,ginseng and ,other ,medicinal ,plants ,frontispiece3 ,delights in ,his ,ginseng ,garden4 ,,ginseng ,,and ,,other ,,medicinal ,,plants ,a ,book of ,valuable ,information for ,growers as ,well as ,collectors of ,medicinal ,roots1 ,barks1 ,leaves1 ,etc4 ,,by ,a4 ,r4 ,,harding ,published by ,a4 ,r4 ,harding ,publishing ,co4 ,columbus1 ,ohio ,copyright #aijh ,by ,a4 ,r4 ,harding ,pub4 ,co4 ,,contents ,i4 ,plants as a ,source of ,revenue ,,ii4 ,list of ,plants ,having ,medicinal ,value ,,iii4 ,cultivation of ,wild ,plants ,,iv4 ,the ,story of ,ginseng ,v4 ,ginseng ,habits ,,vi4 ,cultivation ,,vii4 ,shading and ,blight ,,viii4 ,diseases of ,ginseng ,,ix4 ,marketing and ,prices ,x4 ,letters from ,growers ,,xi4 ,general ,information ,,xii4 ,medicinal ,qualities ,,xiii4 ,ginseng in ,china ,,xiv4 ,ginseng--,government ,description1 ,etc4 ,,xv4 ,michigan ,mint ,farm ,,xvi4 ,miscellaneous ,information ,,xvii4 ,golden ,seal ,cultivation ,,xviii4 ,golden ,seal ,history1 ,etc4 ,,xix4 ,growers' ,letters ,,xx4 ,golden ,seal--,government ,description1 ,etc4 ,,xxi4 ,cohosh--,black and ,blue ,,xxii4 ,snakeroot--,canada and ,virginia ,,xxiii4 ,pokeweed ,,xxiv4 ,mayapple ,,xxv4 ,seneca ,snakeroot ,,xxvi4 ,lady's ,slipper ,,xxvii4 ,forest ,roots ,,xxviii4 ,forest ,plants ,,xxix4 ,thicket ,plants ,,xxx4 ,swamp ,plants ,,xxxi4 ,field ,plants ,,xxxii4 ,dry ,soil ,plants ,,xxxiii4 ,rich ,soil ,plants ,,xxxiv4 ,medicinal ,herbs ,,xxxv4 ,medicinal ,shrubs ,,list ,,of ,,illustrations ,delights in ,his ,ginseng ,garden ,seneca ,snake ,root 7,cultivated7 in ,blossom ,indian ,turnip 7,wild7 ,canadian ,snake ,root 7,cultivated7 ,blood ,root 7,cultivated7 ,sarsaparilla ,plant 7,wild7 ,ginseng ,plants and ,roots ,garden ,grown ,ginseng ,plants ,northern ,ginseng ,plant in ,bloom--,june ,plan for ,ginseng ,garden #bd x #dj ,feet--,ground ,plan ,one ,line1 ,overhead ,dotted ,a ,lath ,panel ,one1 ,two and ,three ,year ,old ,ginseng ,roots ,ginseng ,plants ,coming ,up ,bed of #aj1jjj ,young ,ginseng ,plants in ,forest ,one ,year's ,growth of ,ginseng ,under ,lattice ,shade ,a ,healthy ,looking ,ginseng ,garden ,diseased ,ginseng ,plants ,broken--,stem ,rot ,end ,root ,rot of ,seedlings ,the ,beginning of ,soft ,rot ,dug and ,dried--,ready for ,market ,a ,three ,year ,old ,cultivated ,root ,bed of ,mature ,ginseng ,plants ,under ,lattice ,some ,thrifty ,plants--,an ,ohio ,garden ,new ,york ,grower's ,garden ,forest ,bed of ,young ,seng ,these ,plants ,however ,are ,too ,thick ,a ,healthy ,looking ,garden--,yard ,root ,resembling ,human ,body ,wild ,ginseng ,roots ,pennsylvania ,grower's ,garden ,ginseng 7,panax ,quinquefolium7 ,lady ,slipper ,young ,golden ,seal ,plant in ,bloom ,golden ,seal ,plants ,thrifty ,golden ,seal ,plant ,golden ,seal in an ,upland ,grove ,locust ,grove ,seal ,garden ,golden ,seal 7,hydrastis ,canadensis7 ,flowering ,plant and ,fruit ,golden ,seal ,rootstock ,black ,cohosh 7,cimicifuga ,racemosa71 ,leaves1 ,flowering ,spikes and ,rootstock ,blue ,cohosh 7,caulophyllum ,thalictroides7 ,canada ,snakeroot 7,asarum ,canadense7 ,virginia ,serpentaria 7,aristolochia ,serpentaria7 ,pokeweed 7,phytolacca ,decandra71 ,flowering and ,fruiting ,branch ,pokeweed ,root ,may-,apple 7,podophyllum ,pellatum71 ,upper ,portion of ,plant with ,flower1 and ,rootstock ,seneca ,snakeroot 7,polygala ,senega71 ,flowering ,plant with ,root ,large ,yellow ,lady's ,slipper 7,cypripedium ,hirsutum7 ,bethroot 7,trillium ,erectum7 ,culver's ,root 7,veronica ,virginica7 ,flowering ,top and ,rootstock ,stoneroot 7,collinsonia ,canadensis7 ,crawley-,root 7,corallorhiza ,odontorhiza7 ,marginal-,fruited ,shield-,fern 7,dryopteris ,marginalis7 ,goldthread 7,coptis ,trifolia7 ,twinleaf 7,jeffersonia ,diphylla7 ,plant and ,seed ,capsule ,canada ,moonseed 7,menispermum ,canadense7 ,wild ,turnip 7,arisaema ,triphyllum7 ,black ,indian ,hemp 7,apocynum ,cannabinum71 ,flowering ,portion1 ,pods1 and ,rootstock ,chamaelirium 7,chamaelirium ,luteum7 ,wild ,yam 7,dioscorea ,villosa7 ,skunk-,cabbage 7,spathyema ,foetida7 ,american ,hellebore 7,veratrum ,viride7 ,water-,eryngo 7,eryngium ,yuccifolium7 ,yellow ,jasmine 7,gelsensium ,sempervirens7 ,sweet ,flag 7,acorus ,calamus7 ,blue ,flag 7,iris ,versicolor7 ,crane's-bill 7,geranium ,maculatum71 ,flowering ,plant1 ,showing also ,seed ,pods and ,rootstock ,dandelion 7,taraxacum ,officinale7 ,soapwort 7,saponaria ,officinalis7 ,burdock 7,arctium ,lappa71 ,flowering branch and ,root ,yellow ,dock 7,rumex ,crispus71 ,first ,year's ,growth ,broad-,leaved ,dock 7,rumex ,obtusifolius71 ,leaf1 ,fruiting ,spike and ,root ,stillingia 7,stillingia ,sylvatica71 ,upper ,portion of ,plant and ,part of ,spike ,showing ,male ,plant ,american ,colombo 7,frasera ,carolinensis71 ,leaves1 ,flowers1 and ,seed ,pods ,couch-,grass 7,agropyron ,repens7 ,echinacea 7,brauneria ,augustifolia7 ,aletris 7,aletris ,farinosa7 ,wild ,indigo 7,baptisia ,tinctoria71 ,branch ,showing ,flowers and ,seed ,pods ,pleurisy ,root 7,asclepias ,tuberosa7 ,bloodroot 7,sanguinaria ,canadensis71 ,flowering ,plant with ,rootstock ,pinkroot 7,spigelia ,marilandica7 ,indian ,physic 7,porteranthus ,trifoliatus7 ,wild ,sarsaparilla 7,aralia ,nudicaulis7 ,american ,angelica 7,angelica ,atropurpurea7 ,comfrey 7,symphytum ,officinale7 ,elecampane 7,inula ,helenium7 ,queen-of-the-,meadow 7,eupatorium ,purpureum7 ,hydrangea 7,hydrangea ,arborescens7 ,oregon ,grape 7,berberis ,aquifolium7 ,illustration3 ,a4 ,r4 ,harding ,,introduction ,when the price of ,ginseng advanced some years ago hundreds engaged in the business who knew little or nothing of farming1 plant raising and horticulture4 ,that they largely failed is not to be wondered at4 ,later many began in a small way and succeeded4 ,many of these were farmers and gardeners4 ,others were men who had hunted1 trapped and gathered seng from boyhood4 ,they therefore knew something of the peculiarities of ,ginseng4 ,it is from the experience of these men that this work is largely made up--writings of those who are in the business4 ,golden seal is also attracting considerable attention owing to the rapid increase in price during the early years of the present century4 ,the growing of this plant is given careful attention also4 ,many other plants are destined to soon become valuable4 ,a work gotten out by the government--,american root drugs--contains a great deal of value in regard habits1 range1 description1 common names1 price1 uses1 etc41 etc41 so that some of the information contained in this book is taken therefrom4 ,the prices named in the government bulletin which was issued in #aijg were those prevailing at that time--they will vary1 in the future1 largely according to the supply and demand4 ,the greatest revenue derived from plants for medicinal purposes is derived from the roots1 yet there are certain ones where the leaves and bark are used4 ,therefore to be complete some space is given to these plants4 ,the digging of the roots1 of course1 destroys the plant as well as does the peeling of the bark1 while leaves secured is clear gain--in other words1 if gathered when matured the plant or shrub is not injured and will produce leaves each year4 ,the amount of root drugs used for medicinal purposes will increase as the medical profession is using of them more and more4 ,again the number of people in the world is rapidly increasing while the forests 7the natural home of root drugs7 are becoming less each year4 ,this shows that growers of medicinal roots will find a larger market in the future than in the past4 ,those who know something of medicinal plants--,root ,drugs--can safely embark in their cultivation1 for while prices may ease off--go lower--at times1 it is reasonably certain that the general trend will be upward as the supply growing wild is rapidly becoming less each year4 ,a4 ,r4 ,harding4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,plants ,,as ,a ,,source ,,of ,,revenue4 ,with the single exception of ginseng1 the hundred of plants whose roots are used for medical purposes1 ,america is the main market and user4 ,ginseng is used mainly by the ,chinese4 ,the thickly inhabited ,chinese ,empire is where the ,american ginseng is principally used4 ,to what uses it is put may be briefly stated1 as a superstitious beverage4 ,the roots with certain shapes are carried about the person for charms4 ,the roots resembling the human form being the most valuable4 ,the most valuable drugs which grow in ,america are ginseng and golden seal1 but there are hundreds of others as well whose leaves1 barks1 seeds1 flowers1 etc41 have a market value and which could be cultivated or gathered with profit4 ,in this connection an article which appeared in the ,hunter-,trader-,trapper1 ,columbus1 ,ohio1 under the title which heads this chapter is given in full3 ,to many unacquainted with the nature of the various wild plants which surround them in farm and out-o'-door life1 it will be a revelation to learn that the world's supply of crude1 botanical 7vegetable7 drugs are to a large extent gotten from this class of material4 ,there are more than one thousand different kinds in use which are indigenous or naturalized in the ,united ,states4 ,some of these are very valuable and have1 since their medicinal properties were discovered1 come into use in all parts of the world2 others now collected in this country have been brought here and1 much like the ,english sparrow1 become in their propagation a nuisance and pest wherever found4 ,the impression prevails among many that the work of collecting the proper kind1 curing and preparing for the market is an occupation to be undertaken only by those having experience and a wide knowledge of their species1 uses1 etc4 ,it is a fact1 though1 that everyone1 however little he may know of the medicinal value of such things1 may easily become familiar enough with this business to successfully collect and prepare for the market many different kinds from the start4 ,there are very large firms throughout the country whose sole business is for this line of merchandise1 and who are at all times anxious to make contracts with parties in the country who will give the work business-like attention1 such as would attend the production of other farm articles1 and which is so necessary to the success of the work4 ,if one could visit the buyers of such firms and ask how reliable they have found their sources of supply for the various kinds required1 it would provoke much laughter4 ,it is quite true that not more than one in one hundred who write these firms to get an order for some one or more kinds they might supply1 ever give it sufficient attention to enable a first shipment to be made4 ,repeated experiences of this kind have made the average buyer very promptly commit to the nearest waste basket all letters received from those who have not been doing this work in the past1 recognizing the utter waste of time in corresponding with those who so far have shown no interest in the work4 ,the time is ripe for those who are willing to take up this work1 seriously giving some time and brains to solving the comparatively easy problems of doing this work at a small cost of time and money and successfully compete for this business1 which in many cases is forced to draw supplies from ,europe1 ,south ,america1 ,africa1 and all parts of the world4 ,from the writer's observation1 more of these goods are not collected in this country on account of the false ideas those investigating it have of the amount of money to be made from the work1 than from any other reason2 they are led to believe that untold wealth lies easily within their reach1 requiring only a small effort on their part to obtain it4 ,many cases may be cited of ones who have laboriously collected1 possibly #ej to #ajj pounds of an article1 and when it was discovered that from one to two dollars per pound was not immediately forthcoming1 pronounced the dealer a thief and never again considered the work4 ,in these days when all crude materials are being bought1 manufactured and sold on the closest margins of profit possible1 the crude drug business has not escaped1 it is therefore only possible to make a reasonable profit in marketing the products of the now useless weeds which confront the farmer as a serious problem at every turn4 ,to the one putting thought1 economy and perseverance in this work1 will come profit which is now merely thrown away4 ,many herbs1 leaves1 barks1 seeds1 roots1 berries and flowers are bought in very large quantities1 it being the custom of the larger houses to merely place an order with the collector for all he can collect1 without restriction4 ,for example1 the barks used from the sassafras roots1 from the wild cherry tree1 white pine tree1 elm tree1 tansy herb1 jimson weed1 etc41 run into the hundreds of thousand pounds annually1 forming very often the basis of many remedies you buy from your druggist4 ,the idea prevalent with many1 who have at any time considered this occupation1 that it is necessary to be familiar with the botanical and ,latin names of these weeds1 must be abolished4 ,when one of the firms referred to receives a letter asking for the price of ,rattle ,top ,root1 they at once know that ,cimicifuga ,racemosa is meant2 or if it be ,shonny ,haw1 they readily understand it to mean ,viburnum ,prunifolium2 ,jimson ,weed as ,stramonium ,dotura2 ,indian ,tobacco as ,lobelia ,inflata2 ,star ,roots as ,helonias ,roots1 and so on throughout the entire list of items4 ,should an occasion arise when the name by which an article is locally known cannot be understood1 a sample sent by mail will soon be the means of making plain to the buyer what is meant4 ,among the many items which it is now necessary to import from ,germany1 ,russia1 ,france1 ,austria and other foreign countries1 which might be produced by this country1 the more important are3 ,dandelion ,roots1 ,burdock ,roots1 ,angelica ,roots1 ,asparagus ,roots1 ,red ,clover ,heads1 or blossoms4 ,corn ,silk1 ,doggrass1 ,elder ,flowers1 ,horehound ,herb1 ,motherwort ,herb1 ,parsley ,root1 ,parsley ,seed1 ,sage ,leaves1 ,stramonium ,leaves or ,jamestown ,leaves1 ,yellow ,dock ,root1 together with many others4 ,dandelion ,roots have at times become so scarce in the markets as to reach a price of #ej;c per pound as the cost to import it is small there was great profit somewhere4 ,these items just enumerated would not be worthy of mention were they of small importance4 ,it is true1 though1 that with one or two exceptions1 the amounts annually imported are from one hundred to five hundred thousand pounds or more4 ,as plentiful as are ,red ,clover ,flowers1 this item last fall brought very close to #bj;c per pound when being purchased in two to ten-ton lots for the ,winter's consumption4 ,for five years past values for all ,crude ,drugs have advanced in many instances beyond a proportionate advance in the cost of labor1 and they bid fair to maintain such a position permanently4 ,it is safe to estimate the average enhancement of values to be at least #ajj over this period2 those not reaching such an increased price fully made up for by others which have many times doubled in value4 ,it is beyond the bounds of possibility to pursue in detail all of the facts which might prove interesting regarding this business1 but it is important that1 to an extent at least1 the matter of fluctuations in values be explained before this subject can be ever in a measure complete4 ,all items embraced in the list of readily marketable items are at times very high in price and other times very low2 this is brought about principally by the supply4 ,it is usually the case that an article gradually declines in price1 when it has once started1 until the price ceases to make its production profitable4 ,it is then neglected by those formerly gathering it1 leaving the natural demand nothing to draw upon except stocks which have accumulated in the hands of dealers4 ,it is more often the case that such stocks are consumed before any one has become aware of the fact that none has been collected for some time1 and that nowhere can any be found ready for the market4 ,dealers then begin to make inquiry1 they urge its collection by those who formerly did it1 insisting still upon paying only the old price4 ,the situation becomes acute2 the small lots held are not released until a fabulous price may be realized1 thus establishing a very much higher market4 ,very soon the advanced prices reach the collector1 offers are rapidly made him at higher and higher prices1 until finally every one in the district is attracted by the high and profitable figures being offered4 ,it is right here that every careful person concerned needs to be doubly careful else1 in the inevitable drop in prices caused by the over-production which as a matter of course follows1 he will lose money4 ,it will probably take two to five years then for this operation to repeat itself with these items1 which have after this declined even to lower figures than before4 ,in the meantime attention is directed to others undergoing the same experience4 ,a thorough understanding of these circumstances and proper heed given to them1 will save much for the collector and make him win in the majority of cases4 ,books and other information can be had by writing to the manufacturers and dealers whose advertisements may be found in this and other papers4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,list ,,of ,,plants ,,having ,,medicinal ,,value4 ,the list of ,american ,weeds and ,plants as published under above heading having medicinal value and the parts used will be of especial value to the beginner1 whether as a grower1 collector or dealer4 ,the supply and demand of medicinal plants changes1 but the following have been in constant demand for years4 ,the name or names in parenthesis are also applied to the root1 bark1 berry1 plant1 vines1 etc41 as mentioned3 ,balm ,gilead 7,balsam ,poplar7--,the ,buds4 ,bayberry 7,wax-,myrtle7--,the ,bark of ,root4 ,black ,cohosh 7,black ,snake ,root7--,the ,root with ,rootlets4 ,black ,haw 7,viburnum4 ,sloe47--,the ,bark of ,root4 ,the ,bark of ,tree4 ,black ,indian ,hemp 7,canadian ,hemp7--,the ,root4 ,blood ,root--,the ,root with ,fibre4 ,the ,root with no ,fibre4 ,blue ,cohosh 7,papoose ,root4 ,squaw ,root7--,the ,root4 ,blue ,flag 7,larger ,blue ,flag7--,the ,root4 ,burdock--,the ,root4 ,the ,seed4 ,cascara ,sagrada 7,chittem ,bark7--,bark of ,tree4 ,clover1 ,red--,the ,blossoms4 ,corn ,silk ,cotton ,root--,the ,bark of ,root4 ,cramp ,root 7,cranberry ,tree4 ,high ,bush ,cranberry7--,the ,bark of ,tree4 ,culver's ,root 7,black ,root7--,the ,root4 ,dandelion--,the ,root4 ,deer ,tongue--,the ,leaves4 ,elder--,the ,dried ,ripe ,berries4 ,the ,flowers4 ,elecampane--,the ,root1 cut into slices4 ,elm 7,slippery ,elm7--,the ,bark1 deprived of the brown1 outside layer4 ,fringe ,tree--,the ,bark of ,root4 ,gelsemium 7,yellow ,jasmine7 7,carolina ,jasmine7--,the ,root4 ,ginseng--,the ,root4 ,golden ,seal 7,yellow ,root4 ,yellow ,puccoon4 ,orange ,root4 ,indian ,dye4 ,indian ,turmeric7--,the ,root4 ,gold ,thread 7,three-leaved ,gold ,thread7--,the ,herb4 ,hops--,these should be collected and packed in such a manner as to retain all of the yellow powder 7lupulin47 ,hydrangea--,the ,root4 ,indian ,hemp1 ,black 7,see ,black ,indian ,hemp7 ,lady ,slipper 7,moccasin-,flower4 ,large ,yellow ,lady ,slipper4 ,american ,valerian7--,the ,root1 with ,rootlets4 ,lobelia 7,indian ,tobacco7--,the ,herb4 ,the ,seed4 ,mandrake 7,may-apple7--,the ,root4 ,nettle--,the ,herb4 ,passion ,flower--,the ,herb4 ,pipsissewa 7,prince's ,pine7--,the ,vine4 ,poke--,the ,berries4 ,the ,root4 ,prickly ,ash 7,toothache ,tree4 ,angelica ,tree4 ,suterberry4 ,pepper ,wood4 ,tea ,ash7--,the ,bark4 ,the ,berry4 ,sassafras--,the ,bark of the ,root4 ,the ,pith4 ,saw ,palmetto--,the ,berries4 ,scullcap--,the ,herb4 ,illustration3 ,senega ,snake ,root 7,cultivated7 in ,blossom4 ,snake ,root1 ,virginia 7,birthwort-,serpentaria7--,the ,root4 ,snake ,root1 ,canada 7,asarabacca4 ,wild ,ginger4 ,so-called ,coltfoot ,root7--,the ,root4 ,spruce ,gum--,clean ,gum only4 ,squaw ,vine 7,partridge ,berry7--,the ,herb4 ,star ,root 7,see ,unicorn ,false7 ,star ,grass 7,see ,unicorn ,true7 ,stillingia 7,queen's ,delight7--,the ,root4 ,stramonium 7,jamestown-weed4 ,jimson-weed4 ,thorn-apple7--,the ,leaves4 ,the ,seed4 ,unicorn ,true 7,star ,grass4 ,blazing ,star4 ,mealy ,starwort4 ,colic ,root7--,the ,root4 ,unicorn ,false 7,star ,root4 ,starwort7--,the ,root4 ,wahoo 7,strawberry ,tree4 ,indian ,arrow4 ,burning ,bush4 ,spindle ,tree4 ,pegwood4 ,bitter ,ash7--,the ,bark of ,root4 ,the ,bark of ,tree4 ,white ,pine 7,deal ,pine4 ,soft ,deal ,pine7--,the ,bark of ,tree1 ,rossed4 ,wild ,cherry--,the thin ,green ,bark1 and thick ,bark ,rossed4 ,the dried ,cherries4 ,wild ,indigo 7,horsefly ,weed4 ,rattle-bush4 ,indigo ,weed4 ,yellow ,indigo4 ,clover ,broom7--,the ,root4 ,wormseed1 ,american 7,stinking ,weed4 ,jesuit ,tea4 ,jerusalem ,tea4 ,jerusalem ,oak7--,the ,seed4 ,wild ,yam 7,colic ,root4 ,china ,root4 ,devil's ,bones7--,the ,root4 ,yellow ,dock 7,sour ,dock4 ,narrow ,dock4 ,curled ,dock7--,the ,root4 ,the following are used in limited quantities only3 ,arbor ,vitae 7,white ,cedar7--,the ,leafy ,tips4 ,balmony 7,turtle-head4 ,snakehead7--,the ,herb1 free from large ,stalks4 ,beth ,root 7,trillium ,erectum4 ,wake ,robin4 ,birth-root7--,the ,root4 ,birch ,bark 7,cherry ,birch4 ,sweet ,birch4 ,black ,birch4 ,black ,root 7see culvers root7--,the ,bark of ,tree4 ,blackberry 7,high ,blackberry7--,the ,bark of ,root4 ,black ,willow--,the ,bark4 ,the ,buds4 ,boneset 7,thoroughwort7--,the ,herb1 free from large ,stems4 ,broom ,corn--,the ,seed4 ,broom ,top 7,scotch ,broom7--,the ,flowering ,tops4 ,bugle ,weed 7,water ,horehound7 ,the ,herb1 free from large ,stems4 ,butternut--,bark of ,root4 ,catnip--,the ,herb4 ,chestnut--,the ,leaves1 collected in ,september or ,october while still green4 ,chicory 7,succory7--,the ,root1 cut into slices 7,cross section47 ,corn ,ergot 7,corn ,smut7--,the ,fungus1 replacing the grains of corn4 ,false ,bittersweet 7,shrubby ,bittersweet4 ,climbing ,bittersweet4 ,wax-wort4 ,staff-tree7--,the ,bark of ,tree4 ,garden ,lettuce--,the ,leaves4 ,geranium 7,cranesbill7--,the ,root of the wild ,herb4 ,gravel ,plant 7,may ,flower4 ,ground ,laurel4 ,trailing ,arbutus7--,the ,leaves4 ,great ,celandine 7,garden ,celandine7--,entire plant4 ,hellebore1 ,false 7,adonis ,vernalis7--,the ,root4 ,hemlock--,the ,bark4 ,the ,gum4 ,horse ,nettle--,the ,berries4 ,the ,root4 ,huckleberry--,the ,dried ,berry4 ,life ,everlasting 7,common ,everlasting4 ,cudweed7--,the ,herb4 ,life ,root ,plant 7,rag-wort7--,the ,herb4 ,lovage--,the ,root4 ,maiden ,hair--,the ,fern4 ,milkweed 7,pleurisy ,root7--,the ,root cut into ,sections lengthwise4 ,motherwort--,the ,herb4 ,mountain ,ash 7,mountain ,laurel 7,see ,sheep ,laurel7--,the ,bark of ,tree4 ,mullein 7,common ,mullein7--,the ,leaves4 ,pennyroyal--,the ,herb4 ,peppermint ,the ,leaves4--,the ,herb4 ,pitcher ,plant 7,side-,saddle ,plant4 ,fly ,trap4 ,huntsman ,cup4 ,water ,cup7--,the ,plant4 ,plantain 7,rib-grass4 ,rib-wort4 ,ripple-grass7--,the ,leaves4 ,poison ,oak 7,poison ,ivy7--,the ,leaves4 ,pumpkin--,the ,seed4 ,queen of the ,meadow 7,joe-,pye-,weed4 ,trumpet-,weed7--,the ,root4 ,ragweed 7,wild ,red ,raspberry7--,the ,leaves4 ,rosinweed 7,polar plant4 ,compass plant7--,the ,root4 ,rue--,the ,herb4 ,sage--,the ,leaves4 ,scouring ,rush 7,horsetail7--,the ,herb4 ,sheep ,laurel 7,laurel4 ,mountain ,laurel4 ,broad-leafed ,laurel4 ,calico ,bush4 ,spoon ,wood7--,the ,leaves4 ,sheep ,sorrel 7,field ,sorrel7--,the ,leaves4 ,shepherd's ,purse--,the ,herb4 ,skunk ,cabbage--,the ,root4 ,spikenard--,the ,root4 ,stone ,root--,the ,root4 ,tag ,alder--,the ,bark4 ,tansy 7,trailing ,arbutus4 ,see ,gravel ,plant7--,the ,herb4 ,veratrum ,viride 7,green ,hellebore4 ,american ,hellebore7--,the ,root4 ,vervain 7,blue ,vervain7--,the ,herb4 ,virginia ,stone ,crop 7,dutch ,stone ,crop7 ,wafer ,ash 7,hop ,tree4 ,swamp ,dogwood4 ,stinking ,ash4 ,scrubby ,trefoil4 ,ague ,bark7--,the ,bark of ,root4 ,water ,avens 7,throat ,root4 ,cure ,all4 ,evan's ,root4 ,indian ,chocolate4 ,chocolate ,root4 ,bennett ,root7--,the ,root4 ,water ,eryngo 7,button ,snake ,root4 ,corn ,snake ,root4 ,rattle ,snake's ,weed7--,the ,root4 ,water ,hemlock 7,spotted ,parsley4 ,spotted ,hemlock4 ,poison ,parsley4 ,poison ,hemlock4 ,poison ,snake ,weed4 ,beaver ,poison7--,the ,herb4 ,watermelon--,the ,seed4 ,water ,pepper 7,smart ,weed4 ,arsmart7--,the ,herb4 ,water ,ash--,the ,bark of ,tree4 ,white ,oak 7,tanners ,bark7--,the ,bark of ,tree1 ,rossed4 ,white ,ash--,the ,bark of ,tree4 ,white ,poplar 7,trembling ,poplar4 ,aspen4 ,quaking ,asp7--,the ,bark of ,tree4 ,wild ,lettuce 7,wild ,opium ,lettuce4 ,snake ,weed4 ,trumpet ,weed7--,the ,leaves4 ,illustration3 ,indian ,turnip 7,wild74 ,wild ,turnip 7,indian ,turnip4 ,jack-in-the-,pulpit4 ,pepper ,turnip4 ,swamp ,turnip7--,the ,root1 sliced4 ,wintergreen 7,checkerberry4 ,partridge ,berry4 ,teaberry4 ,deerberry7--,the ,leaves4 ,witch ,hazel 7,striped ,alder4 ,spotted ,alder4 ,hazelnut7--,the ,bark4 ,the ,leaves4 ,yarrow 7,milfoil4 ,thousand ,leaf7--,the ,herb4 ,yellow ,parilla 7,moon ,seed4 ,texas ,sarsaparilla7--,the ,root4 ,yerba ,santa 7,mountain ,balm4 ,gum ,plant4 ,tar ,weed7--,the ,leaves4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,cultivation ,,of ,,wild ,,plants4 ,the leading botanical roots in demand by the drug trade are the following1 to-wit3 ,ginseng1 ,golden ,seal1 ,senega or ,seneca ,snake ,root1 ,serpentaria or ,virginia ,snake ,root1 ,wild ,ginger or ,canada ,snake ,root1 ,mandrake or ,mayapple1 ,pink ,root1 ,blood ,root1 ,lady ,slipper1 ,black ,root1 ,poke ,root and the ,docks4 ,most of these are found in abundance in their natural habitat1 and the prices paid for the crude drugs will not1 as yet1 tempt many persons to gather the roots1 wash1 cure1 and market them1 much less attempt their culture4 ,but ,ginseng1 ,golden ,seal1 ,senega1 ,serpentaria and ,wild ,ginger are becoming very scarce1 and the prices paid for these roots will induce persons interested in them to study their several natures1 manner of growth1 natural habitat1 methods of propagation1 cultivation1 etc4 ,this opens up a new field of industry to persons having the natural aptitude for such work4 ,of course1 the soil and environment must be congenial to the plant grown4 ,a field that would raise an abundance of corn1 cotton1 or wheat would not raise ,ginseng or ,golden ,seal at all4 ,yet these plants grown as their natures demand1 and by one who knows1 will yield a thousand times more value per acre than corn1 cotton or wheat4 ,a very small ,ginseng garden is worth quite an acreage of wheat4 ,i have not as yet marketed any cultivated ,ginseng4 ,it is too precious and of too much value as a yielder of seeds to dig for the market4 ,some years ago ,i dug and marketed1 writes a ,west ,virginia party1 the ,golden ,seal growing in a small plot1 ten feet wide by thirty feet long1 as a test1 to see if the cultivation of this plant would pay4 ,i found that it paid extremely well1 although ,i made this test at a great loss4 ,this bed had been set three years4 ,in setting ,i used about three times as much ground as was needed1 as the plants were set in rows eighteen inches apart and about one foot apart in the rows4 ,the rows should have been one foot apart1 and the plants about six inches apart in the rows1 or less4 ,i dug the plants in the fall about the time the tops were drying down1 washed them clean1 dried them carefully in the shade and sold them to a man in the city of ,huntington1 ,w ,va4 ,he paid me #a4jj per pound and the patch brought me #aa4fj1 or at the rate of #a1fhd4cb per acre1 by actual measure and test4 ,illustration3 ,canadian ,snake ,root 7,cultivated74 ,this experiment opened my eyes very wide4 ,the patch had cost me practically nothing1 and taking this view only1 had paid extremely well4 ,but1 ,i said1 ,i made this test at a great loss1 which is true1 taking the proper view of the case4 ,suppose ,i had cut those roots up into pieces for propagation1 and stratified them in boxes of sandy loam through the winter1 and when the buds formed on them