GINSENG 29 



CHAPTER XI 



QINSENQ. 

 Fertilizing. 



After the ground has been worked often enough so that it 

 is well pulverized and mellow, the surface should be leveled. We 

 are then ready to apply fertilizer, by distributing it eve»Iy over 

 the surface of the ground. 



The best fertilizer for growing ginseng is leafmold, or sur- 

 face earth, such as can be gathered in a hardwood forest with the 

 aid of a garden hoe. If you live where such leafmold can be got- 

 ten, spread over the ground an amount equal to about two inches 

 in depth; then mix thoroughly, which, when a large piece of 

 ground is being prepared, can best be done with a disk harrow, of 

 the "spading disk" type; if only a small piece, it can be done with 

 the aid of a spading fork or a potato hook. In localities where 

 leafmold can not be obtained for fertilizer, the black surface earth 

 of a pine or hemlock forest can be used; or still better a compost 

 heap can be prepared, by taking any kind of vegetable matter, 

 mixing it with earth and keeping it wet during the summer and 

 working it over several times; this will make good fertilizer. 



Peat is also good for fertilizer. If peat is used it should be 

 taken out of the swamp in the autumn, placed where it can freeze 

 during the winter, and during the following summer it should be 

 worked over several times. By the action of the weather on it in 

 this manner the sourness will be removed, it will become nice and 

 mellow and can be used, especially on sandy soils, with good 



