60 PRESENT STATUS OF THE INDUSTRY. 



tradicting the statements of certain persons concerning 

 the places where ginseng will grow. Mr. Eraser also 

 mentions something of the same kind in his letter on a 

 succeeding page. 



"There were professional 'sang diggers/ who 

 for the purpose [of digging] used a small hoe, about 

 one and one-half inches wide, by five in length, with a 

 handle two feet long. The hoe was made narrow, to 

 enable the operator to extract the root whole from 

 between the roots of the trees where it was so often 

 found. I never saw it growing on the mountain tops, 

 nor in the swamps, nor in the open, or among the 

 weeds, but in well-drained, rich, loose soil, beneath 

 dense foliage. The green root was prepared for market 

 by being strung on threads and hung by the old- 

 fashioned log fire in the kitchen until thoroughly 

 dried." 



In his circular of July, 1900, Mr. H. P. Kelsey 

 describes a good soil and the fundamental require- 

 ments of ginseng culture as follows : "The conditions 

 of culture may be stated in a few words: A rich, 

 cool, loamy, loose soil, shade, and a heavy mulching of 

 wood leaves or similar covering in autumn, which is 

 left on during the next summer to decay and conserve 

 moisture. Ginseng will thrive in almost any rich 

 garden soil if given shade, either natural or artificial, 

 moisture and constant cultivation. 



"This is the secret of growing ginseng, and al- 

 though there are many ways of applying the above 

 principles, still if these points are kept in view there 

 can be but little doubt of success ; where the conditions 

 do not exist naturally, they can usually be artificially 

 furnished. 



"For those who intend planting on a large scale, 

 the following suggestions will aid in making a proper 

 start. First, where possible, select a cool, moist piece 

 of ground, preferably level or nearly so, and where 