carefully set them in well prepared beds4 ,i would now have a little growing gold mine4 ,the price has been #a4ge for such stock1 or #ge more than when ,i sold1 making an acre of such stuff worth #b1idh4ef4 ,the #aa4fj worth of stock would have set an acre1 or nearly so4 ,so my experiment was a great loss1 taking this view of it4 ,i am raising1 in a small way1 ,ginseng1 ,lady ,slipper1 ,wild ,ginger and ,virginia ,snake ,root1 and am having very good success with all of it4 ,i am also experimenting with some flowering plants1 such as ,sweet ,harbinger1 ,hepatica1 ,blood ,root1 and ,blue ,bell4 ,i am trying to propagate and grow some shrubs and trees to be used as yard and cemetery trees4 ,of these my most interesting one is the ,american ,christmas ,holly4 ,i have not made much headway with it yet1 but ,i am not discouraged4 ,i know more about it than when ,i began1 and think ,i shall succeed4 ,there is good demand for ,holly at ,christmas time1 and ,i can find ready sale for all ,i can get4 ,i think the plants should sell well1 as it makes a beautiful shrub4 ,i think the time has come when the ,ginseng and ,golden ,seal of commerce and medicine will practically all come from the gardens of the cultivators of these plants4 ,i do not see any danger of overproduction4 ,the demand is great and is increasing year by year4 ,of course1 like the rising of a river1 the price may ebb and flow1 somewhat1 but it is constantly going up4 ,illustration3 ,blood ,root 7,cultivated74 ,the information contained in the following pages about the habits1 range1 description and price of scores of root drugs will help hundreds to distinguish the valuable plants from the worthless4 ,in most instances a good photo of the plant and root is given4 ,as ,ginseng and ,golden ,seal are the most valuable1 instructions for the cultivation and marketing of same is given in detail4 ,any root can be successfully grown if the would-be grower will only give close attention to the kind of soil1 shade1 etc41 under which the plant flourishes in its native state4 ,illustration3 ,sarsaparilla ,plant 7,wild74 ,detailed methods of growing ,ginseng and ,golden ,seal are given from which it will be learned that the most successful ones are those who are cultivating these plants under conditions as near those as possible which the plants enjoy when growing wild in the forests4 ,note carefully the nature of the soil1 how much sunlight gets to the plants1 how much leaf mould and other mulch at the various seasons of the year4 ,it has been proven that ,ginseng and ,golden ,seal do best when cultivated as near to nature as possible4 ,it is therefore reasonable to assume that all other roots which grow wild and have a cash value1 for medicinal and other purposes1 will do best when cultivated or handled as near as possible under conditions which they thrived when wild in the forests4 ,many root drugs which at this time are not very valuable--bringing only a few cents a pound--will advance in price and those who wish to engage in the medicinal root growing business can do so with reasonable assurance that prices will advance for the supply growing wild is dwindling smaller and smaller each year4 ,look at the prices paid for ,ginseng and ,golden ,seal in #aijh and compare with ten years prior or #ahih4 ,who knows but that in the near future an advance of hundreds of per cent4 will have been scored on wild turnip1 lady's slipper1 crawley root1 ,canada snakeroot1 serpentaria 7known also as ,virginia and ,texas snakeroot71 yellow dock1 black cohosh1 ,oregon grape1 blue cohosh1 twinleaf1 mayapple1 ,canada moonseed1 blood-root1 hydrangea1 crane's bill1 seneca snakeroot1 wild sarsaparilla1 pinkroot1 black ,indian hemp1 pleurisy-root1 culvers root1 dandelion1 etc41 etc48 ,of course it will be best to grow only the more valuable roots1 but at the same time a small patch of one or more of those mentioned above may prove a profitable investment4 ,none of these are apt to command the high price of ,ginseng1 but the grower must remember that it takes ,ginseng some years to produce roots of marketable size1 while many other plants produce marketable roots in a year4 ,there are thousands of land owners in all parts of ,america that can make money by gathering the roots1 plants and barks now growing on their premises4 ,if care is taken to only dig and collect the best specimens an income for years can be had4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,,ginseng4 ,history and science have their romances as vivid and as fascinating as any in the realms of fiction4 ,no story ever told has surpassed in interest the history of this mysterious plant ,ginseng2 the root that for nearly #bjj years has been an important article of export to ,china4 ,until a few years ago not one in a hundred intelligent ,americans living in cities and towns1 ever heard of the plant1 and those in the wilder parts of the country who dug and sold the roots could tell nothing of its history and use4 ,their forefathers had dug and sold ,ginseng4 ,they merely followed the old custom4 ,the natural range of ,ginseng growing wild in the ,united ,states is north to the ,canadian line1 embracing all the states of ,maine1 ,new ,hampshire1 ,vermont1 ,massachusetts1 ,connecticut1 ,rhode ,island1 ,delaware1 ,new ,york1 ,pennsylvania1 ,new ,jersey1 ,maryland1 ,ohio1 ,west ,virginia1 ,virginia1 ,indiana1 ,illinois1 ,michigan1 ,wisconsin1 ,kentucky and ,tennessee4 ,it is also found in a greater part of the following states3 ,minnesota1 ,iowa1 ,missouri1 ,north and ,south ,carolina1 ,georgia and ,alabama4 ,until recently the plant was found growing wild in the above states in abundance1 especially those states touched by the ,allegheny mountains4 ,the plant is also found in ,ontario and ,quebec1 ,canada1 but has become scarce there also1 owing to persistent hunting4 ,it also grows sparingly in the states west of and bordering on the ,mississippi river4 ,ginseng in the ,united ,states was not considered of any medical value until about #aije1 but in ,china it is and has been highly prized for medical purposes and large quantities of the root are exported to that country4 ,it is indeed doubtful if the root has much if any medical value1 and the fact that the ,chinese prefer roots that resemble1 somewhat1 the human body1 only goes to prove that their use of the root is rather from superstition than real value4 ,of late years ,ginseng is being cultivated by the ,chinese in that country1 but the root does not attain the size that it does in ,america1 and the plant from this side will1 no doubt1 continue to be exported in large quantities4 ,new ,york and ,san ,francisco are the two leading cities from which exports are made to ,china1 and in each of these places are many large dealers who annually collect hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth4 ,the most valuable ,ginseng grows in ,new ,york1 the ,new ,england states and northern ,pennsylvania4 ,the root from southern sections sells at from fifty cents to one dollar per pound less4 ,ginseng in the wild or natural state grows largely in beech1 sugar and poplar forests and prefers a damp soil4 ,the appearance of ,ginseng when young resembles somewhat newly sprouted beans2 the plant only grows a few inches the first year4 ,in the fall the stem dies and in the spring the stalk grows up again4 ,the height of the full grown stalk is from eighteen to twenty inches1 altho they sometimes grow higher4 ,the berries and seed are crimson 7scarlet7 color when ripe in the fall4 ,for three or four years the wild plants are small1 and unless one has a practical eye will escape notice1 but professional diggers have so persistently scoured the hills that in sections where a few years ago it was abundant1 it is now extinct4 ,while the palmy days of digging were on1 it was a novel occupation and the seng diggers1 as they are commonly called1 go into the woods armed with a small mattock and sack1 and the search for the valuable plant begins4 ,ginseng usually grows in patches and these spots are well known to the mountain residents4 ,often scores of pounds of root are taken from one patch1 and the occupation is a very profitable one4 ,the women as well as the men hunt ,ginseng1 and the stalk is well known to all mountain lads and lassies4 ,ginseng grows in a rich1 black soil1 and is more commonly found on the hillsides than in the lowlands4 ,illustration3 ,ginseng ,plant and ,roots4 ,few are the mountain residents who do not devote some of their time to hunting this valuable plant1 and in the mountain farm houses there are now many hundred pounds of the article laid away waiting the market4 ,while the fall is the favorite time for ,ginseng hunting1 it is carried on all summer4 ,when a patch of the root is found the hunter loses no time in digging it4 ,to leave it until the fall would be to lose it1 for undoubtedly some other hunter would find the patch and dig it4 ,how this odd commerce with ,china arose is in itself remarkable4 ,many1 many years ago a ,catholic priest1 one who had long served in ,china1 came as a missionary to the wilds of ,canada4 ,here in the forest he noted a plant bearing close resemblance to one much valued as a medicine by the ,chinese4 ,a few roots were gathered and sent as a sample to ,china1 and many months afterwards the ships brought back the welcome news that the ,chinamen would buy the roots4 ,early in its history the value of ,ginseng as a cultivated crop was recognized1 and repeated efforts made for its propagation4 ,each attempt ended in failure4 ,it became an accepted fact with the people that ,ginseng could not be grown4 ,now these experimenters were not botanists1 and consequently they failed to note some very simple yet essential requirements of the plant4 ,about #ahij experiments were renewed4 ,this time by skilled and competent men who quickly learned that the plant would thrive only under its native forest conditions1 ample shade1 and a loose1 mellow soil1 rich in humus1 or decayed vegetable matter4 ,as has since been shown by the success of the growers4 ,ginseng is easily grown1 and responds readily to proper care and attention4 ,under right conditions the cultivated roots are much larger and finer1 and grow more quickly than the wild ones4 ,it may be stated in passing1 that ,chinese ,ginseng is not quite the same thing as that found in ,america1 but is a variety called ,panax ,ginseng1 while ours is ,panax ,quinquefolia4 ,the chemists say1 however1 that so far as analysis shows1 both have practically the same properties4 ,it was originally distributed over a wide area1 being found everywhere in the eastern part of the ,united ,states and ,canada where soil and locality were favorable4 ,ginseng has an annual stalk and perennial root4 ,the first year the foliage does not closely resemble the mature plant1 having only three leaves4 ,it is usually in its third year that it assumes the characteristic leaves of maturity and becomes a seed-bearer4 ,the photos which accompany give a more accurate idea of the plant's appearance than is possible from a written description4 ,the plants bloom very quickly after sprouting and the berries mature in ,august and ,september in most localities4 ,when ripe1 the berries are a rich deep crimson and contain usually two seeds each4 ,the seeds are peculiar in that it usually takes them about eighteen months to germinate and if allowed to become dry in the meantime1 the vitality will be destroyed4 ,western authorities have heretofore placed little value on ,ginseng as a curative agent1 but a number of recent investigations seem to reverse this opinion4 ,the ,chinese1 however1 have always placed the highest value upon it and millions have used and esteemed it for untold centuries4 ,its preparation and uses have never been fully understood by western people4 ,our ,consuls in ,china have at various times furnished our government with very full reports of its high value and universal use in the ,flowery ,kingdom4 ,from these we learn that ,imperial ,ginseng1 the highest grade grown in the royal parks and gardens1 is jealously watched and is worth from #dj4jj to #bjj4jj per pound4 ,of course its use is limited to the upper circle of ,china's four hundred4 ,the next quality comes from ,korea and is valued at #ae4jj to #ce4jj per pound4 ,its use is also limited to the lucky few4 ,the third grade includes ,american ,ginseng and is the great staple kind4 ,it is used by every one of ,china's swarming millions who can possibly raise the price4 ,the fourth grade is ,japanese ,ginseng and is used by those who can do no better4 ,mr4 ,wildman1 of ,hong ,kong1 says3 ,the market for a good article is practically unlimited4 ,there are four hundred million ,chinese and all to some extent use ,ginseng4 ,if they can once become satisfied with the results obtained from the tea made from ,american ,ginseng1 the yearly demand will run up into the millions of dollars worth4 ,another curious fact is that the ,chinese highly prize certain peculiar shapes among these roots especially those resembling the human form4 ,for such they gladly pay fabulous prices1 sometimes six hundred times its weight in silver4 ,the rare shapes are not used as medicine but kept as a charm1 very much as some ,americans keep a rabbit's foot for luck4 ,sir ,edwin ,arnold1 that famous writer and student of ,eastern peoples1 says of its medicinal values3 ,according to the ,chinaman1 ,ginseng is the best and most potent of cordials1 of stimulants1 of tonics1 of stomachics1 cardiacs1 febrifuges1 and1 above all1 will best renovate and reinvigorate failing forces4 ,it fills the heart with hilarity while its occasional use will1 it is said1 add a decade of years to the ordinary human life4 ,can all these millions of ,orientals1 all those many generations of men1 who have boiled ,ginseng in silver kettles and have praised heaven for its many benefits1 have been totally deceived8 ,was the world ever quite mistaken when half of it believed in something never puffed1 nowhere advertised and not yet fallen to the fate of a ,trust1 a ,combine or a ,corner8 ,it has been