GINSENG ITS HISTORY, CULTIVATION, MARKET VALUE AND PROFITS BY DOUGLAS E. McDOWELL (ILLUSTRATED ) COPYRIGHTED 1002Pig. 1—Fresh Roots of Ginseng from cultivated plant, a. One year old; b, two years old; c, three years old; d, four years old; e, bud; /, leaf scar.Preface. PREFACE usually gives an excuse or reason for writing the work of which it is a part. My excuse is, that I am a grower of Ginseng, and supply roots for transplanting and seeds to those who desire to engage in the business. As a result of advertising I receive thousands of letters making inquiries about Ginseng and asking hundreds of questions. The questions for^years were noted down and this Booklet was written to answer them. The Booklet is the result of practical ex- perience and research. In it an attempt has been made to cover the subject fully. douglas e. McDowell, Joplin, Mo., U. S. A.Contents. Page Illustration — Figure 1............................... 2 Preface............................................... 3 History of Ginseng.................................. 5-6 Ginseng in the United States.......................... 7 Description — Botany................................ 7-9 Illustration — Figure 2............................... 8 The Seed............................................9-10 The Roots..........................................10-11 Its Propagation....................................11-13 Illustration — Showing Lattice shade................. 12 Natural Home of the Plant..........................13-14 The Shade..........................................14-15 Enemies........................................'... 15-18 Illustration — Showing 4-year-old Plants 16 Illustration — Showing General Interior View.. 17 When to Transplant.................................. 19 Illustration — Garden in Natural Forest.............. 20 Why Cultivation of Ginseng was Commenced.. 21 Wild Supply on Point of Extermination..............21-23 Exports............................................23-25 Illustration — Figure 3.............................. 24 Chinese Prices for Ginseng........................... 25 The Market........................................... 26 Corean Ginseng....................................... 27 What the Chinese Do With It........................27-29 Illustration—Figure 4................................ 28 The Profits........................................29-31 What a $10 Investment Will Do......................31-32History of Ginseng. THE American Ginseng is a plant closely re- lated to the Parsley family, in which family are included the parsnip, carrot and celery’. The American plant is a very near relation of the Chinese and Corean root—Panax Ginseng— which is so highly prized by the Chinese. [ Ginseng is a Chinese word mean- ing man-shape]. The root has been used constantly in China for centuries. A report of the high estima- tion in which it was held in China reached America early in the eighteenth century’. Father Jartoux, a missionary in China, gave a description of the plant and sent samples of the roots, seeds and leaves to Father Lafitau, who was a missionary among the Iroquois Indians in Canada, and who thereupon be- gan a search for it. He soon found roots answering the description of those sent by his brother mission- ary, and after due time it proved to be a relative of the Chinese root — Panax Ginseng. This discovery’ was made near Montreal, Canada, in the year 1716.Soon after its discovery, the French, who then controlled Canada, began to gather it for export to China through their Indian agencies. The demand in this way created grew so large that Ginseng soon became a very important article of export. The first shipments were very profitable to the traders, the roots costing 40 cents per pound in Quebec and selling for $10 per pound in China. At that time the Company of the Indies controlled the trade be- tween Canada and China. At first the exportation of the root was looked upon with so little favor that the business was given to the sailors as an extra in- ducement to remain in the service. The business, however, soon grew to such proportions and the profits were so great that the Company took control of it in 1751. At this time Ginseng in Canada was worth $2.40 per pound, but the Company soon “boomed” the price to $10.00 or more per pound. This high price caused the Canadian hunters to gather the root out of season, to improperly clean and dry it and doubtless to adulterate it with other and similar roots. A large lot of this inferior root was shipped to China. The Chinese refused to pur- chase it at any price. A few shipments of inferior roots soon lost the Chinese trade and ruined the reputation of American Ginseng. This occurred in 1754, and for several years thereafter the Ginseng trade from America entirely ceased.About the time Ginseng was commanding such a high price in Canada, the Yankee, never to be out- done, made discoveries of the root in the American Colonies; first in the western part of New England generally, afterwards in New York, Massachusetts, and indeed in all the colonies. These discoveries were made prior to the American Revolution and the price at that time was about 25 cents per pound. As population moved west, Ginseng was found in the timber