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"^-W^vs Gardeh. vol. LVI. INDIANAPOLIS, IND., NOVEMBER 9, 1901. NO. 45 Written for the Indiana Farmer: Ginseng Culture. "The root that has sold, For its weight in gold, That wee tiny root On the mountain side Where from the sun 'tis wont to hide Amid the shadows deep Undisturbed by the tide." Tilson. The people of the United States are just awakening to the possibilities of the culture of this shy, but precious root. The "Panax QuinquefoHuna," or American • linseug. Ginseng (Gin. Seng) is Chinese. It is the name of a root that is found in the fastnesses of the Himalayan Mountains in the land of Thibet, one writer says: "It was so treated by the Monks of this land of superstition that it was regarded by common people as the oracle *.f God. The Monks would read (or pretend to) from the roots certain signs and hieroglyphics. On the surface of the roots would appear messages from the Deity to the Monks, who in turn would communicate them to the people." Whether this be true or no, it is very certain that the < 'ninese place a very high value upon the root. They consider it a panacea for all the ills the human family are heir to, aud have so prized it for 4,000 years. So says < 'hi Hung Li, a sage among his people. Our American ginseng so nearly resem- l*les the Chinese Himalaya species that only experts are able to detect the difference. The common people of China ac- .ept it as genuine ginseng, having the same powers over ills and evil spirits, and all who are able financially to buy the imported root do so, no matter at what cost. Bnt few homes even among the common people are without their ginseng, carefully and sacredly guarded. The Imperial family obtain their supply from the mountains, where large areas of mountain forest are held by the Emperor especially for the' ginseng that is found scattered through them. When prepared for use it must be very fair, and possess the exact aromatic flavor desired; in other words must please His Koyal Highness in every respect. All roots that do not come up to the highest possible perfection are cast away and greedily siezed upon by the attaches. It is claimed by Dr. Van Q. Valded who {accompanied Here Von* Valinska, a Russian nobleman on an expedition into Thibet and through China, that they obtain ginseng in the Himalaya mountains of rare beauty and perfection, some of which they sold in China to Grandees for $240 a pound, and that $30 to $40 a pound was quite a common price for the genuine Himalaya nrticle. He also says ginseng in limited quantities is found in the wooded mountains of China, Corea and Japan, and is cultivated in those countries. There are several stories afloat as to how Americans discovered the similarity of the ginseng of China and that of America. I will not narrate them here; suffice it to say that they made the discovery and for about 150 years have been exporting to China about 95 per cent of our "Sang dig" for prices ranging from 20c per ponnd to $4 per pound to the digger. I have, when a boy dug and sold ginseng for 25c per pound. We will go no further back than 1858 since which time up to and including 1896 the United States exported 1 .,.778,415 ponnds of dried ginseng, at a price ranging from 52c to $3.86 per pound or a total value of $20,838,169. In the year 1897 we exported 179,573 ponnds, at an average of $4.71 per pound; value $816,415. It is thought by some of our best authority, "best posted Sang Men." that China alone would use even at the present fabulous prices she is paying, 20 millions worth annually if we had it for them. With patience, enterprise, business tact and perseverance we may be able to do it. Time and patience enter largely into the culture of ginseng. As a people we have the business tact and perseverance, but time and patience are scarce; hence are high priced articles in American economy. Let us talk a little about ginseng ln Indiana. Hundreds of our old people know that at one time ginseng could be found in many parts of Indiana, so we know it will grow and live in this climate, but it never was found on the prairies or in swamps, but could be found in considerable quantities in dense forests, on dry hilly and broken* land. The past 15 years experiments have solved the problem of how it may be made to grow under cultivation. "Give to it its needs and it will yield to you its wealth, at your bidding." (Moral.) It demands a few certain conditions, but these conditons must be complied with or it refuses to abide with us. The