PRESENT STATUS OF THE INDUSTRY. 



"American ginseng growers should be careful to 

 conform to the requirements of the Chinese markets. 

 The principal points are cleanliness, good color (bright 

 yellow), and freedom from dust and chips. It is 

 desirable that the root be sorted before it is shipped, so 

 that the better qualities may be sold separately. How- 

 ever, even unassorted ginseng root of any quality is 

 salable according to its merit. Ginseng may be shipped 

 in any quantity, and should be packed in strong wooden 

 casks or cases of a capacity of from one hundred to 

 two hundred pounds. Old whiskey casks might be 

 used, but they should be quite dry before the root is 

 packed. If the root is packed in a wet condition, it 

 becomes moldy and deteriorates. The clarified root is 

 liked by purchasers here, and its value is, as a rule, 

 higher than that of the crude root. There is no partic- 

 ular process of clarification in Hong Kong, but the 

 Korean root is clarified with honey. 



''American ginseng exporters desirous of making 

 shipments to Hong Kong will find it to their advantage 

 to communicate with F. J. V. Jorge, 24 Bank Build- 

 ings, Hong Kong. Mr. Jorge has handled American 

 ginseng for over twenty years and is perhaps the most 

 experienced Hong Kong merchant in this line. He 

 has recently established an independent commission 

 business, and is in a position to act as agent for Amer- 

 ican firms. I mention his name in order that those 

 interested in the ginseng trade may, if they so desire, 

 enter into business relations with someone in Hong 

 Kong. Mr. Jorge can doubtless furnish satisfactory 