sections of all the states east of the Rocky Mountains. It may still be found wild in small quantities in all these states. Whether Ginseng has ever been found wild west of the Rocky Moun- tains the writer is not informed. It is, however, being cultivated successfully in that section. When the Ginseng plant is old enough to produce fruit (seed berries, see Fig. 2) it is quite conspic- uous in the forest, especially about the month of August, on account of the cluster of red berries at the forks of the stem. Until the plants are three years old they are small and not conspicuous. In the State of Missouri (later of course farther north and a little earlier farther south) the seedlings appear about the first of May, some years earlier and some Ginseng in the United States Description — BotanyFig. 2 —Ginseng Plant, a. Cluster of Seed Berries.later, the time depending upon the season. When they first come up they resemble newly sprouted beans on account of having one little leaf-stem and two leaves. The first year the plant attains a height of about two and one-half to three inches. The work of the plant the first year seems to be to develop the bud at the top of the root ( Fig. 1-e), which produces the next season’s stem and leaves. In the autumn, usually after the first frost, some- times before, the stem dies and breaks off, leaving a scar on the root at the side of which is a single bud. The spring of the second year this bud pro- duces a single straight stem which has 2 to 3 leaf- stems on it and three leaves to a stem. The second year the plant rises 4 to 5 inches from the ground. The third year from 10 to 15 leaves are usually put out and the plant grows from 6 to 9 inches high. After the third year the plant may produce from 4 to 7 leaf-stems with 18 to 25 or more leaves. They grow from 10 to 20 inches high. After the second year, at the point where the leaf-stalks meet, the stem is continued straight up, and at the end of it, late in June or early in July, is a small cluster of yellowish-green flowers. These flowers soon turn into little green berries about the size of a small pea. (Fig. 2). There are from 15 The Seedto 80 berries in a cluster. In August these berries turn a bright red. In September they begin to fall off and should then be gathered, for the berries con- tain the seeds. A part of the berries contain two seeds; the others contain but one. Sometimes plants will bear seeds the second year, but such plants are rare. The third year they produce a good crop and continue to do so for years. The part of the Ginseng plant which is of com- mercial value is the root. (Fig. 1). The root is composed of two parts, the root- stalk and the root proper. The former is a slender, rough, usually crooked, stem, running from the root to the leaf-stem. It is of no commercial value. It is full of scars, each scar in- dicating one year’s growth. There are roots now on exhibition with 64 scars on the root-stalk. The size of a root does not indicate its age, for after several years’ growth the root seems to shrivel up and get smaller. The writer has seen Ginseng roots a quarter of a century old not more than one-third inch in diameter; others four years old an inch in diameter and weighing several ounces dried. Some- times new roots form on the root-stalk of an old one and thrive as well as seedlings, while the old 'one dies and sloughs off. The Ginseng root is spindle shaped, simple and The Rootsalmost straight at first, but when three or more years old usually branches. Its size is from one- fourth inch to nearly two inches in diameter and from two and one-half to eight inches long, the size depending upon the food it lives on and the care in its cultivation. Its color is a light yellow. Ginseng is propagated by its seed. In a few cases roots have branches, sometimes three or four roots springing from one root- stalk. These may be cut off close to the stalk and each root will make a separate plant. Very few roots may be secured in this way, however. The grower must depend upon the seed for its extension. The seeds do not germinate for eighteen months. For instance, seeds gathered and planted in the autumn of 1904 will not come up until the spring of 1906. Regular Ginseng growers, as a rule, plant the seed when gathered. They plant the seed while it is still in the berry, before the pulp in the berry has decayed. If for any reason the grower does not desire to plant the seed when gathered, they are placed in moist earth in a box in a cellar, or the box is buried in the ground. Seed so kept one year and planted in the fall will germinate the following spring. Or they may be kept eighteen months and planted in the early spring, in which Its PropagationBird’s Eye View of the McDowell Ginseng Garden Showing Lattice Shade.event they will come up the same spring they are planted. Seed kept in moist earth, for want of a better name, are called “stratified” seed. A great deal less per cent of “ stratified ” seed will germinate than of those planted the same fall they are gathered. Those - who begin the cultivation of the plant usually purchase roots instead of seeds. While more expensive, the purchase of the roots is the wiser plan. The purchaser usually knows very little about the