510 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Search in America resulted in finding near Quebec and Montreal, hy 

 Father Lafitau, a missionary among the Iroquois Indians, a plant (Panax 

 quinquefolium), which not only resembles the Chinese root, (Panax Gin- 

 seng) in appearance, but possesses all its medicinal qualities. Roots gath- 

 ered and dried by the Indians were sent to China, where they were so 

 well received that a considerable trade sprang up. The roots at that time 

 were purchased from the collectors for 35 cents per lb., this was about 

 1714 or 1716, and marks the beginning of our ginseng trade with China, 

 which has been steadily increasing to the present date. The writer, W. S. 

 Bear, sold his entire crop of roots in December, 1909, for $7 per lb. 



XATUKAL HOME OF THE PLANT. 



At one time ginseng could be found growing wild as far west as the 

 first tier of states west of the Mississippi and from Canada to the Gulf 

 of Mexico. In the south it is found only in the mountains and high ground. 

 In the North, it will be found on the low lands, and will be found making 

 rich, luxuriant growth in the rich, moist, but well drained soil from which 

 our oak, hard maple, beech and bass wood forests grow. Ginseng is never 

 found in low wet muck soil, such as grows the tamarack and cedar for- 

 ests. Soils, having a wealth of leafmold and fairly light in texture are 

 most favorable to this plant. It is never found in open, it soon perishes 

 under the rays of the summer's sun in the clearings, but thrives well in 

 the shade afforded by the hard wood forests, with scant under growth. 



CLIMATE AND LOCATION. 



From what has previously been said under the heading of Natural 

 home, of the plant, it will be seen that it may be successfully grown over 

 a wide territory. It must not however be inferred from this that it can 

 be grown anywhere in this territory. Efforts to grow it on the low lands 

 of the south have proved a failure. The plant requires a cool climate, such 

 as is found in the Northern states and on the high lands of both north 

 and south. In selecting a location for a garden, be sure to give the north- 

 ern exposure the preference, because the plants will be better where the 

 rays of the sun, strike at an angle l)y the land sloping to the north. Such 

 soil though well drained, retains moisture much longer then a south ex- 

 posure. Second choice should be an east slope, third, a western hillside 

 or well drained level ground is fairly good, but should have a little more 

 shade. 



At the time of selecting a location, soil should be taken into consider- 

 ation. The best soil is a good mellow loam well supplied with decaying 

 vegetable matter, and must be clear of stone, clods and chunks of wood 

 or any other hard substance. 



Never choose a hard clay, light sand or muck, these are not adapted to 

 the requirements of this plant. Nearly any soil in the state of Iowa can 

 b6 made, by the application of sand and barn yard manure, to grow a fine 

 crop of ginseng. A short, comprehensive list of requirements might be 

 given thus, any good, rich, well drained vegetable garden, furnished with 

 the required shade. 



