182 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
A paper on “Mimicry,” by Dr. Chisholm, was read. Mr. 
Froggatt contributed an interesting note on “Pioneer Natura- 
lists.” 
Mr. Gallard, Opius Tryoni, parasitic on the Queensland 
fruit fly; also Papilio anatres, larva, chrysalis and imago. Mr. 
Cheel gave an account of Ginseng (Panax), which was ex- 
hibited at last meeting; also exhibiting a very fine living speci- 
men of the fruiting stage of Polypora mylittae; he also drew 
‘attention to the so-called variety Melaleuca erubescens, which 
should perhaps be a distinct species instead of a var. of M. 
ericifolia. 
Miss Harris, Marsilea (Nardoo), with fructification, Miss 
Winter, Kitten of Native Cat (Dasyurus viverrinus), which is 
still quite common round the head of the gully between North 
Sydney and Neutral Bay. 
GINSENG, 
By A. I. Karur. 
Except Formosan camphor there is probably no other pro- 
duct that yields the Japanese Government such profit as the 
cultivation of this root in Korea. Americans, ever keen on 
capturing a new trade, have made various experiments to grow 
it, but the results have been unsatisfactory, as for one reason 
_ or another ginseng only thrives well on Korean soil. The most 
extensive fields are about two hours from Seoul (Koijo), the 
capital, and shade plants must protect the growing roots, which 
take from three to four or more years before reaching maturity, 
the best roots being those whose growth is slowest. The plan- 
tation and all the export is a State monopoly, and not one 
root is allowed to slip by, each, after having been dried and 
carefully cleaned being supplied with a kind of “necktie,” giv- 
ing its quality and number in Japanese characters. The roots 
are then packed in small boxes, and the box sealed, and only 
sold by chemists, their weight being paid for in gold. The 
average yearly prone amounts to 20 million yen, and all the 
produced ginseng goes to China, as the Chinese consider it one 
of the most powerful medicines, and ascribe the root that looks 
a little like a small crippled man the power of making an old ~ 
man young again, a most important fact in a country where 
all diet and all the modes of life are ruled by sex instinct. It. 
is, as I found out myself, undoubtedly true that even a small 
cup of this tea has a wonderfully stimulating effect, and makes 
one endure hardships easily, but it is said that an extensive use 
finally leads to madness. 