conditions are simple and easily complied with, namely shaded, dry, rich land, care, patience, time. Tiny who have not all these to bestow upon this great moneymaker had better let ginseng alone and stick to hog and hominy. Ginseng is a shy, tender, jealous plant, yet, so hardy when surrounded by its friends that it will stand with perfect self confidence the rigor of the northern winters. "In sunshine it withers and dies. With water as a companion it decays; in poor, hard ground it refuses to yield its golden egg." I quote from the best authority I can find. "A half acre of land has yielded $10,000 in eight years." "Gardens covering less than half of three acres have yielded in ten years (patches here and there among the forest trees) sales $4,085. with a stock left on hand worth twice that amount." The above is from a Kentucky ginseng grower of undoubted reputation. The department of agriculture of the government reports one party selling from four and one-half square rods of ground iu ten years $575, and now he has on the ground roots, seed and settings worth $1,150, a total production of $1,725 from four and one-half square rods. The computation- of one of large experience ns to the possibilities of an investment of $10 in ten years is so great it looks rediculous, and I will not quote him, it looks too large, I hardly believe it possible and I ask myself the question. "How can this be possible?'' Read up on it, investigate it, figure on> it and you can't help but believe there is something in it; even if only half is true it is a plenty. If you could plant 5,000 pear trees on 60 acres of land and have any kind of assurance that you could gather in five years 50c worth of pears from each tree, and 50c worth each succeeding year from each tree for 5 to 15 years, then dig the trees up and sell them clear of all expense of digging for 50c each, if you are tired of the business, would you not hustle to get the land and trees? If you would not you don't deserve a place in the procession. That is the way it figures with 5,000 plants of sang and 20 square rods of land. I have nothing to advertise, no plants or seed to sell (wish I had) but I love my native State. I am interested in her development and prosperity, and I want to see her well up the fore front in the march for greater things. Methinks I hear a whisper, "if these things are true why are not more people engaged in it?" There are three principle reasons. First. It is new and people are afraid. Second. People are not informed. Third. Slowness of growth of seed and roots. In most cases it takes 18 months to sprout the seed, it then takes three or four years for seed producing plants. The roots may be harvested after four years at a profit, but as the roots develop much faster from 4 to 10 years than* at any other time, unless the roots are needed for expenditure, better let them alone for a while; they will pay compound interest. I do not counsel anybody to jump into the "Sang" business on a large scale without first testing it, but investigate it, try a few roots and see what they will do. I am a little suspicious of new things and especially when they look so big on paper; but one thing is sure, if it will stand the light of day and is one-half, one-fourth, yes one-tenth as good as claimed, it is a gold mine right at home. I would advise caution. With all its wonderful possibilities there may be something somewhere that we have not seen that would be disappointing, but it is surely worthy of a trial plot in the garden. I have data from a New York "Sang cultivator" who dug her own ginseng in the woods on which to start her experiment station, cultivated it in flower pots in her house as a flowering plant for two years; last year, 1900, she sold $300 worth of roots and seed; this year, 1901, she hopes to realize more than that amount, and she writes me that she will be compelled to return several orders iirr- filled. You may ask why this remarkable .advance in price? Answer, decrease in quantity. Why decrease in quantity? If so small amount of land will yield so large quantities? Answer, in its wild uncultivated state it will not permit the encroachment of the farmer with his ax and plow. Another and a no small cause is that the extreme high prices paid tho last few years $8.50 per pound, the highest, has prompted the "Sang diggers" to hunt the plant so closely that but few plants are permitted to stand until old enough to produce seed (three to four years) after germinating and as it is only reproduced from