44 TH3 GINSENG INDUSTRY. 



their time of curing ; solid and cultivated roots require 

 less time than wild and spongy ones. The degree of 

 heat maintained in the dryer, and the volume of air that 

 passes through it in a given time, also influence the 

 time required. Never try to shorten this time by split- 

 ting or cutting the roots. This lowers their market 

 value. 



The roots upon, the lowest shelf will ordinarily dry 

 first. Take them out, fill the tray with fresh roots and 

 put it in the dryer at the top, after moving all the other 

 trays down one notch toward the bottom. In this way 

 the greatest good may be obtained from the same quan- 

 tity of heat, and the time of drying may be considerably 

 reduced. In drying, the cultivated roots suffer some- 

 what less from shrinkage than the wild ones, which lose 

 about two-thirds of their weight. The former are, 

 therefore, more profitable to dry. 



The fibrous matter, which is usually more abundant 

 upon the cultivated than upon the wild root, will of 

 course become brittle long before the root itself becomes 

 dry. This is of no value for export, and, if left on, 

 as it generally is by the southern diggers, reduces the 

 price paid for the article. It must therefore be trimmed 

 off, by rubbing the roots gently between the hands. 

 When smooth, return the trimmed roots to the dryer to 

 become completely dry. Save the trimmings, however, 

 since they may often be sold at the drug stores for 

 enough to pay the cost of trimming, or even more. 

 They are used to supply the people who like to chew- 

 ginseng. A dried and trimmed root is shown in Fig. 14. 



When the large roots have become as dry as a bone 

 and are perfectly cool, put them in paper sacks or clean 

 boxes to await shipment. This should take place as 

 early as possible, provided a good price may be obtained, 

 because if kept for any great length of time there is 

 danger of their becoming infested with boring beetles. 