cultivation of Ginseng and must depend upon' the dealer for his information. By purchasing roots he gets experience in Ginseng culture the first year, and if he is wise enough to purchase a few old roots (seed- bearers), the first fall after planting he will have seeds of his own, and by that time he will have some experience. The natural home of Ginseng is in the wilds of the forest. Those who commence the cultivation of the mysterious root should al- ways bear this in mind, and make the environment of the garden as near like the primeval forest as possible. In other words, make the surroundings shady, cool and damp, and the soil rich. In its wild state it thrives best in the rich, moist, but well-drained, soil from which the oak, hickory, beech, maple, bass- wood and similar timber thrive, but will not grow Natural home of the Plantin low, wet, marshy soil. Forest soil in which there is a wealth of leaf-mould and has a fairly light tex- ture is the kind of soil for Ginseng. However, the character of the soil need not deter the beginner, for any soil can be easily and cheaply made as rich as any forest. In the absence of leaf-mould, well- rotted horse manure does as well. In the absence of these fertilizers get some of the rich dirt around the base of an old straw stack. In other words, if the reader intends to grow Ginseng, let him make the soil rich. A garden that will produce vegetables will produce Ginseng. Go into the woods where the May-apple thrives and study the conditions there. There are several kinds of shade, three of which are enumerated as follows: The natural shade of the forest or other trees, the lat- tice work and the brush shade. If planted in the forest remove all underbrush at least eight feet from the beds each way. A shade must not be too dense. Lattice shade is made of laths. If the laths are one and one-half inch wide place them '/* inch apart. Let the laths run north and south. Place the lattice on a frame work about seven or eight feet high. Arrange it so it may be removed in the autumn after the tops of the plants die or when the leaves fall off the trees. Brush shade is easy to make. First build up a frame work about The Shadeeight feet high, the higher the better, for any kind of shade. Run wires across this frame work each way so the wires will be two to two and one-half feet apart. The frame work and wires will hold up the brush. The wires will not only hold up the brush, but the limbs will hang on to them and pre- vent the wind from blowing them off. Watch the leaves come out on the trees and gradually put on shade — as nature puts on her foliage. Annual climbers are not recommended, for the reason that they cannot be depended upon on a large scale. But the small garden placed in a yard may depend upon grape vines, wild cucumbers, morning glories and the like; also the shade of fruit trees. Many people in the towns have a grape arbor. Under the arbor is a good place for Ginseng. Those who start in a small way usually place their Ginseng in a garden, and experience shows them to be successful. The space used is so limited and the growing of the root so interesting and profitable that indeed most beginners are in the small towns and cities. And these “City Farmers” are succeeding, too. It is a question whether Ginseng has any enemies. Some growers claim that moles and mice interfere with it, but the writer has had no such experience. They do not eat the roots and all the damage they do is to burrough EnemiesInterior of a section of the McDowell Ginseng Garden, Showing Four-Year-Old Plants.McDowell Ginseng Garden Giving a General View of a Section of the Interior.up the ground. If they are found to do damage a cordon of corn saturated with rough on rats or other poison planted around the garden will soon destroy them. Castor beans planted around the garden will have a tendency to keep the moles out, as well as to help form a shade and keep the premises cool. Chickens, of course, and animals should be kept away from the beds. Chickens are very fond of the seeds after they turn red. As Ginseng grows wild from Northern Canada to Florida the grower need not fear cold weather. It will stand the severest winter. At Joplin, Mo., the morning of April 30 and May 1, 1903, there was a killing frost which ruined the gardens of vegetables in all of southwest Missouri. It cut the strawberry crop down fifty, per cent. Over 10,000 Ginseng plants in the writer’s garden were up, many of them a foot high. A lattice shade was over the beds. Notwithstanding the lattice work, a bucket of water which stood in the center of the garden had ice frozen over it both mornings, reaching a thickness of at least one-fourth inch the morning of May 1st. These frosts did not have the slightest effect on the Ginseng, though the plants had been up but a few days and were very tender. This is a very strong point in favor of Ginseng. Another strong point in its favor in localities where hail storms are frequent, is the fact that the shade is a protection from the hail.Ginseng may be planted either in the spring or fall. The spring season for planting is very short, for the roots should be in the ground by the time, or soon after they begin to sprout. The fall season for planting is