asked why the ,chinese do not grow their own ,ginseng4 ,in reply it may be said that ,america supplies but a very small part indeed of the ,ginseng used in ,china4 ,the bulk comes from ,korea and ,manchuria1 two provinces belonging to ,china1 or at least which did belong to her until the recent ,eastern troubles4 ,again1 ,ginseng requires practically a virgin soil1 and as ,china proper has been the home of teeming millions for thousands of years1 one readily sees that necessary conditions for the plant hardly exist in that old and crowded country4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,ginseng ,,habits4 ,a few years ago ,ginseng could be found in nearly every woods and thicket in the country4 ,today conditions are quite different4 ,ginseng has become a scarce article4 ,the decrease in the annual crop of the wild root will undoubtedly be very rapid from this on4 ,the continued search for the root in every nook and corner in the country1 coupled with the decrease in the forest and thicket area of the country1 must in a few years exterminate the wild root entirely4 ,to what extent the cultivated article in the meantime can supplant the decrease in the production of the wild root1 is yet to be demonstrated4 ,the most important points in domesticating the root1 to my opinion1 is providing shade1 a necessary condition for the growth of ,ginseng1 and to find a fertilizer suitable for the root to produce a rapid growth4 ,if these two conditions can be complied with1 proper shade and proper fertilizing1 the cultivation of the root is simplified4 ,now the larger wild roots are found in clay soil and not in rich loam4 ,it seems reasonably certain that the suitable elements for the growth of the root is found in clay soil4 ,the seng digger often finds many roots close to the growing stalk1 which had not sent up a shoot that year4 ,for how many years the root may lie dormant is not known1 nor is it known whether this is caused by lack of cultivation4 ,i have noticed that the cultivated plant did not fail to sprout for five consecutive years4 ,whether it will fail the sixth year or the tenth is yet unknown4 ,the seed of ,ginseng does not sprout or germinate until the second year1 when a slender stalk with two or three leaves puts in an appearance4 ,then as the stalk increases in size from year to year1 it finally becomes quite a sizable shrub of one main stalk1 from which branch three1 four1 or even more prongs2 the three and four prongs being more common4 ,a stalk of seng with eight well arranged prongs1 four of which were vertically placed over four others1 was found in this section 7,southern ,ohio7 some years ago4 ,this was quite an oddity in the general arrangement of the plant4 ,ginseng is a plant found growing wild in the deep shaded forests and on the hillsides thruout the ,united ,states and ,canada4 ,less than a score of years ago ,ginseng was looked upon as a plant that could not be cultivated1 but today we find it is successfully grown in many states4 ,it is surprising what rapid improvements have been made in this valuable root under cultivation4 ,the average cultivated root now of three or four years of age1 will outweigh the average wild root of thirty or forty years4 ,when my brother and ,i embarked in the enterprise1 writes one of the pioneers in the business1 of raising ,ginseng1 we thought it would take twenty years to mature a crop instead of three or four as we are doing today4 ,at that time we knew of no other person growing it and from then until the present time we have continually experimented1 turning failures to success4 ,we have worked from darkness to light1 so to speak4 ,in the forests of ,central ,new ,york1 the plant is most abundant on hillsides sloping north and east1 and in limestone soils where basswood or butternut predominate4 ,like all root crops1 ,ginseng delights in a light1 loose soil1 with a porous subsoil4 ,if a cultivated plant from some of our oldest grown seed and a wild one be set side by side without shading1 the cultivated one will stand three times as long as the wild one before succumbing to excessive sunlight4 ,if a germinated seed from a cultivated plant were placed side by side under our best mode of cultivation1 the plant of the cultivated seed at the end of five years1 would not only be heavier in the root but would also produce more seed4 ,in choosing a location for a ,ginseng garden1 remember the most favorable conditions for the plant or seed bed are a rich loamy soil1 as you will notice in the home of the wild plant4 ,you will not find it on low1 wet ground or where the ,water stands any length of time1 it won't grow with wet feet2 it wants well drained soil4 ,a first-class location is on land that slopes to the east or north1 and on ground that is level and good4 ,other slopes are all right1 but not as good as the first mentioned4 ,it does not do so well under trees1 as the roots and fibers from them draw the moisture from the plant and retard its growth4 ,illustration3 ,garden ,grown ,ginseng ,plant4 ,the variety of soil is so much different in the ,united ,states that it is a hard matter to give instructions that would be correct for all places4 ,the best is land of a sandy loam1 as ,i have mentioned before4 ,clay land can be used and will make good gardens by mixing leaf mold1 rotten wood and leaves and some lighter soil1 pulverize and work it thru thoroughly4 ,pick out all sticks and stones that would interfere with the plants4 ,ginseng is a most peculiar plant4 ,it has held a place of high esteem among the ,chinese from time immemorial4 ,it hides away from man with seeming intelligence4 ,it is shy of cultivation1 the seed germinating in eighteen months as a rule1 from the time of ripening and planting4 ,if the seeds become dry they lose1 to a certain extent1 their germinating power4 ,the young plant is very weak and of remarkably slow growth4 ,it thrives only in virgin soil1 and is very choice in its selection of a place to grow4 ,remove the soil to another place or cultivate it in any way and it loses its charm for producing this most fastidious plant4 ,it has a record upon which it keeps its age1 or years of its growth1 for it passes a great many years in the ground1 dormant4 ,i have counted the age upon the record stem of small roots and found their age to be from #cj to #fj years4 ,no plant with which ,i am acquainted grows as slowly as ,ginseng4 ,a great many superstitious notions are held by the people1 generally1 in regard to ,ginseng4 ,i think it is these natural peculiarities of the plant1 together with the fancied resemblance of the root to man1 and1 also probably its aromatic odor that gives it its charm and value4 ,destroy it from the earth and the ,materia ,medica of civilization would lose nothing4 ,i notice that the cultivated root is not so high in price by some two dollars as the wild root4 ,if the root is grown in natural environment and by natural cultivation1 i4 e41 just let it grow1 no ,chinaman can tell it from the wild root4 ,we have at present1 writes a grower1 in our ,ginseng patch about #c1ejj plants and will this year get quite a lot of excellent seed4 ,our ,ginseng garden is on a flat or bench on a north hillside near the top1 that was never cleared4 ,the soil is a sandy loam and in exposure and quality naturally adapted to the growth of this plant4 ,the natural growth of timber is walnut1 both black and white1 oak1 red bud1 dogwood1 sugar1 maple1 lin1 poplar and some other varieties4 ,we cultivate by letting the leaves from the trees drop down upon the bed in the fall as a mulch and then in the early spring we burn the leaves off the bed4 ,our plants seem to like this treatment very well4 ,they are of that good ,ginseng color which all ,ginseng diggers recognize as indicative of good sized1 healthy roots4 ,illustration3 ,northern ,ginseng ,plant in ,bloom--,june4 ,i have had much experience in hunting the wild ,ginseng roots1 says another1 and have been a close observer of its habits1 conditions1 etc4 ,high shade is best with about one-half sun4 ,the root is found mostly where there is good ventilation and drainage4 ,a sandy porous loam produces best roots4 ,plants in dense shade fail to produce seed in proportion to the density of the shade4 ,in high one-half shade they produce heavy crops of seed4 ,coarse leaves that hold water will cause disease in rainy seasons4 ,no leaves or mulch make stalks too low and stunted4 ,ginseng is very wise and knows its own age4 ,this age the plant shows in two ways4 ,first1 by the style of the foliage which changes each year until it is four years old4 ,second1 the age can be determined by counting the scars on the neck of the bud-stem4 ,each year the stalk which carries the leaves and berries1 goes down1 leaving a scar on the neck or perennial root from which it grew4 ,a new bud forms opposite and a little above the old one each year4 ,counting these stalk scars will give the age of the plant4 ,i have seen some very old roots and have been told that roots with fifty scars have been dug4 ,the leaf on a seedling is formed of three small parts on a stem1 growing directly out of a perennial root and during the first year it remains that shape4 ,the second year the stem forks at the top and each fork bears two leaves1 each being formed of five parts4 ,the third year the stem forks three ways and bears three leaves1 each formed of five parts1 much like the ,virginia creeper4 ,now the plant begins to show signs of bearing seed and a small button-shaped cluster of green berries can be seen growing in the forks of the stalk at the base of the leaf stem4 ,the fourth year the perennial stalk grows as large around as an ordinary lead pencil and from one foot to twenty inches high4 ,it branches four ways1 and has four beautiful five-pointed leaves1 with a large well-formed cluster of berries in the center4 ,after the middle of ,june a pale green blossom forms on the top of each berry4 ,the berries grow as large as a cherry pit and contain two or three flat hard seeds4 ,in ,september they turn a beautiful red and are very attractive to birds and squirrels4 ,they may be gathered each day as they ripen and should be planted directly in a bed1 or put in a box of damp1 clean sand and safely stored4 ,if put directly in the ground they will sprout the first year1 which advantage would be lost if stored dry4 ,a word to trappers about wild roots4 ,when you find a plant gather the seed1 and unless you want to plant them in your garden1 bury them in the berry about an inch or inch and a half deep in some good1 rich1 shady place1 one berry in each spot4 ,thus you will have plants to dig in later years1 you and those who come after you4 ,look for it in the autumn after it has had time to mature its berries4 ,do not take up the little plants which have not yet become seed bearers4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,cultivation4 ,the forest is the home of the ,ginseng plant and the closer we follow nature the better results we get4 ,i am growing it now under artificial shade2 also in the forest with natural shade1 says an ,ohio party4 ,a good shade is made by setting posts in the ground1 nail cross-pieces on these1 then cover with brush4 ,you must keep out the sun and let in the rain and this will do both4 ,another good shade is made by nailing laths across1 allowing them to be one-half inch apart4 ,this will allow the rain to pass thru and will keep the sun out4 ,always when using lath for shade allow them to run east and west1 then the sun can't shine between them4 ,in selecting ground for location of a ,ginseng garden1 the north side of a hill is best1 altho where the ground is level it will grow well4 ,don't select a low marshy piece of ground nor a piece too high1 all you want is ground with a good drainage and moisture4 ,it is the opinion of some people that in a few years the market will be glutted by those growing it for sale4 ,i will venture to say that ,i don't think we can grow enough in fifty years to over-run the market4 ,the demand is so great and the supply so scarce it will be a long time before the market will be affected by the cultivated root4 ,the market has been kept up entirely in the past by the wild root1 but it has been so carelessly gathered that it is almost entirely exhausted1 so in order to supply this demand we must cultivate this crop4 ,i prepare my beds five feet wide and as long as convenient4 ,i commence by covering ground with a layer of good1 rich1 loose dirt from the woods or well-rotted manure4 ,then ,i spade it up1 turning under the rich dirt4 ,then ,i cover with another layer of the same kind of dirt in which ,i plant my seed and roots4 ,after ,i have them planted ,i cover the beds over with a layer of leaves or straw to hold the moisture1 which ,i leave on all winter to protect them from the cold4 ,in the spring ,i remove a part of the leaves 7not all71 they will come up thru the leaves as they do in their wild forest4 ,all the attention ,ginseng needs after planting is to keep the weeds out of the beds4 ,never work the soil after planting or you will disturb the roots4 ,it is a wild plant and we must follow nature as near as possible4 ,ginseng can be profitably grown on small plots if it is cared for properly4 ,there are three things influencing its growth4 ,they are soil1 shade and treatment4 ,in its wild state the plant is found growing in rich leaf mold of a shady wood4 ,so in cultivation one must conform to many of the same conditions in which the plant is found growing wild4 ,in starting a bed of ,ginseng the first thing to be considered is the selection of soil4 ,tho your soil be very rich it is a good plan to cover it with three or four inches of leaf mold and spade about ten inches deep so that the two soils will be well mixed4 ,artificial shade is preferable at all times because trees take nearly all the moisture and strength out of the soil4 ,when the bed is well fitted1 seed may be sown or plants may be set out4 ,the latter is the quicker way to obtain results4 ,if seeds are sown the young grower is apt to become discouraged before he