Charlevoix county herald., 1913-11-22

ton ana ShOulu never be permit
ted to dry out. They are usually
planted in a bed of moist sand,
old sawdust, or woods earth and
stored in a damp, cool place un-
til cracked by termination, which
may be considerably delayed ana
usually does not occur until the
year following their ripening.
The development of the plant is
also relatively slow, as it requires
from five to seven years to grow
marketable roots from seeds or
young roots. Under favorable cir
cumstances the plants begin to
fruit about the third year and
when over years old may pro-
duce as many as so seeds annually.
The older roots possess the most
substance and. when properly cured
realize the highest prices. 1t APP
pears almost useless to offer for
sale 3-year or 4-year roots, even
ii well grown and OF good size, as
buyers Tor the Chinese market
have learned to discriminate a
gainst them.
In planting ginseng beds it has
been found desirable to START with
botn young roots and seeds. By
securing roots three or more years
old a moderate seed crop may be
had the first season. A stock oil
1-year or 2tyear roots SET at the
same time will stare the rotation,
and it is well 10 plant seeds also
ii terminated ones are aVaila Die.
Seeds and roots of various ages
for stock are freely offered oy
dealers advertising in curren,
horticultural periodicals. Seeds
are now procuraple at prices vary
ing from p1 to $3.50 per thousand,
and roots from 90 cents to S3 per
hundred, according to age ana
source Bedded seeus cost about
so per cent more than fresh seeds,
but may be regarded as far more
useful Tor beginners. There are a
bout 5000 seeds in a pound. AS
the output of seeds Is likely In
time to exceed the capacity OF the
plant alton, ic is well to restrict
the production by nipping the
Hover heads, unless good mar
ket for the seeds is assured.
Roots gain more rapidly. in size
and weIgnt il the plants are not
permit ed 20 seed.
While small dooryard and wood
land paintings may be grown
with little outlay, ginseng culture
on large scale is quite expen-
sive. Inc cost of equipping and
starting ginseng beds on COM
mercial basis does not appear I'M
der present conditions to fall far
short~of $1,000 per acre, exclusive
OF the value of the land.
The Culture OF Ginseng
Ginseng grows naturally in
rather dense shade and when
placed under cultural conditions
must be shielded from direct sun
light by tree shade or some con-
struction that will reduce the light
to about one-fourth its normal IN
tensitN This may be accomplish
ed by planting il in forest beds,
or, in cultivated ground, by erect
ing sheds open to the north and
possibly to the east, but cover
ed at the top and the south and
west with laths or boards SO spac-
ed as to cut out nearly three
fourths of the sunlight. Brush and
heavy burlap have been used
with fair success for shading, but
thin or ordinary muslins are use
less, as they do not intercept
light. The rule appears
to be about one-fourth sunlight in
Michigan. In the North, where
open construction is preferred,
Lima beans or morning -glories
may be planted on the south and
west sides and allowed to run on
poultry netting, thus furnishing
shade during the brightest sum-
mer months.
There are many methods of con-
but the most common is
to set posts firmly in the ground
) feet apart each way and about
I feet high above the ground.
Scantlings 2 by 4 inches in, size
are nailed on top of the posts,
running the long way of the
she'd. The shade is usually made
N sections by 8 feet long, us
ng common 4-foot laths or Stats |
nailed on strips 2 by 2 inches and |
feet long. The laths should be |
spaced about one-half inch a
part. These sections of shading
ire laid on top of the by 4-inch
runners and SO nailed to the posts
hat the laths run about north and
south, thus giving the plants be-
ow the benefit OF constantly al
light and shade.
For covering seed beds rath-
n low shade is desirable, in order
% prevent the washing out of the
leeds by the drip from the laths.
POULTRY netting covered with
rush. straw litter, or burlap,
made light in spring and denser
Is the sun gains power, answers
cry well.
The beds under shade should be
feet wide and preferably should
'un east and west, being SO plac-
ID that the drip will fall to a
,reat extent in the paths. The
ides may be of 12-inch boards
eft inches or more in the ground
% keep out moles and held in
,lace with small stakes. The soil
hould be fairly light and so
veil drained naturally or artifi-
tally that water can at no time re-
main on the beds. 1t should be in
| condition to grow good vegeta-
lies without the addition o. strong
rrLN ..1... g--N.l..o-a !