longer. They may be planted from September 1st until the ground is frozen up, in some localities as late as January. There is no reason why roots may not be safely transplanted any time after the tops die in September until the following spring, provided the ground is not frozen. Ginseng will not grow if transplanted during the growing season. For this reason most people who attempted to cultivate the roots from wild stock, in the past, failed —they dug the roots in the growing season. Getting the roots from the forest, they could not find them after the tops died. Since they will not grow if dug before the tops die, and can not be found after that time, to start from wild roots the beginner is heavily handicapped. The best a be- ginner can do is to purchase roots from some reliable dealer. Then he will not only get good roots, but he will get them in the right season and receive proper instructions for their cultivation. Always remember that either roots or seeds, if allowed to dry out, will not grow. Seeds may be planted at any time. When to Transplant From the discovery of Ginseng in America toA Section of the McDowell Ginseng Garden in the Natural Forest—the Largest Ginseng Garden in the World.1875, the price rarely went above $1.00 per pound for the dried root. While it will pay to grow Ginseng at $1.00 per pound, there was not sufficient inducement at that price for growers to attempt its cultivation. But from the above date the price gradually increased, and pioneers in the business commenced to try to cultivate it. Nearly all failed for the same reasons — they dug it out of season and tried to grow it in the sun. Continuous sunshine is fatal to it. A failure to observe the above and the lack of other knowledge prevented successful cultivation of the mysterious root until about fifteen years ago, when a few made a success of it in a small way. But prior to these successes the failures were so uniform that many people, including some college professors, up to two or three years ago, were firm in the belief that Ginseng could not be made to grow under cul- tivation. The almost uniform success of experi- ments since 1900, however, have convinced every- body that the cultivation of the Chinese panacea is very simple and easy. The rise in the price of the dried root stimulated the hunter of the wild plant—“the Sang Digger.” Cutting down the timber and allowing the sun to shine where Ginseng once Why Cultivation of Ginseng Was Commenced Wild Supply on Point of Exterminationgrew, almost eliminated it from four-fifths of the United States. But in the Cumberland moun- tains, from Pennsylvania to Alabama, civiliza- tion for several reasons, has not pushed forward at a very rapid rate, consequently, in most of that sec- tion the primeval forest still has sway and the wild root grows there. But even there it is rapidly be- coming a thing of the past. The high price since 1895 has stimulated the “Sang Digger” wonder- fully. From May to November he has scoured the forest, getting the roots in season and out of season. He has dug it before the seeds were ripe, thus taking away all hope of increase or even a continuance. Efforts of the writer in 1900 to purchase roots for transplanting, in localities where large quantities could be purchased a half dozen years ago, were fruitless. Echoing the sentiments of all the others, one old “Sang Digger” said: “ Sang’s powerful sca’ce in these parts. People in Cincinnaty, Phila- delfy and more big towns has been a-sendin’ of let- ters here for four or five summers, sayin’ they’d give $3.00 first, then $4.00, then $5.00, and this sum- mer they got her up to above $6.00 per pound, and they didn’t get no powerful sight o’ Sang, nuther.” Then joining the other pessimists the ‘ ‘ Sang Digger ’ ’ continued: “What’s you goin’ to do with Sang — plant hit? Mister, you’s jist a foolin’ away your time. Sang won’t grow ’cept in the woods. Hit’s wild as a rattlesnake and wont be tamed. WhenYear. Pounds. Average Price per lb. Total Value Year’s Export 1858 .366.052 «0 52 1193,796 1868 370,066 1 02 380,454 1878 421,395 1 17 497,247 1888 308,365 2 13 657,358 1889 271,228 2 33 634,091 1890 223,113 2 71 605.233 1891 283,000 3 39 959,998 1892 228,916 3 51 803,529 1893 251,205 3 15 792,928 1894 194,564 3 18 619,114 1895 233,236 v 3 54 826,713 1896 199,436 3 86 770,673 1897 197,573 4 71 846,686 1898 174,063 3 66 638,446 1899 196,196 3 98 782,540 1900 160,101 5 20 833,710 1901 149,069 5 38 801,672 It will be noticed that the supply has gradually decreased and the price has as gradually increased. you dig hit up once, that settles hit; mought jist as well dry hit, and ship it to Chiney. Bein’s hits all gone in the woods and is too wild to grow, we’ve done give up the Sang business. ” Thus it goes. There is but a single way left for one to go into the Ginseng business, namely: Pur- chase roots and seeds from some reliable dealer. The Agricultural Department at Washington gives the following table, showing the exports of Ginseng, and the price per pound, from 1858,to 1901, the latest official figures obtainable: ExportsFig. 3.