GINSENG. 33 



them in the autumn or during the winter and then store the seed 

 in damp sand, and the roots in damp earth, until planting time; 

 for, transporting either in warm express cars late in spring, is 

 likely to start growth and thus injure them. In this manner plan- 

 ting can be done with safety, especially in localities where the 

 ground can be worked and planting done in early or middle April. 



PLANTING SEED. It is for various reasons best to plant seed 

 quite thickly into what are called seed or nursery beds; the young 

 roots are left to grow one or two seasons in these beds and then 

 transplanted to permanent beds. Transplanting after the second 

 season's growth is preferred; as it some times occurs that some of 

 the seed does not sprout the first season after planting and if the 

 roots were dug and transplanted at the end of the fii-st season's 

 growth, seed which had not sprouted would be buried and lost, 

 whereas, if the roots are transplanted at the end of the second 

 year's growth, all good seed will have sprouted. Another advan- 

 tage is that as the roots have ample room in the nursery beds for 

 two years, it economizes on land, labor, and shading material by 

 leaving them there. 



Another reason why it is advisable to plant seed in nursery 

 beds instead of permanent beds is, that not every kernel of seed 

 planted is likely to grow, and the result would be an uneven stand 

 of plants. If fifty per cent of the seed planted produces plants it 

 may be called a good stand, although if the weather and other con- 

 ditions are favorable as high as ninety per cent may grow. 



Seed, when planted into nursery beds, may be planted li 

 by li inches apart or they can be sown broadcast. Immediately 

 after planting they should be covered with li inches of ieafmold, 

 or, if Ieafmold cannot be had, with one inch of other loose earth. 

 In addition to the covering of Ieafmold or earth, the beds should 



