GINSENG. 



451 



apart, and lath nailed, as stated before, one-half in. apart. This height 

 gives room to stand erect and a chance to work. On seedling beds 

 the shading should not be over two and one-half feet from the ground 

 on account of water dripping from end of lath; if placed six feet 

 high, as on older plants, seedlings are apt to be washed out. 



A ginseng plantation— under screen. 



This shade should be put up in the spring about the time the 

 plants are coming through the ground, which is about May i to 10, 

 and must be taken down every autumn before snowfall. • 



Probably some would like to know how much could be made off 

 of an acre of ginseng. In the first place very few have that much, 

 and no one has dug that much in one season, so it would be mere 

 guesswork to make an estimate ; but at present prices it would be a 

 handsome sum, much depending on soil, shading, fertilizer and the 

 man who takes care of it. This last fall I dug some roots which were 

 under cultivation three years, and they were five times as large as 

 when planted, and some roots planted five years were ten times as 

 large as when put in the ground. These averaged about five roots 

 per pound ; in drying they shrank two- thirds the weight. They sold 

 for seven dollars per lb., the price of cultivated roots dropping to 

 the same price as wild roots. 