sees any signs of growth1 as it requires eighteen months for their germination4 ,the cheapest way to get plants is to learn to recognize them at sight1 then go to the woods and try to find them4 ,with a little practice you will be able to tell them at some distance4 ,much care should be taken in removing the plant from the soil4 ,the fewer fibers you break from the root1 the more likely it will be to grow4 ,care should also be taken not to break the bud on top of the root4 ,it is the stalk of the plant starting for the next year1 and is very noticeable after ,june #ast4 ,if it be broken or harmed the root will have no stalk the next season4 ,it is best to start a ,ginseng garden on a well drained piece of land1 says a ,dodge ,county1 ,wisconsin1 grower4 ,run the beds the way the hill slopes4 ,beds should only be four to five feet wide so that they can be reached1 for walking on the beds is objectionable4 ,make your walks about from four to six inches below the beds1 for an undrained bed will produce root rot4 ,the ground should be very rich and mulchy4 ,use well rotted horse manure in preparing the beds1 for fresh manure will heat and hurt the plants4 ,use plenty of woods dirt1 but very little manure of any kind4 ,set plants about six inches each way1 and if you want to increase the size of the root1 pinch off the seed bulb4 ,in the fall when the tops have died down1 cover the beds about two inches deep with dead leaves from the woods4 ,we make our shades out of one-inch strips three inches wide and common lath4 ,the north and west fence should be more tight to keep cold winds out4 ,eastern and southern side tight1 two feet from the ground4 ,from the two feet to top you may use ordinary staves from salt barrels or so nailed one inch apart4 ,have your ,ginseng garden close to the house1 for ,ginseng thieves become numerous4 ,i was raised in the country on a farm and as near to nature as it is possible to get1 and have known a great deal of ,ginseng from my youth up4 ,twenty-five years ago it was #ge cents a pound1 and now it is worth ten times as much4 ,every one with any experience in such matters knows that if radishes or turnips are planted in rich1 old soil that has been highly fertilized they will grow large and will be strong1 hot1 pithy and unpalatable4 ,if planted in rich1 new soil1 they will be firm1 crisp1 juicy and sweet4 ,this fact holds good with ,ginseng4 ,if planted in old ground that is highly fertilized1 the roots will grow large1 but the flavor is altogether different from that of the wild root1 and no doubt specimens of large sizes are spongy and unpalatable to the ,celestials compared to that of the wild root4 ,if planted in rich1 new ground and no strong fertilizer used1 depending entirely upon the rich woods soil for enriching the beds1 the flavor is bound to be exactly as that of the wild root4 ,when the growers wake up to this fact1 and dig their roots before they become too large1 prices will be very satisfactory and the business will be on a sound basis4 99 99 99 ,we will begin in a systematic way1 with the location1 planting and preparing of the ground for the ,ginseng garden1 writes a successful grower--,c4 ,h4 ,peterson--of ,blue ,earth ,county1 ,minn4 ,in choosing a location for a ,ginseng garden1 select one having a well-drained soil4 ,ginseng thrives best in wood loam soil that is cool and mellow1 although any good vegetable garden soil will do very well4 ,a southern slope should be avoided1 as the ground gets too warm in summer and it also requires more shade than level or northern slope does4 ,it is also apt to sprout too early in the spring1 and there is some danger of its getting frosted1 as the flower stem freezes very easily and no seed is the result4 ,then again if you locate your garden on too low ground the roots are apt to rot and the freezing and thawing of wet ground is hard on ,ginseng4 ,laying out a garden nothing is more important than a good system both for looks1 convenience and the growth of your roots later on4 ,do your work well as there is good money in raising ,ginseng1 and for your time you will be well repaid4 ,don't make one bed here and another there and a path where you happen to step1 but follow some plan for them4 ,i have found by experience that the wider the beds are1 the better1 providing that their width does not exceed the distance that you can reach from each path to center of bed to weed4 ,for general purposes for beds #f #a_/b ft4 is used for paths #a #a_/b ft4 ,a bed #f #a_/b ft4 wide gives you #c #a_/d ft4 to reach from each path to center of bed without getting on the beds1 which would not be advisable4 ,an #ah in4 path is none too wide after a few years' growth1 as the plants nearly cover this with foliage4 ,this size beds and paths are just the right width for the system of lath shading ,i am using1 making the combined distance across bed and path #h ft41 or #af ft4 for two beds and two paths1 just right to use a #ax#d rough #af ft4 fencing board to run across top of posts described later on4 ,illustration3 ,plan for ,ginseng ,garden #bdx#dj ,feet--,ground ,plan one line1 overhead dotted4 ,now we will lay out the garden by setting a row of posts #h ft4 apart the length you desire to make your garden4 ,then set another row #h ft4 from first row running parallel with first row1 and so on until desired width of your garden has been reached4 ,be sure to have post line up both ways and start even at ends4 ,be sure to measure correctly4 ,after all posts are set run a #ax#d in4 rough fence board across garden so top edge is even at top of post and nail to post4 ,the post should be about #h ft4 long so when set would be a trifle over #f ft4 above ground4 ,this enables a person to walk under shading when completed4 ,it is also cooler for your plants4 ,in setting the posts do not set them too firm1 so they can be moved at top enough to make them line up both ways4 ,after the #ax#d in4 fence board is put on we will nail on double pieces4 ,take a #ax#f rough fence board #af ft4 long and rip it so as to make two strips1 one #c #a_/b and the other #b #a_/b inches wide1 lay the #c #a_/b in4 flat and set the #b #a_/b in4 strip on edge in middle of other strip and nail together4 ,this had better be done on the ground so it can be turned over to nail4 ,then start at one side and run this double piece lengthwise of your garden or crosswise of the #ax#d in4 fence board nailed along top of post and nail down into same4 ,it may be necessary to nail a small piece of board on side of the #ax#d in4 board where the joints come4 ,then lay another piece similar to this parallel with first one1 leaving about #di #a_/b in4 between the two4 ,this space is for the lath panel to rest on the bottom piece of the double piece4 ,do not put double pieces so close that you will have to crowd the lath panels to get them in1 but leave a little room at end of panel4 ,you will gain about #a #a_/b in4 for every double piece used in running across the garden4 ,this has to be made up by extending over one side or the other a piece of #ax#d board nailed to end of #ax#d board nailed at top posts4 ,let this come over the side you need the shade most4 ,begin from the side you need the shade least and let it extend over the other side4 ,it is advisable to run paths on outside of garden and extend the shading out over them4 ,on sides lath can be used unless otherwise shaded by trees or vines4 ,it will not be necessary to shade the north side if shading extends out over end of beds several feet4 ,give your plants all the air you can4 ,in this system of shading ,i am using ,i have figured a whole lot to get the most convenient shading as well as a strong1 substantial one without the use of needless lumber1 which means money in most places4 ,it has given good satisfaction for lath shade so far4 ,being easily built and handy to put on in spring and take off in fall4 ,now don't think ,i am using all lath shade1 as ,i am not4 ,in one part of garden ,i am using lath and in another part ,i am using some good elm trees4 ,i think1 however1 that the roots make more rapid growth under the lath shade1 but the trees are the cheaper as they do not rot and have to be replaced4 ,they also put on their own shade4 ,the leaves when the proper time comes also removes it when the time comes in the fall and also mulches the beds at the same time4 ,we will now plan out the beds and paths4 ,use #ax#d in4 rough #af ft4 fence boards on outside row of posts next to ground1 nail these to posts1 continue and do likewise on next row of posts1 and so on until all posts have boards nailed on same side of them as first one1 the post being just on inside edge of your beds4 ,then measure #f #a_/b ft4 toward next board1 drive a row of stakes and nail a board of same width to same the length of your garden that will make #ah in4 between last row of boards and boards on next row nailed to post for the path4 ,these boards answer several purposes1 viz41 keep people from walking on beds1 elevates beds above paths1 holds your mulching of leaves and adds to the appearance of your garden4 ,after beds are made by placing the boards spade the ground about a foot deep all over the bed so as to work it up in good shape4 ,after this is done fork it over with a six-tine fork4 ,if bed is made in summer for fall or spring planting it is well to work it over several times during the summer1 as the ground cannot be too mellow4 ,this will also help kill the weeds4 ,then just before planting rake it down level4 ,in case beds are made in woods cut1 or better1 grub out all trees not needed for shade1 and if tree roots are not too large cut out all next to the surface running inside of boards in beds1 and work the same as other beds4 ,lay out your beds same as for lath shade with paths between them4 ,don't try to plant ,ginseng in the woods before making it into beds1 as you will find it unsatisfactory4 ,we will now make the lath panel before mentioned4 ,illustration3 ,a ,lath ,panel4 ,place three laths so that when the laths are laid crosswise one of the laths will be in the middle and the other two1 one at each end two inches from end4 ,can be placed at the end1 but will rot sooner4 ,then begin at end of the three laths and nail lath on1 placing them #a_/b in4 apart until other end is reached1 and if lath is green put closer together to allow for shrinkage4 ,if you have many panels to make1 make a table out of boards and lay strips of iron fastened to table where the three lath comes1 so as to clinch nails when they strike the iron strips1 which will save a lot of work4 ,gauges can also be placed on side of table to lay lath so they will be even at ends of panels when finished4 ,then lay panels in your double pieces on your garden1 and if garden is not located in too windy a locality they will not blow out without nailing1 and a wire drawn tight from end to end of garden on top of panels will prevent this1 and is all that is necessary to hold them in place4 ,in ,central ,new ,york1 under favorable conditions1 ,ginseng plants should be coming up the last of ,april and early ,may1 and should be in the ground by or before ,april #ast1 to give best results4 ,healthy roots1 taken up last of ,march or early ,april will be found covered with numerous fine hair-like rootlets4 ,these are the feeders and have all grown from the roots during the spring4 ,they should be well established in the soil before plants appear4 ,fifteen minutes exposure to the sun or wind will seriously injure and possibly destroy these fine feeders1 forcing the roots to throw out a second crop of feeders4 ,considering these conditions and frequent late seasons1 our advice to beginners is1 wait until fall for transplanting roots4 ,but we are not considering southern conditions4 ,southern growers must be governed by their own experience and climatic conditions4 ,it may be a matter of convenience sometimes for a northern grower to take up one or two year seedlings and transplant to permanent beds in spring4 ,if conditions are favorable so the work can be done in ,march or early ,april1 it may be allowable4 ,have ground ready before roots are taken up4 ,only take up a few at a time1 protect from sun and wind1 transplant immediately4 ,spring sowing of old seed4 ,by this we mean seed that should have been sowed the fall before when one year old1 but has been kept over for spring sowing4 ,illustration3 ,one1 ,two and ,three ,year ,old ,ginseng ,roots4 ,there is other work that can be done quite early in the ,ginseng gardens4 ,all weeds that have lived thru the winter should be pulled as soon as frost is out of ground4 ,they can be pulled easier then than any other time and more certain of getting the weed root out4 ,mulching should be looked to4 ,when coarse material like straw or leaves has been used1 it should be loosened up so air can get to the soil and the plants can come up thru the mulch4 ,if very heavy1 perhaps a portion of the mulch may need to be removed1 but don't6 don't6 take mulch all off from beds of set roots4 ,seed beds sown last fall will need to be removed about time plants are starting up4 ,but seed beds should have been mulched with coarse leaf loam1 or fine vegetable mulch1 and well rotted horse manure 7half and half71 thoroughly mixed together1 this mulch should have been put on as soon as seeds were sown and covered with mulch one inch deep4 ,if this was not done last fall it should be put on this spring as soon as snow is off beds4 ,illustration3 ,ginseng plants coming up4 ,there is another point that needs careful attention when plants are coming up4 ,on heavy soil plants are liable to be earth bound2 this is quite likely to occur on old beds that have not been mulched and especially in dry seasons4 ,as the ,ginseng stalk comes out of the ground doubled 7like an inverted ,u7 the plant end is liable to be held fast by the hard soil1 causing injury and often loss of plants4 ,a little experience and careful observation will enable one to detect earth bound plants4 ,the remedy is to loosen soil around the plant4 ,a broken fork tine about eight inches long 7straightened7 