STxVTE HORTICULTURAI. SOCIETY. 59 



direct to native importers and others tluougli agents in Xew 

 York and San Franoiseo, and the other half to an American firm 

 from Western Ameiica. The root is sorted previons to shipment 

 to China, and comprises varions grades, differing from each 

 other in vahie from $50 to $100 per picul. The average price 

 for crude (which forms the bulk of shipments), according to the 

 following classifications, are : Superior, large selected root, $450; 

 large and selected, $380 ; good ordinary, $800; medium good, 

 $270 ; fair, $250. 



Some very choice large roots have brought $000 to $700, and 

 ''extra choicest selected large and heavy" sometimes commands 

 fancy prices, up to $1,(M)0 per picul. 



Few persons appear to know about it more than that the root 

 is largely used in the empire as a stomachic or tonic, but, singu- 

 larly enough, its value seems largely to depend, in the minds of 

 the people, more upon the radix than upon its inherent quali- 

 ties. 



The name "ginseng," I am told by Chinese scholars, signifies 

 the "Man Plant," on account of the shape of the root, which is 

 bifurcated, somewhat resembling the thighs and legs of a man. 

 'The nearer the peculiar form approaches to perfection of resem- 

 blance to the human frame, the gieater the value. T am reliably 

 informed of one single root, weighing not ovei' three pounds (two 

 catties) that was sold for about $1,500 in gold. Of course its in- 

 trinsic value could not have been greatly different from other 

 roots of the species, but its shape was esteemed to be very per- 

 fect. 



The use of the root is universal throughout the empire. Kearly 

 every drug store of the natives has displayed upon the door posts 

 the announcement that "ginseng and young deers' horns pills" 

 are an article of ready supply. The latter component is also es- 

 teemed valuable as tonic, and two combined are a sine qitanon. 

 They are first reduced to powder, and then mixed in the re- 

 quired proportions. The ginseng is believed to have special ef- 

 fect in strengthening the genital organs, and this idea alone 

 would give it great value in the opinion of the Chinese, as well 

 as the other nations of the East. The faith in it is universal 

 among them, whatever the fact may be; and the highest manda- 

 rins, as well as the coolies, use it. 



I gather the above, in relation to its use in China, principally 

 from a reliable Eastern paper. 



And now what I wish to call the attention of the society to : 



