GINSENG. 87 
coction is of a grateful colour, and when one has . 
taken it twice or thrice, its taste and smell be- 
come very pleasant.” Saas 
The Chinese use a decoction of the root, for 
which they employ about a fifth part of an ounce 
at a time. This they boil in a covered vessel 
with two suecessive portions of water, in order to 
extract all its virtue. bis | 
The following is the substance of Jartoux’s de- 
scription of the Asiatic plant. The root is whit- 
ish, rugged and uneven. The stalk is round, and. 
shaded with red; it terminates in a knot or joint 
at top, from which proceed four equal branches. 
Kach branch produces five leaves, which are equi- 
distant from each other, and from the ground, 
The leaves are unusually thin and fine, with their 
fibres very distinguishable, and a few whitish hairs 
on the upper side. Their colour is dark green 
above, and a pale, shining green underneath, All 
the leaves are serrated or finely indented on the 
edge.—From the centre of the branches rises a 
second stalk which is very straight and smooth, 
and whitish from bottom to top, bearing a bunch 
of round fruit, of a beautiful red colour, composed 
of twenty four red berries. ‘The red skin of the 
berry is thin and smooth, and contains a white 
pulp.. As these berries were double, (for they 
