230 FUR FACTS 



somewhat soft and waxy fracture. Young and undersized roots dry 

 hard and glassy and are regarded as less desirable. Very small roots 

 and root fibers often realize less than a dollar a pound, while those of 

 the proper size and quality sell readily at top quotations. Cultivated 

 roots as a rule attain greater size than wild ones of the same age, 

 but lack density of substance until well past the fifth year of develop- 

 ment. 



Beds should rarely be dug for market until the sixth year, and 

 should then be taken up solidly and the undersized roots replanted 

 or securely heeled in until time to plant in the spring. Good roots 

 should run nearly four inches long, half an inch in thickness below 

 the crown, and average about an ounce in weight in the fresh state. 



Roots may be dug at any time after growth ceases in September, 

 but mid-October is regarded as the most favorable time. They 

 should be carefully washed or shaken free of all adhering soil, but 

 not scraped, as it is important to preserve the natural dusky color of 

 the skin with its characteristic annular markings. 



Curing is best affected in an airy room heated to about 80 F. 

 by a stove or furnace. The roots are spread on lattice trays and are 

 frequently examined and turned, but must always be handled gently 

 to avoid breaking the forks or marring the surface. It requires 

 nearly a month of drying to cure the larger roots properly, but the 

 heat may well be diminished toward the end of the process except in 

 noticeably damp weather. In all stages of curing particular care 

 should be taken to see that the root does not mold or sour, as any 

 defect will greatly depress the selling price. On the other hand, 

 overheating should be avoided, as it tends to discolor the surface and 

 spoil the texture of the interior. Once well cured, the roots should 

 be stored in a dry and airy place, secure from vermin, until ready for 

 sale. The market lies with the wholesale drug dealers, some of whom 

 make a specialty of buying ginseng root for export. 



Ginseng is a native product of recognized importance. The 

 export trade in dry roots has existed for more than a century and has 

 attained an average value of over a million dollars annually for the 

 past decade. 



The natural production, dimished by overcollection and the con- 

 traction of suitable forest areas, has dwindled to such an extent that 

 prices have risen to levels warranting cultivation, which has proved 

 quite successful in judicious hands. The plant, however, has little 

 domestic value except for the exploitation of amateur cultivators and 

 depends on a distant oriental market for its standing as a commodity. 



