PANAX QUINQUEFOLIUM. 
The Asiatic kind is found principally in that country between 
39° and 47° north latitude, in the same kind 6f localities as in 
this country, The collection of it is a monopoly enjoyed by the 
Emperor, who guards the districts in which it grows with great 
vigilance. Each individual who is employed to collect it, de- 
livers two catties of the best roots gratuitously, and is paid its 
weight in silver for all over this quantity. This insures the 
Emperor about 20,000 catties at about one-fourth of their mar- 
ket price. ie dies ee 
Notwithstanding that large quantities of this root are exported 
from this country to China, and being there recognized as the 
true Ginseng, and that most botanists have declared that the 
plants are identical, yet it is now admitted, by some of the best 
authorities, that they are distinct species, though very closely 
allied. The mistake originally arose from the Jesuits, some of 
whom becoming acquainted with the plant in Tartary, thought 
that they recognized it in the American species; and, in conse- 
quence, it was sent to China, where, although considered an 
inferior kind, it met with a ready sale. But the market has 
fluctuated very much, as from a fancied deterioration in the ar- _ 
ticle, or from some other cause, it sometimes has not paid the © 
charges of exportation. 
The following is a description of the American species. Root 
fusiform, whitish and thick, often branched, fleshy, with trans- 
verse wrinkles. Stem erect, one to two feet high, round, smooth, — 
green below, purplish red above, divided at top into three petioles, a 
having a central peduncle at their base bearing a simple umbel, _ 
Leaves on round and smooth footstalks. The petioles are long | 
and commonly furnished with five, bat sometimes with three or 
seven obovate leaflets. These are ovate, acuminate, doubly ser- 
rate, dark green above, paler beneath, smooth on both sides, sup- 
ported on partial footstalks, which, like the general ones, are 
tinged with red at their insertion. The flowers are small, yel- ee 
lowish, on short pedicles. The barren ones borne on separate — 
plants have larger petals and an entire calyx. ‘The fertile ones — 
are succeeded by berries of a bright scarlet color. The fruit is 
red, baccate reniform, with two semi-globose seeds. a 
CHEMICAL AND MEDICAL PROPERTIES AND USES. 
‘Ginseng has a peculiar and rather pleasant camphorat ed smell; 
