MISCELLANEOUS ECONOMIC PRODUCTS 533 



conditions as Pepper, requiring live or artificial supports and a 

 certain amount of shade. The world's supply of cubebs is 

 obtained chiefly from Java, where the plant is cultivated. Cubebs 

 thrive at Peradeniya, where they are grown on Erythrina trees, 

 and bear fruit freely. The plants are best propagated by cuttings 

 taken from the top or fruitful shoots, the plants thus raised being 

 more productive than those taken from near the base. 



Ginseng. The Chinese name for the root of Pdnax (Aralia) 

 qiiinqiie folia (Araliaceae), a small plant with palmate leaves, 

 native of North China. Ginseng cultivation is a Government 

 monopoly in Corea, and the dried root forms one of the principal 

 articles of export from that country to China. During 1905, China 

 received from Corea alone 107,480 Ib. of " Red Ginseng" of the value 

 of j 11 2, 350. This variety ranks in quality next to Manchurian 

 or " Imperial" ginseng. The roots are prepared for export by 

 steaming for about four hours in wicker baskets placed over boiling 

 water. So highly valued is ginseng in China, as a tonic and stimu- 

 lant medicine, that "it is sold at from 20 to 250 times its weight in 

 silver, sometimes for 500 times this amount." From a supposed 

 resemblance of the root to the human form, Chinese doctors 

 ascribe miraculous powers to it, claiming that it wards off 

 disease and restores exhausted animal powers, even making old 

 people young. The root is slightly bitter and aromatic, but is not 

 regarded by European medical men as having any medicinal value. 

 A variety of Ginseng is also furnished by a similar species found in 

 Xorth America. This is cultivated to some extent in the United 

 States, where the roots are sold at from two to four dollars per 

 pound for exportation to China as a substitute for the Eastern 

 product. This variety is ranked by the Chinese as fourth in 

 quality, next to this being Japanese ginseng, which is the least 

 esteemed. The plant thrives best in a rich loamy loose soil, and 

 requires light shade as well as a moderate amount of moisture. 



Ipecacuanha. (Psychotria (Cephuelis) Ipecacuanha. Rubiaceae). 

 A small bushy perennial plant with semi-creeping stems, indigen- 

 ous to the dense humid forests of Brazil. From its peculiar 

 annulated roots an extract is obtained which is used in medicine 

 as a well-known emetic, and also as a specific for dysentery. 

 The supply of the root comes chiefly from Brazil, and this is 

 frequently adulterated with roots of a similar appearance. 

 Ipecacuanha is imported into England to the extent ot about 

 50.000 Ib. a year, and commands a price of 4s. to 6s. 6if. per Ib. 



