ENEMIES. 67 



the top of the roots. We have but few of them, two or 

 three are all that have ever given me any trouble. Then 

 we have what is called field or woods mice ; they eat the 

 seeds from the seed head while the berries are ripen- 

 ing; they do not eat the seeds after they are planted. 

 Before the berries begin to ripen, I set a few deadfalls, 

 and in a few nights I have cleared away the mice. I 

 have noticed a little white fly that sometimes gets on 

 the stem of some of the plants, near the seed head ; they 

 can be removed quickly with the thumb and finger. 

 If allowed to remain on the stem they will cause it to 

 perish. I sometimes sprinkle ashes lightly on the 

 growing plants ; this I think is a good preventive. We 

 have here what is called a ginseng cricket ; it is of a 

 green color. They are very easily caught with the 

 hand and destroyed. This green cricket cuts into the 

 kernel of the ginseng seed and eats it before the berry 

 gets ripe, while green. In my nursery I have but few, 

 if any, of these pests to contend with; they give me 

 but little trouble. Chickens, pigs, etc, must be strictly 

 kept out ; it will not do to let them in at all. The gin- 

 seng beds should be inclosed with a strong slat fence." 



"Unless secrecy can be maintained it will pay, as 

 a rule, to erect a high, solid wall with barbed wire on 

 top. An electric wire can be arranged around the 

 plantation at little cost, which will ring a bell or bells, 

 located where desired, if an entry be forced. Any very 

 valuable article finds ready thieves, if unprotected 

 ginseng being no exception to the rule but it is amply 

 worth any expense incurred in protecting it." 



Diseases have been hinted at as causing trouble 

 in some places, but none, so far as the author can learn, 

 have been identified. Since they are probably of a 

 fungous nature, however, and also probably carried 

 from plant to plant by snails, slugs and insects, preven- 

 tion of infection is the watchword. Prevent infection 

 by keeping the snails, etc., in check and prevent dis- 