and drive small end in a piece of broom handle about four inches long for a handle1 flatten large end of tine like a screwdriver2 this makes a handy tool for this work4 ,force it into soil near plant1 give a little prying movement1 at same time gently pull on plant end of stalk until you feel it loosen1 do not try to pull it out1 it will take care of itself when loosened4 ,there is not likely to be any trouble1 if leaves appear at the surface of soil4 ,this little spud will be very useful to assist in pulling weed roots1 such as dandelion1 dock1 etc4 ,where movable or open shades are used1 they need not be put on or closed till plants are well up2 about the time leaves are out on trees is the general rule4 ,but one must be governed to some extent by weather and local conditions4 ,if warm and dry1 with much sun1 get them on early4 ,if wet and cool1 keep them off as long as practicable1 but be ready to get them on as soon as needed4 ,i would advise a would-be grower of ,ginseng to visit1 if possible1 some gardens of other growers and learn all they can by inquiry and observation4 ,in selecting a place for your garden1 be sure it has good drainage1 as this one feature may save you a good deal of trouble and loss from damping off1 wilt1 and other fungus diseases which originate from too damp soil4 ,a light1 rich soil is best4 ,my opinion is to get soil from the forest1 heap up somewhere for a while thru the summer1 then sift thru sand sieve or something similar1 and put about two inches on top of beds you have previously prepared by spading and raking4 ,if the soil is a little heavy some old sawdust may be mixed with it to lighten it4 ,the woods dirt is ,o4 ,k4 without using any commercial fertilizers4 ,the use of strong fertilizers and improper drying is responsible for the poor demand for cultivated root4 ,the ,chinese must have the quality he desires and if flavor of root is poor1 will not buy4 99 99 99 ,i wonder how many readers know that ,ginseng can be grown in the house8 writes a ,new ,york dealer4 ,take a box about #e inches deep and any size you wish4 ,fill it with woods dirt or any light1 rich soil4 ,plant roots in fall and set in cellar thru the winter4 ,they will begin to come up about ,april #ast1 and should then be brought out of cellar4 ,i have tried this two seasons4 ,last year ,i kept them by a window on the north side so as to be out of the sunshine4 ,window was raised about one inch to give ventilation4 ,two plants of medium size gave me about #ajj seeds4 ,this season ,i have several boxes1 and plants are looking well and most of them have seed heads with berries from one-third to three-fourths grown4 ,they have been greatly admired1 and ,i believe ,i was the first in this section to try growing ,ginseng as a house plant4 99 99 99 ,as to the location for a ,ginseng garden1 ,i have for the past two years been an enthusiast for cultivation in the natural forest1 writes ,l4 ,c4 ,ingram1 ,m4 ,d41 of ,minnesota4 ,it is true that the largest and finest roots ,i have seen were grown in gardens under lattice1 and maintaining such a garden must be taken into account when balancing your accounts for the purpose of determining the net profits1 for it is really the profits we are looking for4 ,the soil ,i have found to be the best1 is a rich black1 having a good drain1 that is somewhat rolling4 ,as to the direction of this slope ,i am not particular so long as there is a rich soil1 plenty of shade and mulch covering the beds4 ,the selection of seed and roots for planting is the most important item confronting the beginner4 ,considerable has been said in the past concerning the distribution among growers of ,japanese seed by unscrupulous seed venders4 ,it is a fact that ,japanese ,ginseng seed have been started in a number of gardens1 and unless successfully stamped out before any quantity finds its way into the ,chinese market1 the ,ginseng industry in ,america1 stands in peril of being completely destroyed4 ,should they find our root mixed1 their confidence would be lost and our market lost4 ,every one growing ,ginseng must be interested in this vital point1 and if they are suspicious of any of their roots being ,japanese1 have them passed upon by an expert1 and if ,japanese1 every one dug4 ,illustration3 ,bed of #aj1jjj ,young ,ginseng ,plants in ,forest4 ,it is a fact that neighboring gardens are in danger of being mixed1 as the bees are able to do this in carrying the mixing pollen4 ,the safest way to make a start is by procuring seed and roots from the woods wild in your own locality4 ,if this cannot be done then the seed and roots for a start should be procured from a reliable party near you who can positively guarantee the seed and roots to be genuine ,american ,ginseng4 ,we should not be too impatient and hasty to extend the garden or launch out in a great way4 ,learn first1 then increase as the growth of new seed will permit4 ,the next essential thing is the proper preparation of the soil for the planting of the seeds and roots4 ,the soil must be dug deep and worked perfectly loose same as any bed in a vegetable garden4 ,the beds are made four or five feet wide and raised four to six inches above the paths1 which are left one and a half to two feet wide4 ,i have had seed sown on the ground and covered with dirt growing beside seed planted in well made beds and the contrast in size and the thriftiness of roots are so great when seen1 never to be forgotten4 ,the seedlings growing in the hard ground were the size of oat kernels1 those in the beds beside them three to nine inches long and weighing from four to ten times as much per root4 ,in planting the seed all that is necessary is to scatter the stratified seed on top of the prepared bed so they will be one or two inches apart1 then cover with loose dirt from the next bed then level with back of garden rake4 ,they should be one-half to one inch covered4 ,sawdust or leaves should next be put on one to two inches for a top dressing to preserve moisture1 regulate heat1 and prevent the rains from packing the soil4 ,the best time to do all planting is in the spring4 ,this gives the most thrifty plants with the least number missing4 ,when the plants are two years old they must be transplanted into permanent beds4 ,these are prepared in the same manner as they were for the seed4 ,a board six inches wide is thrown across the bed1 you step on this and with a spade throw out a ditch along the edge of the board4 ,in this the roots are set on a slant of #de degrees and so the bud will be from one to two inches beneath the surface4 ,the furrow is then filled and the board moved its width4 ,by putting the roots six inches apart in the row and using a six-inch board your plants will be six inches each way1 which with most growers have given best results4 ,when the roots have grown three years in the transplanted beds they should be ready to dig and dry for market4 ,they should average two ounces each at this time if the soil was rich in plant food and properly prepared and cared for4 ,the plants require considerable care and attention thru each summer4 ,moles must be caught1 blight and other diseases treated and the weeds pulled1 especially from among the younger plants4 ,as soon as the plants are up in the spring the seed buds should be clipped from all the plants except those finest and healthiest plants you may save for your seed to maintain your garden4 ,the clipping of the seed buds is very essential1 because we want the very largest and best flavored root in the shortest time for the market4 ,then if we grow bushels of seed to the expense of the root1 it is only a short time when many thousands of pounds of root must compete with our own for the market and lower the price4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,shading ,,and ,,blight4 ,in several years experience growing ,ginseng1 says a well known grower1 ,i have had no trouble from blight when ,i shade and mulch enough to keep the soil properly cool1 or below #fe degrees1 as you will find the temperature in the forests1 where the wild plants grow best1 even during summer days4 ,some years ago ,i allowed the soil to get too warm1 reaching #gj degrees or more4 ,the blight attacked many plants then4 ,this proved to me that growing the plants under the proper temperature has much to do with blight4 ,when fungus diseases get upon wild plants1 that is plants growing in the forest1 in most cases it can be traced to openings1 forest fires and the woodman's ax4 ,this allows too much sun to strike the plants and ground in which they are growing4 ,if those engaged1 or about to engage1 in ,ginseng growing will study closely the conditions under which the wild plants flourish best1 they can learn much that they will only find out after years of experimenting4 ,mr4 ,l4 ,e4 ,turner in a recent issue of ,special ,crops says3 ,we cannot depend on shade alone to keep the temperature of the soil below #fe degrees--the shade would have to be almost total4 ,in order to allow sufficient light and yet keep the temperature down1 we must cover the ground with a little mulch4 ,the more thoroughly the light is diffused the better for the plants4 ,now1 when we combine sufficient light with say one-half inch of clean mulch1 we are supplying to the plants their natural environment1 made more perfect in that it is everywhere alike4 ,the mulch is as essential to the healthy growth of the ,ginseng plant as clothing is to the comfort and welfare of man2 it can thrive without it no more than corn will grow well with it4 ,these are plants of opposite nature4 ,use the mulch and reduce the shade to the proper density4 ,the mulch is of the first importance1 for the plants will do much better with the mulch and little shade than without mulch and with plenty of shade4 ,ginseng is truly and wholly a savage4 ,we can no more tame it than we can the partridge4 ,we can lay out a preserve and stock it with ,ginseng as we would with partridges1 but who would stock a city park with partridges and expect them to remain there8 ,we cannot make a proper ,ginseng preserve under conditions halfway between a potato patch and a wild forest1 but this is exactly the trouble with a large share of ,ginseng gardens4 ,they are just a little too much like the potato patch to be exactly suited to the nature of ,ginseng4 ,the plant cannot thrive and remain perfectly healthy under these conditions2 we may apply emulsions and physic1 but we will find it to be just like a person with an undermined constitution1 it will linger along for a time subject to every disease that is in the air and at last some new and more subtle malady will1 in spite of our efforts1 close its earthly career4 ,kind readers1 ,i am in a position to know thoroughly whereof ,i write1 for ,i have been intimate for many years with the wild plants and with every shade of condition under which they manage to exist4 ,i have found them in the valley and at the hilltop1 in the tall timber and the brambled slashing1 but in each place were the necessary conditions of shade and mulch4 ,the experienced ,ginseng hunter comes to know by a kind of instinct just where he will find the plant and he does not waste time searching in unprofitable places4 ,it is because he understands its environment4 ,it is the environment he seeks--the ,ginseng is then already found4 ,the happy medium of condition under which it thrives best in the wild state form the process of healthy culture4 ,illustration3 ,one ,year's ,growth of ,ginseng ,under ,lattice ,shade4 ,mr4 ,wm ,e4 ,mowrer1 of ,missouri1 is evidently not in favor of the cloth shading4 ,i think if he had thoroughly water-proofed the cloth it would have withstood the action of the weather much better4 ,it would have admitted considerably less light and if he had given enough mulch to keep the soil properly cool and allowed space enough for ventilation1 he would not have found the method so disastrous4 ,we will not liken his trial to the potato patch1 but to the field where tobacco is started under canvas4 ,a tent is a cool place if it is open at the sides and has openings in the top and the larger the tent the cooler it will be4 ,ginseng does splendidly under a tent if the tent is built expressly with regard to the requirements of ,ginseng4 ,in point of cheapness a vine shading is yet ahead of the cloth system4 ,the wild cucumber vine is best for this purpose1 for it is exactly suited by nature to the conditions in a ,ginseng garden4 ,it is a native of moist1 shady places1 starts early1 climbs high and rapidly4 ,the seeds may be planted five or six in a hill in the middle of the beds1 if preferred1 at intervals of six or seven feet1 and the vines may be trained up a small pole to the arbor frame4 ,wires1 strings or boughs may be laid over the arbor frame for the vines to spread over4 ,if the shade becomes too dense some of the vines may be clipped off and will soon wither away4 ,another advantage of the wild cucumber is that it is very succulent1 taking an abundance of moisture and to a great extent guards against excessive dampness in the garden4 ,the vines take almost no strength from the soil4 ,the exceeding cheapness of this method is the great point in its favor4 ,it is better to plant a few too many seeds than not enough1 for it is easy to reduce the shade if too dense1 but difficult to increase it in the summer if too light4 99 99 99 ,this disease threatens seriously to handicap us in the raising of ,ginseng1 says a writer in ,special ,crops4 ,it does down1 but is giving us trouble all over the country4 ,no section seems to be immune from it1 tho all seem to be spraying more or less4 ,i know of several good growers whose gardens have gone down during the last season and this1 and they state that they began early and sprayed late1 but to no decided benefit4 ,what are we to do8 ,some claim to have perfect success with spraying as their supposed prevention4 ,three years ago ,i began to reason on this subject and in my rambles in the woods1 ,i have watched carefully for this disease1 as well as others on the wild plant1 and while ,i have now and