38 GINSENG 



CHAPTER XIV. 

 QINSENQ. 

 SUMMER WORK. As the ground in which ginseng seed or roots 

 have been planted is not worked after planting, the work of earing 

 for the garden during the summer is comparatively little. The main 

 work is to remove the weeds that may grow, and see that the plants 

 are kept in a healthy condition. As a rule there are but few weeds, 

 for not many kinds of weeds will thrive in the shade and under a 

 mulch. Under ordinary circumstances one man can do the work 

 of caring for a two acre garden. 



WATERING PLANTS. While the ginseng plant will stand as 

 much drought as any ordinary garden vegetable, it is well to 

 sprinkle a little in times of continued dry weather. This is especially 

 advisable if very high temperature accompanies the dry weather. 

 MARVESTINQ SEED. Ginseng produces two profitable crops, 

 seed and roots. The seed ripens in this locality during the later 

 part of August, to about Sept. 20th. Ripening is determined by 

 the berries turning red. As it ripens quite irregularly, it is well 

 to gather those that are ripe from time to time, or the early 

 ripened seed will drop before the last is ripe. 



CARINQ FOR SEED. Ginseng seed, unlike most other seed, loses 

 its vitality if it is allowed to become dry. Another peculiarity is 

 that it will not germinate until the second season, or about eighteen 

 months after harvested. During all this time it must be kept in a 

 condition to promote germination. It should be kept moist; but not 

 too wet, or it will rot. When kept in the right condition the outside 