seed it is easily ascertained why it is growing scarce. Indiana. potent horticulturists in the United States, and is quoted by English as well as American writers. A recent review of the progress of plant breeding says: "In I860 Marshall P. Wilder, in his presidential address before the American Pomolog- ical Society, gave advice regarding the origination of varieties in almost exactly the same words that might be used to-day: •It was my first, so it shall be my continual and last advice: Plant the most mature and perfect seed of the most hardy, vigorous and valuable varieties, and, as a shorter process, ensuring more certain and happy results, cross or hybridize your best fruits.' " The American Pomologicnl Society was organized in 1848, Mr. Wilder being one of its most active promoters and for many years its honored president. At a still earlier period he had shown his interest in the broader field of agriculture by taking part in the organization in 1841 of the United States Agricultural Society—an almost forgotten association which did much for agriculture b? '*■* annual meetings and its publicat. ■£.1 more by recommending the establ J t of a department of agriculture "a S annual meeting of the society un y„ desirable result was attained" in 1 *J In 1850 the Massaehu v_;= *nate passed a bill to establish an a__*£e iral college. That very year Mr. WiY*g &• s president of the senate. It W6». ".uteresting to know that he sought and secured political influence and official position in order to work more effectively for the advancement of agriculture. He had seen the effect of the work of the United States Agricultural Society and must have realized the importance of providing for the training of the young in the sciences underlying the practices which that organization was trying to teach their elders. It were a worthy ambition to serve agriculture as effectively as Marshall Wilder did by gaining fitness to lead as he led and then securing position that adds power to the power already acquired. It certainly is more sensible and practical to do as he did than to complain because legislatures neglect the interests of agriculture. Mr. Wilder never lost his interest in agriculture, and died at the age of 88 years while preparing an address which he hoped to deliver before a meeting of farmers and fruit growers. Denver, Colo. D. W. Working. Men Who Have Helped the Farmer. Editors Indiana Farmer: Marshall P. Wilder. (Born Sept. 22, 1798; died Dec. 16, 1886.) Marshall Pinekney Wilder was born at Rindge, Xew Hampshire, and was brought up as were other New England farm boys a hundred years ago. When he became of age he went into business with his father. Six years later he established himself in Boston as a West India merchant. In 1827 he became partner in a Boston commission firm. He became interested in politics, and in 18.39 was a member of the Massachusetts Legislature. Ten years later he was in the state senate, of which body he was president in 1850. That he was a successful business man may be inferred from the fact that for 60 years he was a bank director. Mr. Wilder was especially interested in agriculture and in industrial education, and lent his valuable support to the organisation of the Massachusetts Institute .if Technology. He was proud to call himself a pomologist; but he was more than a pomologist, he was at home among the flowers as well as among the fruits. In his day he was one of the most com- Shredded Corn Stalks. Editors Indiana Farmer: As it is soon time to shred I wish some that have had experience would write on* the subject. I never had any shredded, but intend to try it this season. There is one drawback this season, as about one- half the ears are nubbins. I don't like to have the small corn with the large. I want it separated, so I can have the small corn ground cob and all. I know it pay.? to do so. I see different experiment stations recommend it highly. It makes good feed for stock hogs, especially if cooked. The way to cook it is to heat water in a large kettle or feed boiler; when boiling stir the meal in; add slowly and keep stirring until a thick mush, not too stiff as it will thicken while cooking. Draw the fire out or lift kettle off, so it will not burn at bottom. Mix the mush with slops or milk. It takes a good mil) to grind corn and cobs finely. I wonld like to know which is the best two-horse mill; the cheap kind are not what is wanted. As the corn is high we must make the most of it; will not bear wasting. Sunman. John Bennett.