— Ginseng Root (Human Form.)I. F. Shephard, (U. S. Consular Reports, No. 46, Vol. XIV., P. 228, 1884) says: “ Imperial Ginseng is so called because it is raised or gathered under Imperial protection in the parks or hunting grounds, where it is kept free from the profanation of the vulgar herd. This variety ranges from $40 to $200 per pound, and is largely taken up by the wealthy classes in Pekin and vicinity, as far as I can learn.” The United States Department of Agriculture (Bulletin 16) affirms: The Corean Ginseng seems to be regarded as the next best quality, and apparently includes both the wild and culti- vated product. It is said to have about the same qualities as the Chinese Ginseng, but is much cheaper and therefore much more extensively used. The quality is marketable at $15 to $35 per pound.” J. J. F. Bandinel, United States Consul, says: "An old root resembling the human body ( Fig. 3) with head and limbs, is supposed to be one hundred or two hundred years old, and fetches an enormous price—from 200 to 400 taels per ounce, weight.” A tael is about $1.05 in American money. In other words, according to Consul Bandinel, such a root is worth ten to twenty times its weight in gold. Since this table was compiled the supply has more rapidly decreased and the price more rapidly in- creased. Indeed, the wild supply is on the point of extermination. Chinese Prices for GinsengFor a market the American grower must depend upon China. China uses at least 95 per cent of the Ginseng produced in America. In reply to an inquiring public who may think that the enterprising American will soon overdo the business, we can do no more than to quote from Mr. Quang, president of the Chinese Merchants’ Company, of Shanghai, China, one of the largest trading companies in the Orient. Mr. Quang says: “ The Chinese have used Ginseng for several thousand years; they know its value as a medicine; they use it in religious rites and ceremonies, and its use is as firmly estab- lished as their religion. They have been taught its benefits for generations; they have been taught that it possesses supernatural powers, and'it is even worshiped.” Then speaking of the market, Mr. Quang said: " The supply is fast diminishing; the demand is growing greater each year. The amount used is only guaged by the supply. We pay a good price for your Ginseng; we would pay more if an increased price would get it. We could use twenty times what we get at present prices. It would be impossible for you Americans to glut the market with Ginseng in the next fifty years. Ginseng is used by every Chinaman, no matter how poor. The Ginseng market is as staple as the market for tea or coffee, and not subject to change as is every other article of commerce. Unless the Americans cultivate it there is going to be a great scarcity of Ginseng and that soon.” The Ginseng which comes in competition, to a limited extent, with the American is the product of The MarketCo red n Ginseng Corea — Corean Ginseng. But the Coreans are handicapped. Through a treaty arrangement, as a result of the war between China and Japan, the Japanese control the Corean Ginseng crop. In order to get a revenue the Japanese government has put an export duty on the Corean root, thus favoring the American root. We have no export duty on Ginseng in America, and our Ginseng enters China at the port of Hong Kong, which is a free port. Local Chinamen with whom the writer has dis- cussed the subject confirm what Mr. Quang says of it. They consider this tea the best tonic in the world. When a Chinaman falls sick with almost any disease, he makes about a pint of Ginseng tea, the stronger the better, and drinks it. about a gill at a drink every two or three haul's. The tea, to- gether with his firm belief in its virtue, usually cures him. The infant is cured by putting the pulverized roots in its food. The rich use it to flavor their food, not only for the flavor but its healthful prop- erties, claiming it restores youth. The drunkard, whether from liquor or opium, who wants to sober up rapidly, chews Ginseng root. The priests use it What the Chinese Do With It about the general use of it n China. They pulverize the dry root and make teaFig. 4.—Dried Root of Ginseng.in religious ceremonies, but on this point the local Chinamen are very reticent. In the above and in dozens of other ways the Chinese use Ginseng. The Chinese are firm in their convictions and super- stitions. They have believed in the virtues of Gin- seng for thousands of years and will continue to do so for a thousand years to come. Hence there need be no fear of overstocking the market. In as much as it takes eighteen months for the seed to germinate and four or five years after germination for the roots to mature, Ginseng growers need not take a market into consideration for at least a decade or two. The long time for the seed to germinate and the roots to mature will prevent most people who investigate it from going into its cultivation. Those who do go into it will reap a rich harvest. In all the large cities are exporters anxious to buy Ginseng. At present the best market is in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cincinnati, St. Louis and San Francisco. The wild root last year was quoted in New York Market reports at $7.00 per pound. Cultivated roots bring $2.00 to $5.00 more per pound than wild roots. Ginseng is the most valuable