THE GINSENG OF COMMERCE. 149 



The first export from America seems to have been made about 1790, 

 when 813 casks of ginseng were shipped, and in the following year 29,208 lbs. 

 From 1803 to 1807 the annual value of the ginseng exported was about 

 123,000 dollars, and from 1823 to 1830, 157,000 dollars. The export in 

 1821 was 352,992 lbs., and from that time it has fluctuated between 

 75,000 and 641,000 lbs. per annum. The year of the greatest export was 

 1841, when 640,967 lbs., of the value of 437,245 dollars, was exported, and 

 that of the least, the year 1854, when only 37,941 lbs., worth 17,399 dollars, 

 were shipped. 



The root is about three or four inches in length, and one inch in 

 thickness. It resembles a small carrot, but not so taper at the end, and is 

 sometimes single, sometimes divided into two branches. As the root is 

 brought to market after being cured, it occurs in pieces two or three inches 

 in length, is of yellow or reddish colour, and bitter taste. The officinal root 

 differs in appearance according to the country from which it is brought. 

 In Corea and China it is white, corrugated when dry, and covered with a 

 powder resembling starch. In Mantchouria and Dauria it is yellow, smooth, 

 and transparent, and when cut resembles amber. It is found upon the 

 rugged slopes of the mountains which extend through Mongolia, Mant- 

 chouria, and Chinese Tartary, and every year conventions of the herbalists 

 of the empire are held near to some great lamesary, or sacred town, for 

 its collection, together with other herbs. 



In 1709 a great scarcity of the article was experienced, and the Emperor 

 commissioned ten thousand Tartars to collect it through the northern 

 portions of the empire, on condition that each soldier should give two 

 catties (two ounces) of the best, and receive for the rest its weight in silver. 

 A variety of the plant was discovered some years ago in the Himalaya 

 mountains, and small quantities of the root have been sent thence to China. 

 The Asiatic ginsing is said to be obtained from P. Schinseng, of Nies von 

 Esenbeck, the P. pseudo ginseng, of Wallich. 



The price of ginseng in the Chinese seaports has varied according to 

 supply from 75 to 130 dollars per picul (133 lbs.) for the crude, and from 

 130 to 200 dollars for the clarified or cured. The latter rate is about six 

 shillings per pound. The quantity and value of ginseng imported into 

 Shanghae in the three undermentioned years was : — 



Piculs. Dollars. 



1856 433 77,940 



1857 533 106,576 



1858 725 202,882 



Taking into account the large per-centage of profit, it seems strange that 

 the export has not advanced more steadily. This may be attributed to the 

 fact that it is not a regular article of cultivation, but the statistics would 

 seem to show that such an undertaking might be exceedingly remunerative. 

 It is of ready growth, and particularly on a high land and rocky situation, 

 producing the purest quality in the cold northern regions of Vermont, 

 Xew Hampshire, and the Canadas. The quantity at present transmitted 



