LETTERS FROM GROWERS. 135 



and poor ground in good condition for ginseng. If 

 the ground be rich garden soil so much the better, but 

 treat it in the same way. If humus or rich woods soil 

 cannot be obtained work in plenty of manure and 

 unleached wood ashes. After mixing well and pul- 

 verizing, level off the beds smoothly and they will be 

 ready to plant. 



"The roots should be set six or seven inches apart 

 each way, which will give them ample room to grow 

 to a marketable size. A good device for setting roots 

 is a planting board. Take two boards six or seven 

 inches wide and long enough to fit down easily cross- 

 wise in the beds and nail light strips across at the ends 

 and center to hold them together to keep them from 

 warping. Cut notches seven inches apart on one edge 

 and place this edge of the board where you want to 

 begin planting. Now with a spade open a trench deep 

 enough to accommodate the longest roots, place the 

 roots at the notches, being careful to plant them deep 

 enough so that the bud at the top of the roots will be 

 one and one-half to two inches under the soil when 

 covered, and draw the soil to them, pressing it firmly 

 around the roots, then level off. Now place the 

 board seven inches further on for the next row and so 

 continue. Do not step on the beds where roots have 

 been planted but stand on the planting board while at 

 work. When done planting give the beds a light 

 dressing of manure or humus and cover with a mulch 

 of dry leaves three or four inches deep and lay on 

 some brush to keep the leaves from blowing off. Be 

 sure to remove the brush in the spring but let the leaf 

 mulch remain. 



"No stirring of the ground or cultivation will be 

 necessary except to keep the beds free from grass and 

 weeds ; this should be done with the hand, as the roots 

 might be injured by using a hoe or other tool. Each 

 fall after the tops have died down, give the beds a 



