CORIANDER AND CARRAWAY SEEDS. 437 



the value of the root increases accordingly. The Chinese govern- 

 ment were formerly in the habit of sending out annually 30,000 

 Tartar soldiers to search for the plant, and each was obliged to 

 bring home two ounces of the root gratis, and for all above that 

 quantity he was paid its weight in silver. The Asiatic ginseng 

 is said to be obtained from the root of P. Schinseng of Nees von 

 Esenbeck, P. Pseudo ginseng of Wallich. This root might be pro- 

 cured in Prince Edward's Island and some of the other British 

 North American colonies. 



I have been able to trace, after some labor and research, the 

 progressive exports of this curious article of trade from the 

 United States, 



In 1790, 813 casks, of the value of 47,025 dollars, were ex- 

 ported ; and in 1791, 29,208 Ibs. From 1803 to 1807, the 

 annual value of ginseng shipped was about 123,000 dollars, and 

 from 1820 to 1830, it averaged 157,000 dollars. 



The following figures show the value of the article in subse- 

 quent years : 1831, 115,921 dollars ; year ending 30th Septem- 

 ber, 1835, 94,960 dollars ; 1837, 212,899 Ibs., valued at 108,548 

 dollars ; 1840, 22,728 dollars ; 1841, 437,245 dollars. 



The quantity shipped in 1839, from Philadelphia alone, was 

 317,443 Ibs. In 1841, 637,885 Ibs. were exported from the 

 United States. 



The value of that exported in. the vears ending 30th June, was 

 1844, 95,008 in dollars, and in 1845/117,146 dollars; 110,000 Ibs. 

 were collected at Toledo, Ohio, in 1845. The value of the exports 

 in the following years, ending June 30th, were 1847, 64,466 

 dollars ; 1849, 162,640 ; 1849, 182,966 ; 1850, 122,916 dollars. 



CORIANDER, CARRAWAY, AND OTHER SEEDS. 



THE fruits of anise, carraway, coriander, &c., (erroneously called 

 seeds,) are in demand for various purposes. 



CARRAWAY SEED is imported to the extent of 500 tons annually 

 from Germany and Holland, the price being about 33s. per cwt. 

 It is also now much grown in Essex and Kent. In the years 

 1848 and 1849, 7,000 cwt. of this seed was imported, of which 

 nearly the whole quantity was retained for home consumption. 



CORIANDER SEED is chiefly used by distillers, to produce an 

 aromatic oil. The quantity imported annually does not exceed 

 50 tons, and it is brought principally to the port of Hull. It is 

 also cultivated in Suffolk, Essex and Kent. 



Of MUSTARD SEED the aggregate quantity imported annually is 

 about 2,000 tons for home consumption, and the flour is used as 

 a well-known condiment to food, &c., and in medicine ; the 

 average price being about 9d. per pound. 



ANISE. The fruit of Pimpinilla anisum, under the name of 

 aniseed, is principally imported from Alicant and Germany (the 

 first is preferred), but some is also brought from the East Indies. 



