HISTORY. 5 



, 



it not been for an excessive demand made in 1752, as a 

 result of which an immense quantity of root was dug 

 out of season and improperly dried in ovens. Upon its 

 arrival in China it was found to be so inferior that the 

 dealers refused to accept it.j In a single year the trade 

 dropped from about $100,000 to $6,500, and in a few 

 years more ceased entirely. The Chinese faith in the 

 Canadian article was so severely shaken that the stand- 

 ing of the American root also suffered, an effect that it 

 has taken more than a century to overcome. 



During these years, and particularly those following 

 the event just recorded, the New England states, and 

 later the sister states as far west as the borders of the 

 Mississippi, profiting from the ill-luck of their northern 

 neighbor, increased their trade until, in 1858, more 

 than 350,000 pounds were exported, but at the low aver- 

 age figure of 52 cents a pound. Since that year the 

 quantity of root exported has decreased, but the price 

 has improved. In 1897 the price per pound reached its 

 highest average, $4.71, slightly more than nine times 

 the price in 1858. This steady increase is a hopeful 

 sign that confidence is being restored, and forms one of 

 the strongest arguments in favor of the cultivation of 

 the root in this country. Further data upon this topic 

 may be found under the heading, "Profits." 



BOTANY OF THE PLANT. 



American ginseng (Panax quinquefoUum, L.) is a 

 member of the natural order Araliacem, which is allied ^> 

 to the Parsley family. The plant, when old enough to 

 bear seed, is easily recognized, and, especially when in 

 fruit, is somewhat conspicuous ; but during the first 

 two or three years it is not particularly prominent. The 

 seedlings appear, in New York state, about the first of 

 May, sometimes a week or so earlier. They at first look 

 something like newly sprouted beans, in having two 



