i New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 357 



2d. Aa to source of plant and seed supply, these can usually be secured 

 cheaper from local growers or " Sang " hunters than from houses which 

 make a business of handling the plants. If there be none of these 

 " Sang " hunters in your locality it is usually best to write to all of the 

 firms you know of for prices, for the price sometimes varies materially. 

 Below are the names and addresses of some well-known growers: Geo. 

 Stanton, Chinese Ginseng Farm, Summit Station, N. Y.; M. G. Harrison, 

 Redford, Mo.; Harlan P. Kelsey, Tremont Building, Boston, Mass.; A. E. 

 Leavitt, Houston, Mo.; Emanuel Lewis, Hemlock, Wis.; H. S. Seymour, 

 Richland Center, Wis.; W. G. Palmer, Boydtown, Wis.; J. W. Sears, 

 Sumerset, Ky.; American Ginseng Gardens, Rose Hill, N. Y.; G. F. Millard. 

 Houston, Mo.; W. A. Bates, Cuba, N. Y. Seed costs at present from one 

 to five dollars an ounce and plants from four to twenty dollars a hundred, 

 but as indicated above both may frequently be secured much cheaper from 

 local gatherers. If so secured, care must be taken that the roots be fresh 

 from the ground and that the seeds be not thoroughly dried out as they 

 will seldom grow in that condition. 



3d. As to methods of culture, etc., Ginseng will not grow exposed to 

 the direct rays of the sun. It grows naturally in deep woods and usually 

 on north and east slopes. Consequently in cultivating ginseng either a 

 spot which is naturally shaded must be chosen, or artificial shade given. 

 Lath screens with a one-half inch space between laths are usually used 

 for this purpose. They may be placed low and be removed for purposes 

 of weeding, etc., or they may be fastened on posts six feet or more above 

 the ground, so that a man can work under them. The latter method 

 usually gives the best satisfaction. Ginseng likes a deep rich soil which 

 does not dry out too readily. Clay loam with plenty of leaf mold or 

 manure worked in will do very well. If small roots be planted they will 

 give quicker results than seeds, but are somewhat more expensive. From 

 the seed it takes from six to eight years to produce marketable roots. The 

 grounds should be divided into beds not wider than four feet and as long 

 as may be desired, with a narrow walk in between. Since all cultivation 

 of ginseng is by hand beds wider than this are difficult of access. Roots 

 sliould be planted from three to six inches apart each way, according to 

 size. Seeds will not grow until eighteen months after ripening. During 

 this period they may either be planted or mixed with moderately moist 

 leaf mold and loam, and stored where they will not dry out, as once thor- 

 oughly dry the seed will not germinate. Seed may be sown in either 

 spring or fall in rows three inches apart and one inch apart in the row 

 and one-half inch deep. After the bed is planted it should be covered with 

 litter or leaf mold about one inch deep to prevent drying out. This should 

 be covered with light brush if there Is danger of its blowing off. Weeds 

 must be pulled out or rather cut off as they appear and the mulch renewed 

 each fall when the tops die down. Great care must be taken not to loosen 

 the plants in pulling weeds as this is usually fatal. Chickens must not be 

 allowed access to the beds. One of the great di-awbacks to ginseng grow- 

 ing is the danger of having the roots stolen. It is possible in a single night 

 to lose the product of several years' work. On this account it is usually 

 best to make the bods close to the house or some other point where they 

 can be constantly watched. When the roots are large enough to dig they 