then noted a wild plant that was not entirely healthy1 ,i have never seen any evidence of blight or other real serious disease4 ,the wild plant usually appears ideally healthy1 and while they are smaller than we grow in our gardens1 they are generally strikingly healthful in color and general appearance4 ,why is this so8 ,and why do we have such a reverse of things among our gardens8 ,i will offer my ideas on the subject and give my theories of the causes of the various diseases and believe that they are correct and time will prove it4 ,at least ,i hope these efforts of mine will be the means of helping some who are having so much trouble in the cultivation of ,ginseng4 ,the old saw that the proof of the pudding is in chewing the bag1 may be amply verified by a visit to my gardens to show how well my theories have worked so far4 ,i will show you ,ginseng growing in its highest state of perfection and not a scintilla of blight or any species of alternaria in either of them1 while around me ,i scarcely know of another healthy garden4 ,to begin with1 moisture is our greatest enemy2 heat next2 the two combined at the same time forming the chief cause for most diseases of the plant4 ,if the soil in our gardens could be kept only slightly moist1 as it is in the woods1 and properly shaded1 ventilated and mulched1 ,i am sure such a thing as blight and kindred diseases would never be known4 ,the reason for this lies in the fact that soil temperature is kept low and dry4 ,the roots1 as is well known1 go away down in the soil1 because the temperature lower down is cooler than at the surface4 ,here is where mulch plays so important a part because it protects the roots from so much heat that finds its way between the plants to the top of the beds4 ,the mulch acts as a blanket in keeping the heat out and protecting the roots thereby4 ,if any one doubts this1 just try to raise the plants without mulch1 and note how some disease will make its appearance4 ,the plant will stand considerable sun1 however1 with heavy enough mulch4 ,and the more sun it can take without harm1 the better the root growth will be4 ,too much shade will show in a spindling top and slender leaves1 and invariable smallness of root growth1 for1 let it be borne in mind always1 that the plant must derive more or less food from the top1 and it is here that the fungi in numerous forms proceed to attack4 ,the plant will not grow in any other atmosphere but one surcharged with all kinds of fungi4 ,this is the natural environment of the plant and the only reason why the plants do not all become diseased lies in the plain fact that its vitality is of such a high character that it can resist the disease1 hence the main thing in fighting disease is to obtain for the plant the best possible hygienic surroundings and feed it with the best possible food and thus nourish it to the highest vitality4 ,i am a firm believer in spraying of the proper kind1 but spraying will not keep a plant free from disease with other important conditions lacking4 ,spraying1 if heavily applied1 is known as a positive injury to the plant1 despite the fact that many claim it is not1 and the pity is we should have to resort to it in self-defense4 ,the pores of the leaflets are clogged up to a greater or less extent with the deposited solution and the plant is dependent to this extent of its power to breathe4 ,coat a few plants very heavily with spray early in the season and keep it on and note how the plants struggle thru the middle of a hot day to get their breath4 ,note that they have a sluggish appearance and are inclined to wilt4 ,these plants are weakened to a great extent and if an excess of moisture and heat can get to them1 they will perhaps die down4 ,another thing3 ,take a plant that is having a hard time to get along and disturb the root to some extent and in a day or two notice spots come upon it and the leaves begin to show a wilting4 ,vitality disturbed again4 ,illustration3 ,a ,healthy ,looking ,ginseng ,garden4 ,the finest plants ,i have ever found in the woods were growing about old logs and stumps1 where the soil was heavily enriched with decaying wood4 ,a good cool spot1 generally1 and more or less mulch1 and if not too much shade present4 ,where the shade was too dense the roots were always small4 ,i have in some instances found some very fine roots growing in the midst of an old stump with no other soil save the partially rotted stump dirt1 showing thus that ,ginseng likes decaying wood matter4 ,upon learning this1 ,i obtained several loads of old rotten sawdust1 preferably white oak or hickory and my bed in my gardens is covered at least two inches with it under the leaf mulch4 ,this acts as a mulch and natural food at one and the same time4 ,the leaves decay next to the soil and thus we supply leaf mold4 ,this leaf mold is a natural requirement of the plant and feeds it also constantly4 ,a few more leaves added each fall keep up the process and in this way we are keeping the plant wild1 which we must do to succeed with it1 for ,ginseng can not be greatly changed from its nature without suffering the consequences4 ,this is what is the matter now with so many of us4 ,let's go back to nature and stay there1 and disease will not give us so much trouble again4 ,one more chief item ,i forgot to mention was the crowding of the plants together4 ,the smaller plants get down under the larger and more vigorous and have a hard struggle for existence4 ,the roots do not make much progress under these conditions1 and these plants might as well not be left in the beds4 ,and also note that under those conditions the beds are badly ventilated and if any plants are found to be sickly they will be these kind4 ,i shall plant all my roots henceforth at least ten inches apart each way and give them more room for ventilation and nourishment4 ,they get more chance to grow and will undoubtedly make firm root development and pay largely better in the end4 ,corn cannot be successfully cultivated in rows much narrower than four feet apart and about two stalks to the hill4 ,all farmers know if the hills are closer and more stalks to the hill the yield will be much less4 ,at this point ,i would digress to call attention to the smallness of root development in the woods1 either wild or cultivated1 because the trees and tree roots sap so much substance from the soil and other weeds and plants help to do the same thing4 ,the shade is not of the right sort1 too dense or too sparse in places1 and the plants do not make quick growth enough to justify the growing under such conditions1 and while supposed to be better for health of plants1 does not always prove to be the case4 ,i have seen some gardens under forest shade that blighted as badly as any gardens4 ,so many speak of removing the leaves and mulch in the spring from the beds4 ,now1 this is absolutely wrong1 because the mulch and leaves keep the ground from becoming packed by rains1 preserves an even moisture thru the dry part of the season and equalizes the temperature4 ,temperature is as important as shade and the plants will do better with plenty of mulch and leaves on the beds and considerable sun than with no mulch1 dry hard beds and the ideal shade4 ,roots make but little growth in dry1 hard ground4 ,pull your weeds out by hand and protect your garden from the seng digger thru the summer and that will be your cultivation until ,september or ,october when you must transplant your young roots into permanent beds1 dig and dry the mature roots4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,diseases ,,of ,,ginseng4 ,the following is from an article on ,the ,alternaria ,blight of ,ginseng by ,h4 ,h4 ,whetzel1 of ,cornell ,university1 showing that the author is familiar with the subject3 ,susceptibility of ,ginseng to ,disease4 ,the pioneer growers of ,ginseng thought they had struck a bonanza4 ,here was a plant that seemed easily grown1 required little attention after it was once planted1 was apparently free from all diseases to which cultivated plants are heir and was1 besides1 extremely valuable4 ,their first few crops bore out this supposition4 ,no wonder that a ,ginseng craze broke out and that men sat up nights to figure out on paper the vast fortunes that were bound to accrue to those who planted a few hundred seeds at three cents each and sold the roots in five years at #ab4jj a pound4 ,like many other grow-wealthy-while-you-wait schemes1 nature herself imposed a veto4 ,diseases began to appear4 ,the prospective fortune shrunk1 frequently dried up and blew away or rotted and disappeared in the earth4 ,several factors contributed to this result3 #a4 ,the removal of a wild plant from its natural habitat to an entirely artificial one4 #b4 ,the encouragement by the application of manures and cultivation of a rapidity of growth to which the plant was by inheritance an entire stranger1 thus weakening its constitution and depriving it of its natural ability to withstand disease4 ,cultivated roots in three years from the seed attain greater size than they often would in twenty years in the woods4 #c4 ,the failure in many cases to provide conditions in any degree approximating the natural habitat1 as1 for example1 the failure to supply proper drainage that is in nature provided by the forest trees whose roots constantly remove the excess of rainfall4 ,illustration3 ,diseased ,ginseng ,plants4 #d4 ,the crowding of a large number of plants into a small area4 ,this1 in itself1 is more responsible for disease epidemics than perhaps any other factor4 ,of all the twelve or fifteen1 now more or less known1 diseases of this plant one in particular stands out as the disease of ,ginseng4 ,altho one of the latest to make its appearance1 it has in three or four years spread to nearly every garden in this state and its ravages have been most severe4 ,this disease is the well known ,alternaria ,blight4 ,the ,most ,common and ,destructive ,disease of ,ginseng4 ,the disease manifests itself in such a variety of ways1 depending upon the parts of the plant attacked1 that it is difficult to give a description by which it may always be identified4 ,it is usually the spotting of the foliage that first attracts the grower's attention4 ,if examined early in the morning the diseased spots are of a darker green color and watery as if scalded4 ,they dry rapidly1 becoming papery and of a light brown color1 definite in outline and very brittle4 ,with the return of moist conditions at night the disease spreads from the margin of the spot into the healthy tissue4 ,the disease progresses rapidly so that in a very few days the entire leaf succumbs1 wilts and hangs limp from the stalk4 ,if the weather is wet1 the progress of the disease is often astonishing1 an entire garden going down in a day or two4 ,under such conditions the leaves may show few or no spots becoming thruout of a dark watery green and drooping as if dashed with scalding water4 ,all parts of the top may be affected4 ,the disease never reaches the roots1 affecting them only indirectly4 ,cause of the ,disease4 ,the disease is the result of the growth of a parasitic fungus in the tissues of the ,ginseng4 ,this fungus is an ,alternaria 7species not yet determined7 as is at once evident from an examination of its spores4 ,these are in size and form much like those of the early ,blight ,alternaria of ,potato4 ,these spores falling upon any part of the plant above the ground will1 if moisture be present1 germinate very quickly1 sending out germ tubes which pierce the epidermis of the host4 ,these mycelium threads ramify thru the tissues of the leaf or stem as the case may be1 causing death of the cells4 ,from the mycelium that lies near or on the surface arise clusters or short brown stalks or conidiophores on the apex of which the spores are borne in short chains4 ,the spores mature quickly and are scattered to healthy plants1 resulting in new infections4 ,only one form of spores1 the conidial1 is at present known4 ,that the ,alternaria is a true parasite and the cause of the disease there can be no doubt4 ,the fungus is constantly associated with the disease4 ,inoculation experiments carried on in the botanical laboratory this summer show conclusively that the germ tube of the spore can penetrate the epidermis of healthy ,ginseng leaves and stems and by its growth in such healthy tissue cause the characteristic spots of the disease4 ,this is of special interest as it adds another to the list of parasitic species of genus long supposed to contain only saprophytes4 ,upon the general appearance of so destructive a disease1 one of the first questions of the growers was where did it come from8 ,believing that it was a natural enemy of the wild plant1 now grown over powerful under conditions highly unnatural to ,ginseng1 ,i undertook to find proof of my theory4 ,i visited a wooded hillside where wild ,ginseng was still known to exist4 ,after half a day's diligent search ,i obtained seventeen plants of different ages1 one of which showed spots of the ,blight4 ,examination with the microscope showed mycelium and spores of the ,alternaria4 ,unfortunately ,i did not get pure cultures of the fungus from this plant and so could not by cross inoculations demonstrate absolutely the identity of the ,alternaria on the wild plant with that of the cultivated4 ,so far1 however1 as character of the spots on the leaves1 size and form of the spores are concerned1 they are the same4 ,this1 ,i believe1 answers the question of the source of the disease4 ,introduced into gardens on wild plants brought from the woods1 it has spread rapidly under conditions most favorable to its development2 namely1 those pointed out in the earlier part of this paper4 ,the wind1 ,i believe1 is chiefly responsible for the dissemination of the spores which are very small and light4 ,not only does the wind carry the spores from plant to plant thruout the garden1 but no doubt frequently carries them for longer distances to gardens near by4 ,the spores are produced most abundantly under conditions favorable to such dissemination4 ,during moist1 cloudy weather the