Object Description
Title | Indiana farmer, 1901, v. 56, no. 45 (Nov. 9) |
Purdue Identification Number | INFA5645 |
Date of Original | 1901 |
Subjects (LCSH) |
Agriculture Farm management Horticulture Agricultural machinery |
Subjects (NALT) |
agriculture farm management horticulture agricultural machinery and equipment |
Genre | Periodical |
Call Number of Original | 630.5 In2 |
Location of Original | Hicks Repository |
Coverage | United States - Indiana |
Type | text |
Format | JP2 |
Language | eng |
Collection Title | Indiana Farmer |
Rights Statement | Content in the Indiana Farmer Collection is in the public domain (published before 1923) or lacks a known copyright holder. Digital images in the collection may be used for educational, non-commercial, or not-for-profit purposes. |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Date Digitized | 2011-03-21 |
Digitization Information | Original scanned at 300 ppi on a Bookeye 3 scanner using internal software. Display images generated in CONTENTdm as JP2000s; file format for archival copy is uncompressed TIF format. |
Description
Title | Page 1 |
Subjects (LCSH) |
Agriculture Farm management Horticulture Agricultural machinery |
Subjects (NALT) |
agriculture farm management horticulture agricultural machinery and equipment |
Genre | Periodical |
Call Number of Original | 630.5 In2 |
Location of Original | Hicks Repository |
Coverage | Indiana |
Type | text |
Format | JP2 |
Language | eng |
Collection Title | Indiana Farmer |
Rights Statement | Content in the Indiana Farmer Collection is in the public domain (published before 1923) or lacks a known copyright holder. Digital images in the collection may be used for educational, non-commercial, or non-for-profit purposes. |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Digitization Information | Orignal scanned at 300 ppi on a Bookeye 3 scanner using internal software. Display images generated in CONTENTdm as JP2000s; file format for archival copy is uncompressed TIF format. |
Transcript | "^-W^vs Gardeh. vol. LVI. INDIANAPOLIS, IND., NOVEMBER 9, 1901. NO. 45 Written for the Indiana Farmer: Ginseng Culture. "The root that has sold, For its weight in gold, That wee tiny root On the mountain side Where from the sun 'tis wont to hide Amid the shadows deep Undisturbed by the tide." Tilson. The people of the United States are just awakening to the possibilities of the culture of this shy, but precious root. The "Panax QuinquefoHuna," or American • linseug. Ginseng (Gin. Seng) is Chinese. It is the name of a root that is found in the fastnesses of the Himalayan Mountains in the land of Thibet, one writer says: "It was so treated by the Monks of this land of superstition that it was regarded by common people as the oracle *.f God. The Monks would read (or pretend to) from the roots certain signs and hieroglyphics. On the surface of the roots would appear messages from the Deity to the Monks, who in turn would communicate them to the people." Whether this be true or no, it is very certain that the < 'ninese place a very high value upon the root. They consider it a panacea for all the ills the human family are heir to, aud have so prized it for 4,000 years. So says < 'hi Hung Li, a sage among his people. Our American ginseng so nearly resem- l*les the Chinese Himalaya species that only experts are able to detect the difference. The common people of China ac- .ept it as genuine ginseng, having the same powers over ills and evil spirits, and all who are able financially to buy the imported root do so, no matter at what cost. Bnt few homes even among the common people are without their ginseng, carefully and sacredly guarded. The Imperial family obtain their supply from the mountains, where large areas of mountain forest are held by the Emperor especially for the' ginseng that is found scattered through them. When prepared for use it must be very fair, and possess the exact aromatic flavor desired; in other words must please His Koyal Highness in every respect. All roots that do not come up to the highest possible perfection are cast away and greedily siezed upon by the attaches. It is claimed by Dr. Van Q. Valded who {accompanied Here Von* Valinska, a Russian nobleman on an expedition into Thibet and through China, that they obtain ginseng in the Himalaya mountains of rare beauty and perfection, some of which they sold in China to Grandees for $240 a pound, and that $30 to $40 a pound was quite a common price for the genuine Himalaya nrticle. He also says ginseng in limited quantities is found in the wooded mountains of China, Corea and Japan, and is cultivated in those countries. There are several stories afloat as to how Americans discovered the similarity of the ginseng of China and that of America. I will not narrate them here; suffice it to say that they made the discovery and for about 150 years have been exporting to China about 95 per cent of our "Sang dig" for prices ranging from 20c per ponnd to $4 per pound to the digger. I have, when a boy dug and sold ginseng for 25c per pound. We will go no further back than 1858 since which time up to and including 1896 the United States exported 1 .,.778,415 ponnds of dried ginseng, at