seeds were planted
and new plants were obtained in
this manner. Mr.. Whitney now has
in the neiGhborhood of 10000
plants, all in Furnishing condition
and ranging in age from six years
down to year."
In preparing the beds the soil is
first carefully plowed. narrowed and
the stones removed. The beds are
constructed by the use of boards
about six inches wide; these are set
ON edge to form long boxes, in which
woods earth and leaf mold are placed.
Ginseng requires much shade and
also some sunshine, and the beds
are therefore covered with roof of
lathing through which little Gun
shine filters.
The beds are FIVE feet wide with
paths about foot wide between
them. 1t is designed to place about
1900 plants in each bed. No plants
are dug until they are five years old,
when the roots are large and firm
and bring good price in the mar
ket.
The older plants bear little clusters
of bright red berries which are
picked in the early fall. The GIN
seng berries do not grow until the
second year, and in the meantime are
kept in dark place and always
moist. Then they are ready, for
planting in the new beds or in one
of the old beds from which the roots
have been taken The plants do
best in the old beds, Mr.. Whitney
says.
In the autumn the beds are mulch
ed with soft leaf mold, the plants
having died down for the winters
rest.
Much care has to be exercised in
the drying of the roots. their appear
ance having considerable to do with
the market price. The roots are
first washed thoroughly, thrown into
tubs of water and allowed to stand
for short time, then they are care
fully cleaned with a vegetable brush.
The roots are then spread to dry in
a slow heat, racks over the kitchen
range being well adapted for the
purpose.
When thoroughly dry the roots
are ready for market, and the gin
seng farmer is always sure Of plenty
OF buyers. though for some unknown
reason he is not paid quite as much
for the cultivated roots as for the
wild
Green Cut Bone and Meat
is splendid cold weather Poultry