PROTECTION OF THE BEDS. 31 



first season after being divided, and the roots will grow 

 to a marketable size much sooner than seedlings. Often 

 two, or even more, years may be gained by this method 

 with individual roots. By this is meant only that after 

 the roots have been separated and grown in the bed two 

 or three seasons they may be large enough to dig for 

 drying. 



PROTECTION OF TJIE BEDS. 



The first protection, in a ginseng plantation, is the 

 protection against thieves. The root commands so high 

 a price and is so energetically sought, that if the beds 

 be situated where ginseng hunters can have access to 

 them the profits of growing the crop will be small 

 indeed. In Kentucky, where the root is very largely 

 gathered in the woods, numerous cases are upon record 

 of men growing several thousand roots to a marketable 

 size, only to have them stolen a few days before they 

 intended digging them themselves. Usually they have 

 .not attempted to grow them again, but sometimes they 

 concluded, from the appearance of the plants and their 

 method of handling them, that they could make money 

 by guarding them, and have built fences and shelters 

 around their beds, and have even employed watchmen 

 profitably. The average "sang" digger has very little 

 conscience, and questions not whether the roots are 

 cultivated and rightfully belong to another. There- 

 fore, unless the grower can place his beds beyond the 

 sight and reach of the professional hunter of this root, 

 he had better not attempt ginseng cultivation. 



Protection against cattle and sheep is next in 

 importance. All grazing stock, and probably deer, are 

 fond of the leaves of this plant and the beds must be 

 protected against them if they are allowed free range in 

 the woods where the beds are located. Even animals 

 not partial to the leaves may do considerable injury by 

 trampling over the beds if left unprotected. The best 