a price ranging from 52c to $3.86 per pound or a total value of $20,838,169. In the year 1897 we exported 179,573 ponnds, at an average of $4.71 per pound; value $816,415. It is thought by some of our best authority, "best posted Sang Men." that China alone would use even at the present fabulous prices she is paying, 20 millions worth annually if we had it for them. With patience, enterprise, business tact and perseverance we may be able to do it. Time and patience enter largely into the culture of ginseng. As a people we have the business tact and perseverance, but time and patience are scarce; hence are high priced articles in American economy. Let us talk a little about ginseng ln Indiana. Hundreds of our old people know that at one time ginseng could be found in many parts of Indiana, so we know it will grow and live in this climate, but it never was found on the prairies or in swamps, but could be found in considerable quantities in dense forests, on dry hilly and broken* land. The past 15 years experiments have solved the problem of how it may be made to grow under cultivation. "Give to it its needs and it will yield to you its wealth, at your bidding." (Moral.) It demands a few certain conditions, but these conditons must be complied with or it refuses to abide with us. The conditions are simple and easily complied with, namely shaded, dry, rich land, care, patience, time. Tiny who have not all these to bestow upon this great moneymaker had better let ginseng alone and stick to hog and hominy. Ginseng is a shy, tender, jealous plant, yet, so hardy when surrounded by its friends that it will stand with perfect self confidence the rigor of the northern winters. "In sunshine it withers and dies. With water as a companion it decays; in poor, hard ground it refuses to yield its golden egg." I quote from the best authority I can find. "A half acre of land has yielded $10,000 in eight years." "Gardens covering less than half of three acres have yielded in ten years (patches here and there among the forest trees) sales $4,085. with a stock left on hand worth twice that amount." The above is from a Kentucky ginseng grower of undoubted reputation. The department of agriculture of the government reports one party selling from four and one-half square rods of ground iu ten years $575, and now he has on the ground roots, seed and settings worth $1,150, a total production of $1,725 from four and one-half square rods. The computation- of one of large experience ns to the possibilities of an investment of $10 in ten years is so great it looks rediculous, and I will not quote him, it looks too large, I hardly believe it possible and I ask myself the question. "How can this be possible?'' Read up on it, investigate it, figure on> it and you can't help but believe there is something in it; even if only half is true it is a plenty. If you could plant 5,000 pear trees on 60 acres of land and have any kind of assurance that you could gather in five years 50c worth of pears from each tree, and 50c worth each succeeding year from each tree for 5 to 15 years, then dig the trees up and sell them clear of all expense of digging for 50c each, if you are tired of the business, would you not hustle to get the land and trees? If you would not you don't deserve a place in the procession. That is the way it figures with 5,000 plants of sang and 20 square rods of land. I have nothing to advertise, no plants or seed to sell (wish I had) but I love my native State. I am interested in her development and prosperity, and I want to see her well up the fore front in the march for greater things. Methinks I hear a whisper, "if these things are true why are not more people engaged in it?" There are three principle reasons. First. It is new and people are afraid. Second. People are not informed. Third. Slowness of growth of seed and roots. In most cases it takes 18 months to sprout the seed, it then takes three or four years for seed producing plants. The roots may be harvested after four years at a profit, but as the roots develop much faster from 4 to 10 years than* at any other time, unless the roots are needed for expenditure, better let them alone for a while; they will pay compound interest. I do not counsel anybody to jump into the "Sang" business on a large scale without first testing it, but investigate it, try a few roots and see what they will do. I am a little suspicious of new things and especially when they look so big on paper; but one thing is sure, if it will stand the light of day and is one-half, one-fourth, yes one-tenth as good as claimed, it is a gold mine right at home. I would advise caution. With all its wonderful possibilities there may be something somewhere that we have not seen that would be disappointing, but it is surely worthy of a trial plot in the garden. I have data from a New York "Sang cultivator" who dug her own ginseng in the woods on which to start her experiment station, cultivated it in flower pots in her house as a flowering plant for two years; last year, 1900, she sold $300 worth of roots and seed; this year, 1901, she hopes to realize more than that amount, and she writes me that she will be compelled to return several