No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 449 



haiisted, hence the cultivation of the plant has attracted attention 

 and much of the root now handled is thus derived. The experience 

 of the last few years has shown that there is no inherent reason why 

 its cultivation may not be successfully done; whether profitably is 

 another question. There are two ways of starting a ginseng bed: 

 by seeds, and two year old roots. In raising plants from seeds 

 it should be noted that the seeds lose vitality very quickly on dry- 

 ing. Hence so soon as they are gathered they should be stratified in 

 leaf mold. Mix the seeds with four times their bulk of leaf mold 

 or make alternate layers of leaf mold and seeds in a wooden box, 

 and leave out of doors over winter in some protected place. These 

 seeds should not be disturbed until the spring of the second year, 

 since but few seeds will germinate before they are eighteen 

 months old. Of course seeds may be planted as soon as they are 

 gathered, as nature does, but the risk of loss during the dormant 

 season is very great. Beds are more generally made by planting 

 two year old roots. These are dibbled in like any other trans-plants 

 and may be placed only a few inclies apart. It goes without saying 

 that whether seeds or roots are used the bed should be most care- 

 fully prepared. No success ne-ed be expected unless this is rigidly 

 attended to. The after care must be entirely by hand-weeding and 

 working, and presents no peculiarities worthy of special mention. 

 Ginseng is so nearly a wild plant that careful attention to the con- 

 ditions under which it naturally grows is quite necessary. It has 

 been found that it is essential to make beds in partial shade either 

 of surrounding large trees or of artificial frames. For obvious rea- 

 sons the latter method is most feasible. A light screen of lath so 

 as to give about onc'-half light is most suitable. This may be placed 

 close to the ground or supported upon posts high enough to enable 

 one to work under it easily. The latter is much preferable. A fence 

 tight enough to exclude dogs, cats and domestic fowls is j)ractically 

 a necessity. 



All these features together with the relatively high cost of the 

 seeds or roots put ginseng in a class by itself, and make it absurd 

 to talk about it as one would of ordinary farm and garden crops. 



While, as stated, there are no inherent reasons why ginseng may 

 not be successfully cultivated it is none the less true that there are 

 special difficulties and diseases which must be reckoned with. The 

 former have been, perhaps, sufficiently indicated already, the latter 

 become more and more marked with time. This is true of all sorts 

 of plants, none are likely to long remain immune. The principal 

 diseases of ginseng are: (1) The wilt of old plants. This is of the 

 same general character as the wilt of cotton, melons and other gar- 

 den plants. The name expresses the character of the disease very 

 well. (2) Wilt of seedlings. This is of the same general nature as 

 to results, but affects the young and delicate seedlings, often spoken 

 of as the "damping off" of seedlings. There are several causes of 

 this malady. There is but little, if any, remedial treatment for these 

 diseases short of starting cultivation anew with clean stock in 

 clean soil. (3) Black rot, Soft rot, and Leaf spot fungus are like- 

 wise not seldom met with, and are difficult to control or correct. 



29—6—1911 



