448 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



A good illustration of the importance of correct and exact deter- 

 mination of seeds came to my attention by a sample of Catalpa seed, 

 with the inquiry whether this was the seed of the Catalpa species 

 most valuable for forestry j)urposes. There are three species of 

 Catalpa now in common use. Catalpa speciosa, the most desirable, 

 bignonioides, less so, and Kemjileri, a small Japanese tree useful 

 only in ornamental planting. The seeds in all three are of the 

 same general type, but varying in size and different minor points 

 readily detectible by one who has studied them. Since forest trees 

 are even longer in proving their exactness of kind than are fruit 

 trees it follows that one should be careful from the start, lest he 

 find years afterward that he has used seed of the wrong kind. In 

 this instance the seod was true to name and would produce the 

 larger, straighter and longer-lived forest tree Avhich was desired. 



Inquiries regarding special crops, particularly ginseng have be- 

 come so frequent that a brief circular on this latter species has 

 been prepared. Since it expresses the essential things to be borne 

 in mind by those Avho are inclined to undertake ginseng cultivation 

 it is embodied herewith: 



GINSENG AND ITS CULTIVATION 



Ginseng is a native American plant, growing wild over the eastern 

 United States and Canada, preferably in rich, loamy soil and in 

 woodlands throughout the Allegheny region and the northern states 

 west of Minne-sota and Missouri. It is one of about seven species 

 native of the district above mentioned and eastern Asia. 



It is an herbaceous perennial, low growing and reaching maturity 

 only after several years of growth. It has characteristic five parted 

 leaves, quite distinct from any other species. One familiar by prac- 

 tice can readily distinguish it from wild sarsaparilla or other plants 

 commonly associated with it. The stem is insignificant and scarcely 

 noticeable, except when bearing the cluster of bright red berries 

 which follow the small flowers. In the fall, leaves and stems disap- 

 pear, except that a short basal stem bearing one or two buds per- 

 sists just beneath the surface capping the small tap root. The plant 

 grows slowl3\ At the end of the third year the root, if favorably 

 placed, may be as large as one's finger, not unlike a small parsnip, 

 but less symmetrical and generally quite irregular and branching. 

 This root is the usable part of the plant. It is commonly gathered 

 for sale when several years old. The bulk of the roots of com- 

 merce are five or more years old. Collection of the Avild roots which 

 when dried meet with ready sale has long been common in the hard- 

 wood districts where the wild plants are most abundant. The high 

 prices obtained and the fascination of hunting it have combined to 

 diminish the natural supply and to threaten the extinction of the 

 plant. 



As explaining the great demand for ginseng roots it may be said 

 that they have no medicinial value whatever in the estimate of Ameri- 

 can or European authorities, but from time immemorial the Chinese 

 have held them in the highest repute and are willing to pay fabulous 

 prices for them. For some years the export of American roots to 

 China has been approximately 150.000 pounds per year and formerly 

 it much exceeded this. Apparently the natural supply is being ex- 