orders iirr- filled. You may ask why this remarkable .advance in price? Answer, decrease in quantity. Why decrease in quantity? If so small amount of land will yield so large quantities? Answer, in its wild uncultivated state it will not permit the encroachment of the farmer with his ax and plow. Another and a no small cause is that the extreme high prices paid tho last few years $8.50 per pound, the highest, has prompted the "Sang diggers" to hunt the plant so closely that but few plants are permitted to stand until old enough to produce seed (three to four years) after germinating and as it is only reproduced from seed it is easily ascertained why it is growing scarce. Indiana. potent horticulturists in the United States, and is quoted by English as well as American writers. A recent review of the progress of plant breeding says: "In I860 Marshall P. Wilder, in his presidential address before the American Pomolog- ical Society, gave advice regarding the origination of varieties in almost exactly the same words that might be used to-day: •It was my first, so it shall be my continual and last advice: Plant the most mature and perfect seed of the most hardy, vigorous and valuable varieties, and, as a shorter process, ensuring more certain and happy results, cross or hybridize your best fruits.' " The American Pomologicnl Society was organized in 1848, Mr. Wilder being one of its most active promoters and for many years its honored president. At a still earlier period he had shown his interest in the broader field of agriculture by taking part in the organization in 1841 of the United States Agricultural Society—an almost forgotten association which did much for agriculture b? '*■* annual meetings and its publicat. ■£.1 more by recommending the establ J t of a department of agriculture "a S annual meeting of the society un y„ desirable result was attained" in 1 *J In 1850 the Massaehu v_;= *nate passed a bill to establish an a__*£e iral college. That very year Mr. WiY*g &• s president of the senate. It W6». ".uteresting to know that he sought and secured political influence and official position in order to work more effectively for the advancement of agriculture. He had seen the effect of the work of the United States Agricultural Society and must have realized the importance of providing for the training of the young in the sciences underlying the practices which that organization was trying to teach their elders. It were a worthy ambition to serve agriculture as effectively as Marshall Wilder did by gaining fitness to lead as he led and then securing position that adds power to the power already acquired. It certainly is more sensible and practical to do as he did than to complain because legislatures neglect the interests of agriculture. Mr. Wilder never lost his interest in agriculture, and died at the age of 88 years while preparing an address which he hoped to deliver before a meeting of farmers and fruit growers. Denver, Colo. D. W. Working. Men Who Have Helped the Farmer. Editors Indiana Farmer: Marshall P. Wilder. (Born Sept. 22, 1798; died Dec. 16, 1886.) Marshall Pinekney Wilder was born at Rindge, Xew Hampshire, and was brought up as were other New England farm boys a hundred years ago. When he became of age he went into business with his father. Six years later he established himself in Boston as a West India merchant. In 1827 he became partner in a Boston commission firm. He became interested in politics, and in 18.39 was a member of the Massachusetts Legislature. Ten years later he was in the state senate, of which body he was president in 1850. That he was a successful business man may be inferred from the fact that for 60 years he was a bank director. Mr. Wilder was especially interested in agriculture and in industrial education, and lent his valuable support to the organisation of the Massachusetts Institute .if Technology. He was proud to call himself a pomologist; but he was more than a pomologist, he was at home among the flowers as well as among the fruits. In his day he was one of the most com- Shredded Corn Stalks. Editors Indiana Farmer: As it is soon time to shred I wish some that have had experience would write on* the subject. I never had any shredded, but intend to try it this season. There is one drawback this season, as about one- half the ears are nubbins. I don't like to have the small corn with the large. I want it separated, so I can have the small corn ground cob and all. I know it pay.? to do so. I see different experiment stations recommend it highly. It makes good feed for stock hogs, especially if cooked. The way to cook it is to heat water in a large kettle or feed boiler; when boiling stir the meal in; add slowly and keep stirring until a thick mush, not too stiff as it will thicken while cooking. Draw the fire out or lift kettle off, so it will not burn at bottom. Mix the mush with slops or milk. It takes a good mil) to grind corn and cobs finely. I wonld like to know which is the best two-horse mill; the cheap kind are not what is wanted. As the corn is high we must make the most of it; will not bear wasting. Sunman. John Bennett. |
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