92 DISEASES OF GINSENG. 



and the very general use of lime by the growers. Mr. W. H. 

 Rankin, special assistant on the ginseng disease work in 1909, and 

 the senior writer visited over 30 gardens in the State and every- 

 where found more or less loss from the malady. 



Economic Importance. — While this disease had undoubted- 

 ly caused more or less loss for years prior to 1909, especially in 

 seedlings, its ravages first became general andjalarming during 

 that season. Not only seedlings but older roots were found to be 

 affected, particularly two-and three-year-olds. 



Many growers lost practically all their seedlings, for the 

 short, stubby crowns (Fig. 40) left by the end rot are apt to rot 

 if transplanted or at best give ill-shaped, sprangly roots which 

 make poor growth and are of little value. In many of the beds 

 examined not a single perfect seedling was to be found. 

 Dr. K. Miyaki, who has just arrived from Korea, tells us that 

 their most destructive disease is a root rot which very much re- 

 sembles this fiber rot, or "rust," so well known to our growers. 

 He is here to make a special study of this malady. If after care- 

 ful investigation he finds it to be the same disease, it'would appear 

 to be an almost universal factor in ginseng cultivation. The rot- 

 ting of the fibers of the older roots greatly reduces root growth 

 and stunts the plants. Many of them rot entirely. It would be 

 difficult to estimate the loss suffered by the growers from this 

 disease. The losses during 1910 seeem to have been much less 

 than in 1909, due in large part probably to the greater rainfall in 

 most sections of the State and also to tlie quite general use of 

 acid phosphate this season. It appears, however, to be present to 

 a considerable extent in many gardens and is undoubtedly a disease 

 to be reckoned with every year. Next to the Alternaria blight it 

 is probably the most widespread and destructive of the ginseng 

 diseases in this country. 



