438 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



market price of 20 cents each, should, after eighteen months, bring 

 a return of $10,400.00." 



Could anything be more baldly ridiculous ? Let us suppose that 

 only 1,000 gardeners had the above success as to yield. This would 

 mean over three billion seeds put on the market each year, vi'hich at 

 five cents each would require $150,000,000 annually to pay for them, 

 not to mention the value of the roots. 



Suppose further that the ratio of increase both in yield of crops 

 and number of growers continued the same for twenty-five years 

 there would not be money enough in the world to buy a single year's 

 crop. China, the source of demand for ginseng, would have used 

 all their wealth in its purchase long before the period of twenty-five 

 years had elapsed. 



Notwithstanding these air castles there is an enormous profit in 

 growing the plant, but it depends on the individual grower as in any 

 other crop. The right conditions for its culture must be supplied, 

 either naturally or artificially and intelligent cultivation given. There 

 will probably always be a good demand for the root at high prices, 

 and it is an article commanding cash at all times. These condi- 

 tions for growing are readily found in nearly all the states of the 

 Union or can be produced at reasonable cost of labor and material. 

 They may be stated in a few words : A rich, deep, well-drained, and 

 moist soil, containing abundant decayed vegetable matter and not 

 too heavy or clayey. Humus or vegetable mold, obtained by using 

 decayed forest leaves is extremely beneficial, as is also thoroughly 

 rotted compost. Shade sufficient to keep of¥ the direct rays of the 

 sun is almost necessary, particularly in sections where the heat is ex- 

 cessive. Add to this careful cultivation, and you have the secret, if 

 there really be any, of growing ginseng successfully. Lath covers 

 are perhaps the best artificial shade, and apple trees have been found 

 good to keep the ground protected from the sun. At maturity the 

 roots must be carefully and properly prepared for njarket, and the 

 extra care taken to produce a fine article, clean, well graded and per- 

 fectly dry is more than repaid by the much higher price such roots 

 will bring.— H. P. K. 