and profitable crop in the world. More money can be made from a few square rods of ground than from the average farm, and with one-tenth of the labor. As a safe estimate 800 roots will grow The Profitson one square rod of ground, which makes 128,000 to the acre. Some growers claim as many as 160,- 000 and even more to the acre, but the writer’s ex- perience shows 128,000 to be about right. Setting the roots six inches apart each way in rows, making due allowance for paths between the beds, an acre will be found to contain about 128,000 roots. Mr. George Stanton, a Ginseng grower of New York, made the following report to the Agricultural Department at Washington: “ In 1897, from 8 1-2 beds, 3x16 feet each, 2270 roots, weight 126 2-16 pounds, were taken; 1505 taken out for replanting, weight 29 15-16 pounds, leaving 96 pounds to be dried, which made 32 pounds dry, value 5165.00. There were also 1505 seedling roots, weight 8 1-2 pounds. Had the entire product of marketable roots from the 18 beds—320 pounds—been dried, it would have made 106 pounds dry, which would have sold for 5575.00 This will do very well with 4 1-2 square rods of ground with five years cultivation. I do not need to add the value of the seed produced during cultivation or the value of 4.617 seed- ling roots.” On account of the increased price, the above Ginseng would now bring over $1000.00. One square rod of ground produces 800 roots, set six inches apart each way, allowing for walks be- tween the beds. Estimating four roots to the pound (at the age of five years) gives 200 pounds; when dried 66 pounds. At $8.00 per pound, it makes $528.00. While making the five years’ growth, the roots would produce 200,000 seeds, or at present wholesale prices, $1,500.00 worth of seeds. Butleaving the seeds out of the count, for one square rod of Ginseng five years old, we have $528.00; or for an acre we have $84,480.00. This estimate looks unreasonable and most people will not believe it, but it is a conservative estimate nevertheless. Of course the above estimate does not take into con- sideration losses for roots which may die. But even if these were 30 per cent, it would still leave over $50,000.00 as the estimated value of the roots of an acre of Ginseng. » Mr. G. F. Millard, a Missouri man, commenced to grow Ginseng in 1893. Of his efforts the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, in its issue of September 29, 1901, says: “ The success that has attended his efforts may be under- stood when it is known that his profits for the sixth year were 525,000, and that the returns for 1900 and 1901 are much in excess of this. Two years ago he sold to a single nurseryman in New York seed and root to the value of 516,000.” It must be remembered that up to 1901, Mr. Millard’s Ginseng garden did not cover one acre of ground. At the present price of nursery stock a $10.00 investment will produce the following results in ten years: 1st year, bought 80 roots and 80 seeds. Harvested 1,200 seeds. 2d year, raised 60 roots...............Harvested 3,000 seeds 3rd year, raised 800 roots..,..........Harvested 3,500 seeds What a $10 Invest- ment Will Do4th year, raised 2,000 roots Harvested 3,500 seeds 5th year, raised 2,000 roots.............Harvested 20,000 seeds 6th year, raised 2,000 roots.............Harvested 40,000 seeds 7th year, raised 3,000 roots.............Harvested 90,000 seeds 8th year, raised 15,000 roots............Harvested 200,000 seeds 9th year, raised 55,000 roots............Harvested 300,000 seeds 10th year, raised 120,000 roots...........Harvested 400,000 seeds Seed on hand, counting only last two years, 700,000. Computing these at 8,500 per pound we have 80 pound. Counting them at $30.00 per pound (less then one-third their value) it gives $2,400.00 for the seed. The roots raised are as follows: 120,000 one year old roots.........at lc each...................................f1,200 00 55.000 two year old roots.........at 2c each............ 1,100 00 15.000 three year old roots.......at 5c each 750 00 3.000 four year old roots........at 10c each.............. 300 00 2.000 five year old roots........at 20c each........ 400 00 2.000 six year old roots.........at 30c each. ...... 600 00 2.000 seven year old roots.......at 50c each............ 1,000 00 800 eight year old roots at 50c each..................... 400 00 Total 15,750 00 Value of seed on hand..............................^.... 2,400 00 Total value of a $10 investment $8,150 00 Indeed the above is only one-third of the real value, for the increase is estimated too small and the price not one-third high enough. Maurice G. Kains, perhaps the leading expert on Ginseng, who prepared the report of the U. S. Agricultural department, ends a recent publication as follows: “ There is great promise in the Ginseng industry. Though Chinese Ginseng is considered superior to the American variety, there is, nevertheless, a steady sale for the latter. The demand is large: the wild supply is inadequate and rap- idly decreasing: the cultivated beds are not being extended fast enough to supply the deficiency in the wild root; the price is high and likely to rise still higher. * * * These considera- tions have much in them to appeal to the would-be Ginseng grower.”