89 



A Bulletin* on " American Ginseng : its commercial history, pro- 

 tection, and cultivation " collected by J. V. Nash under the direction of 

 Professor Coville, was issued by the U. 8. Department of Agriculture in 

 1895. It brings out the facts that the wholesale price of American 

 Ginseng has steadily increased *'rom 52 cents, per pound in 1858 to 

 somewhat more than $o per pound in 1893, and that the value of the 

 export for the past decade has amounted to between $600,000 to 

 $1,000,000 per year. The report also points out that the natural supply 

 is now rapidly decreasing and that its extermination, if present condi- 

 tions continue, is inevitable. 



The Chinese Ginseng grows principally between the 39th and 47th 

 degrees of north latitude, and the American plant has much the same 

 range, but extends further south along the mountains. It is therefore, 

 doubtful whether it will succeed in .Jamaica except perhaps in the forests 

 of the highest mountains ; but the Department has imported some roots 

 and seeds from Mr. George Stanton, the most successful grower in the 

 United States for the purpose of experiment. 



There appear to be four grades of Ginseng in commerce. The 

 most highly prized is the " Imperial Ginseng," found in Manchuria, 

 worth from $40 to $200 per pound. The Korean Ginseng is next in 

 quality, fetching from $15 to $35 per pound. The third grade includes 

 that grown in China on the borders of Korea, and the American pro- 

 duct. The last and poorest quality is the Japanese Ginseng. The 

 value of the two latter grades, varies from $1 to $10 per pound. Both 

 Chinese and Koreans are so jealous of interference in this valuable 

 trade that no one has ever succeeded in obtaining seeds or plants from 

 either of those countries. 



The Chinese plant is Araiia Ginseng, the North American is a 

 different species — Araiia quinquefolia. They are sometimes classed 

 under the genus Panax as P. Ginseng and P. quinque folium. 



TALAUMA PLUMIERU, DC. 



Seeds received from Dr. Morris. This tree is a native of Dominica, 

 St. Lucia, Martinique and Guadeloupe. It grows to a considerable 

 height — 80 feet, and resembles Magnolia grandiflora, to which it is very 

 nearly allied. The flowers are large, white, and sweet scented. The 

 leaves and branches are aromatic, and together with the bark, buds and 

 seeds are said to be endowed with medicinal virtues. 



No. 16. Division of Botany. 



