106 DISEASES OF GINSENG. 



It has been suggested, in purchasing roots and seed, they be 

 obtained from gardens free from diseases. We have received 

 diseased specimens from hundreds of gardens from Maine west to 

 the State of Washington and from Canada as far south as ginseng 

 is grown. I have yet to visit a garden in which there is no 

 disease to be found. All gardens do not have all the diseases in them. 

 The diseases present may not be especially destructive now. But 

 they are apt to become so, when conditions become especially 

 favorable. 



It has been suggested that a law should be passed to prevent 

 growers' selling seed or roots from gardens in which diseases had 

 appeared. Such a law, to be just, would have to apply to all other 

 crops as well as to ginseng and would hardly, in the present state of 

 our agriculture, be possible of enforcement. Some ginsing growers 

 have, I believe, advertised their gardens "free from all disease". 

 Having visited gardens throughout the state for the past five years 

 and having in my laboratory now diseased specimens from hundreds 

 of gardens throughout the United States, I feel safe in sajing, no 

 man can, with honesty, make such a statement. I have seen gar- 

 dens in which disease was not serious. There are doubtless some 

 gardens in which certain diseases, like the Alternaria blight, have 

 not yet appeared. But every garden sooner or later suffers from 

 some one or more of the numerous diseases to which the ginseng 

 plant is subject. Let no man deceive you with worthless guaran- 

 tees that his gardens are free from all diseases or that he has some 

 secret method of growing his ginseng free from all diseases. Buy 

 from reliable growers of ginseng. Accept only roots and seed that 

 look clean and in good condition. Spray your plants systematic- 

 ally. If root diseases appear, remove the diseased plants. Treat 

 the soil wit, formalin or other substances known to be effective 

 against the specific disease which you find. Remember that these 



