LETTERS FROM GROWERS. 123 



account of too much shade. A plant that will produce 

 from five to twenty seeds in the woods will, I believe, 

 produce from twenty-five to one hundred and fifty in 

 the clearing. 



"In the stratifying of seeds, I have found that two- 

 thirds leaf mold and one-third sand or loam, is a good 

 mixture. I have had success with my seed put away 

 in that preparation. I think that it is a good idea to 

 have the seed box set out of doors under a lattice roof 

 in the ginseng bed the following spring after the seed 

 is gathered. It should be kept watered. Some of the 

 seed will grow that spring and probably, by selection, 

 a variety may be obtained, the seed of which will 

 sprout the spring after it is gathered. I am working 

 along this line. Since some seeds will start to grow 

 while still stratified it is best to have depth enough at 

 the bottom of the box below the seed for the roots to 

 grow straight down, and not too much on the top, 

 or it will be too deep for the young plants to get 

 through. 



"I have found that wild Canadian root, cultivated 

 in the garden, will come up earlier in the spring, and 

 ripen its seeds and its roots about three weeks earlier 

 than the New York cultivated ginseng, thus giving the 

 grower a better chance to dig and dry his crop of roots 

 before the cold damp weather sets in, especially if it is 

 to be dried in the heat of the sun. 



"In regard to the distance between plants, I think 

 that six inches each way is too close, especially for 

 large plants. They will grow more seed, I believe, 

 if not planted too closely. As to the proper time to 

 plant seed, I think it does not make any very great 

 difference as long as planting is done in the fall. I 

 have planted seed when I had to shovel the snow off 

 the ground, and at night had to cover the beds with 

 boards to keep them from freezing. In regard to 

 covering, I have found that brush has to be put on very 



