GINSENG. 35 



A mulch of some kind should be used. Besides the various 

 purposes it serves duringr the summer, it protects the roots in the 

 winter. This is not to indicate that frost will kill the roots as such 

 is not the case. The ground may be frozen hard to a depth be- 

 yond the roots, until the warm spring weather thaws them out, 

 without injury to them; but it is alternate freezing and thawing, 

 as is often the case in this northern climate during winters when 

 there is a light fall of snow, or when snow melts before cold weath- 

 er is over in the spring, that is injurious and which is eliminated 

 by mulch during the winter. In this respect ginseng is a very 

 hardy plant. Plants frozen to a crisp in the middle of June, readi- 

 ly survive. The partial shade under which it is grown protects it 

 from summer frosts. 



In planting roots great care should be taken that the tap 

 roots (Fig. 7) are not bent or cramped, as this will retard the 

 growth of the root, and also cause it to grow ill-shaped. A nicely 

 grown root will bring a better price in the market than a crip- 

 pled one. 



In digging roots for transplanting, extreme care must be 

 taken that they are not exposed to the sun or dry wind, as the 

 least exposure will dry the delicate fibrous rootlets, which will 

 stunt the future growth of the root, and possibly kill it. A good 

 way is to take a box of convenient size; make a removable cover 

 for it; line it with double burlap; cut an opening of about four 

 inches square into the cover, and drop the roots into the box 

 through the opening always keeping the burlap lining of the box 

 damp. By this procedure the roots are always kept in a damp 

 atmosphere. 



Care should also be taken nc>t to bruise or break the roots 

 in handling. 



