282 
Notes  on  Ginseng. 
Am  Jour.  Pbaraa. 
June,  1890. 
An  analysis  of  the  chucklusa,  sent  me  by  Dr.  Havard,  gave  the 
following  results : 
Per  Cent. 
Starch,   17-02 
Albuminoids,                               .  .   3*25 
Glucose,   1*24 
Saccharose,   io*6f> 
Mucilage,   15-34 
Dextrin,   -40 
Resin,   2-57 
Fat  and  wax,   2*12 
Ash,                                                                                      .  4  20 
Moisture,   7-90 
Cellulose  and  undetermined,   35. 30 
100  *oo 
Tannin  was  not  found,  but  a  small  quantity  of  chlorophyl 
appeared  to  exist  in  the  black  epidermis.  While  this  food  is  not 
so  rich  in  albuminoids  as  some  of  its  predecessors,  it  was  found  to 
be  more  palatable,  due,  no  doubt,  to  the  saccharine  carbohydrates 
SOME  NOTES  ON  GINSENG. 
By  P.  L.  Simmonds,  F.I^.S. 
The  trade  in  this  root  is  of  some  importance  from  the  export  car- 
ried on  in  the  North  American  species,  Aralia  quinquefolia  (Decaisne 
and  Planchon)  Panax  quinquefolia,.  That  of  China  and  Upper  India 
is  the  produce  of  another  species,  Aralia  [Panax)  Ginseng. 
I  have  not  the  latest  statistics  for  reference  of  the  American 
exports,  but  I  find  from  the  official  figures  that  the  shipments  were 
as  follows  in  the  years  named  : 
lbs.  lbs. 
1870,   474,3i6  1875,   497,487 
1871,  144,221  1876,   550,424 
1872,  401,260  1877,  440,406 
1873,  35o,Mi  1878,   421,395 
1874,  400,619 
The  export  value  is  not  given,  but  I  have  seen  it  stated  at  as 
much  as  ^100,000  annually;  this  I  fancy  is  too  high  a  figure  for  the 
general  average. 
In  China  and  Japan  the  roots  of  ginseng,  wild  and  cultivated,  are 
considered  a  sort  of  panacea  or  specific  for  all  diseases.    They  are 