energies of the fungus are devoted to vegetative growth1 the spreading of the mycelium in the host tissues4 ,with the advent of bright sunny days and dry weather mycelium growth is checked and spore formation goes on rapidly4 ,these spores are distributed when dry and retain their vitality for a long period4 ,spores from dried specimens in the laboratory have been found to germinate after several months when placed in water4 ,the disease might also be very readily carried by spores clinging to the roots or seeds1 or possibly even by the mycelium in the seeds themselves4 ,the fungus very probably winters in the old leaves and stems or in the mulch1 living as a saprophyte and producing early in the spring a crop of spores from which the first infections occur4 ,summer ,history of the ,disease4 ,altho it is on the foliage that the disease first attracts the attention of the grower1 it is not here that it really makes its first appearance in the spring4 ,the stem is the first part of the plant to come thru the soil and it is the stem that is first affected4 ,the disease begins to show on the stems very shortly after they are thru the soil1 evident first as a rusty1 yellow spot usually a short distance above the surface of the soil or mulch4 ,the spot rapidly increases in size1 becomes brown and finally nearly black from the multitude of spores produced on its surface4 ,the tissue of the stem at the point of attack is killed and shrinks1 making a canker or rotten strip up the side of the stem4 ,such stems show well developed leaves and blossom heads giving no evidence of the disease beneath4 ,occasionally1 however1 the fungus weakens the stem so that it breaks over4 ,growers have occasionally observed this stem rot but have never connected it with the disease on the leaves later in the season4 ,illustration3 ,broken--,stem ,rot4 ,it is from the spores produced on these cankers on the stem that the leaves become infected4 ,the disease begins to appear on the leaves some time in ,july and by the middle of ,august there is usually little foliage alive4 ,infection frequently occurs at the point where the five leaflets are attached to the common petiole4 ,the short leaf stems are killed causing the otherwise healthy leaflets to droop and wilt4 ,this manifestation of the disease has not generally been attributed to the ,alternaria4 ,the seedlings are frequently affected in the same way causing what is sometimes known as the top blight of seedlings4 ,from the diseased leaves and stems the spores of the fungus find their way to the seed heads which at this time are rapidly filling out by the growth of the berries4 ,the compact seed heads readily retain moisture1 furnishing most favorable conditions for the germination of any spores that find their way into the center of the head4 ,that this is the usual course of seed head infection is shown by the fact that it is the base of the berry on which the spots start4 ,these spots1 of a rusty yellow color1 gradually spread all over the seed which finally becomes shriveled and of a dark brown or black color4 ,spores in abundance are formed on the diseased berries4 ,affected berries shell from the head at the slightest touch4 ,this manifestation of the disease has long been known as seed blast4 ,if the berries have begun to color the injury from the disease will probably be very slight4 ,the blasting of the green berries1 however1 will undoubtedly reduce or destroy the vitality of the seed4 ,there is a strong probability that the fungus may be carried over in or on the seed4 ,illustration3 ,end ,root ,rot of ,seedlings4 ,the roots are only indirectly affected by this disease4 ,the fungus never penetrates to them4 ,roots from diseased tops will grow perfectly normal and healthy plants the following season4 ,it is in the leaves of the plant that practically all of the substance of the root is made4 ,the bulk of this substance is starch4 ,the destruction of the foliage1 the manufacturing part of the plant1 long before it would normally die means of course some reduction in the growth and starch content of the root4 ,however1 it seems probable that the greater portion of root growth is made before the blight attacks the foliage4 ,this seems borne out by the fact that even blighted seedlings usually show nearly as good growth and bud development as those not blighted4 ,in the case of older plants this is probably much more true as the latter part of the season is devoted largely to growing and maturing the berries4 ,the ,alternaria blight is dreaded chiefly because of its destructive effects on the seed crop4 ,preventive4 ,the first experimental work on the control of this disease so far as ,i know1 was carried out by ,dr4 ,i4 ,c4 ,curtis of ,fulton1 ,n4 ,y4 ,having suffered the total loss of foliage and seed crop during the season of #aijd1 ,dr4 ,curtis determined to test the efficacy of the ,bordeaux mixture the following season as a preventive of the blight4 ,the success of his work1 together with this method of making and applying the mixture is given by him in ,special ,crops for ,january1 #aijf4 ,extensive experiments in spraying were carried out during the past season by the ,ginseng ,company at ,rose ,hill1 ,n4 ,y41 under the direction of the writer4 ,during #aije their entire seed crop was completely destroyed by the blight4 ,losses from the same disease the previous season had been very heavy4 ,during #aije they had succeeded in saving a very large proportion of their seedlings by spraying them with the ,bordeaux mixture4 ,encouraged by this they began spraying early in the spring of #aijf1 just when the plant began to come thru the ground4 ,this was repeated nearly every week during the season1 the entire ten acres being sprayed each time4 ,on account of poor equipment the earlier sprayings were not as thoroughly done as they should have been1 and some disease appeared on the stalks here and there thruout the gardens4 ,a new pump and nozzles were soon installed and all parts of the plant completely covered4 ,practically no blight ever appeared on the foliage4 ,there was some loss from blast of seed heads due to a failure to spray the seed heads thoroughly while they were filling out4 ,the seed heads ,were doubtless infected from the diseased stalks that had not been removed from the garden4 ,a very large seed crop was harvested4 ,the formula of the ,bordeaux used at ,rose ,hill was about #d-f-dj1 to each one hundred gallons of which was added a sticker made as follows3 ,two pounds resin4 ,one pound sal soda 7,crystals74 ,one gallon water4 ,boiled together in an iron kettle until of a clear brown color4 ,it is probable that more applications of ,bordeaux were given than was necessary1 especially during the middle part of the season when little new growth was being made4 ,from these experiments it is evident that the problem of the control of the ,alternaria ,blight of ,ginseng has been solved4 ,thorough spraying with ,bordeaux mixture begun when the plants first come thru the ground and repeated often enough to keep all new growths covered1 will insure immunity from the blight4 ,thoroughness is the chief factor in the success of this treatment4 ,it is1 however1 useless to begin spraying after the disease has begun to appear on the foliage4 99 99 99 ,to the ,president and ,members of the ,missouri ,state ,ginseng ,growers' ,association4 ,gentlemen--,in response to a request from your secretary1 ,i was sent early in ,august to investigate your ,ginseng gardens1 and1 if possible1 to give some help in checking a destructive disease which had recently appeared and had in a short time ruined much of the crop4 ,thru the aid of some of your association1 at the time of my visit to ,houston1 and since that time1 ,i have been furnished with valuable data and specimens of diseased plants4 ,the summer of #aijd was marked by a very abundant rainfall4 ,the shade of the arbors kept the soil beneath them moist1 if not wet1 for several weeks at a time4 ,this moist soil1 rich in humus and other organic substances1 formed an exceedingly favorable place for the growth of fungi4 ,gardens under dense shade with poor drainage1 suffered the greatest loss4 ,all ages of plants were attacked and seemed to suffer alike1 if the conditions were favorable for the growth of fungi4 ,symptoms of ,disease and ,nature of the ,injury4 ,between the first and the fifteenth of ,may black spots having the appearance of scars appeared on the stems of the ,ginseng plants4 ,all ages of plants were attacked4 ,the scars increased in number and grew in size1 sometimes encircling the stem4 ,the first indication of injury was seen when one leaflet after another turned brown2 from them the disease spread down the petiole to the main stalk4 ,other stalks were attacked so badly that they broke off and fell over before the upper portions had even become withered4 ,after the loss of the top from this disease the crown of the root was liable to be attacked by fungi or bacteria1 causing decay4 ,i found little of this in the gardens at ,houston4 ,the greatest loss caused by this disease lies in the destruction of the seed crop4 ,i have succeeded in isolating and studying the fungus which causes this disease4 ,the fungus belongs to the genus ,vermicularia and occurs on a number of our common herbaceous plants4 ,i found it near ,columbia this autumn on the ,indian turnip4 ,the fungus lives beneath the epidermis of the ,ginseng plant2 breaking the epidermis to form the black scars in which the spores1 or reproductive bodies1 are produced4 ,the spores when ripe are capable of germinating and infecting other plants4 ,treatment4 ,fortunately this disease can be effectually checked by the use of ,bordeaux spraying mixture4 ,damping-off ,disease4 ,another source of loss was in the damping-off of young plants4 ,the fungus which causes this disease lives in the surface layer of the soil and girdles the plants at the surface layer of the ground1 causing them to wilt and fall over4 ,the trouble can be largely avoided by proper drainage and stirring the surface layer1 thus aerating and drying the soil4 ,the ,wilt ,disease4 ,by far the most destructive and dangerous disease remains to be described4 ,it made its appearance about the first week in ,july1 causing the leaves to turn yellow and dry up2 the seed stem and berries also dried up and died before reaching maturity4 ,this was the disease which caused the greatest loss2 whole plantations often being destroyed in a week4 ,neither the ,bordeaux spraying mixture nor lime dust seemed to check its ravages4 ,i have succeeded in isolating the fungus which is the cause of this destructive disease and have grown it in the laboratory in pure cultures for nearly five months4 ,cultures were made by scraping the dark spots on diseased stems with a sterile needle and inoculating sterilized bean pods or plugs of potato with the spores scraped from the stem4 ,in two or three days a white1 fluffy growth appears on the bean pod which rapidly spreads until it is covered with a growth which resembles a luxuriant mould4 ,i have also isolated this fungus and made cultures from the soil taken from diseased beds4 ,the fungus belongs to the genus ,fusarium and is probably identical with the fungus which is so destructive in causing the wilt of cotton1 watermelon and cowpeas1 and which has been carefully studied by ,smith and ,orton of the ,united ,states ,department of ,agriculture4 ,treatment4 ,it will be seen from this brief description of the fungus that it is an exceedingly difficult disease to combat4 ,living from year to year in the soil it enters the plants thru the roots and spreads upward thru the water-conducting channels4 ,it does not once appear on the surface until the plant is beyond recovery4 ,obviously we cannot apply any substance to kill the fungus without first killing the plant it infests4 ,there is but one conclusion to be drawn1 viz43 ,that application of fungicides will not prevent the wilt disease4 ,there are1 however1 two methods of procedure in combating the disease3 ,first1 the use of precautions against allowing the fungus to get started2 second1 the selection and breeding of varieties which will withstand the disease4 ,from the very first the arbor should be kept free from all possible infection by the wilt fungus4 ,gardens should be small and located some little distance apart1 then if one becomes infected with the disease it can be taken up before the disease infests a larger territory4 ,if the roots have reached merchantable size they had best be dried and sold1 since they are likely to carry the disease when transplanted4 ,if they are transplanted they should be carefully cleaned and reset without bruising4 ,proper drainage is very necessary for a successful ,ginseng garden4 ,it is advisable to locate the garden on a gentle slope if possible4 ,in all cases the ground should be well drained4 ,the belief of many that the death of the ,ginseng was due to the wet season was without foundation1 because the fungus develops best in soil which is continually moist and shady4 ,this also accounts for the well-known fact that all rots1 mildews and rusts are worse in a rainy season than in a dry one4 ,illustration3 ,the ,beginning of ,soft ,rot4 ,ample ventilation must also be provided in building the arbor4 ,many arbors are enclosed at the sides too tightly4 ,the material used for mulching should be of a sort which will not contaminate the garden with disease4 ,some fungi will be killed if the ground is allowed to freeze before putting on the mulch4 ,the second and1 to my mind1 most promising mode of procedure lies in propagating a variety of ,ginseng which will be resistant to the wilt disease4 ,in every garden1 no matter how badly diseased1 there are certain plants which live thru the attacks of the disease and ripen seeds4 ,these seeds should be saved and planted separately1 the hardiest of their offspring should be used to propagate seeds for future planting4 ,by thus selecting the hardiest individuals year after year it will be possible in time to originate a variety of parasitic fungi4 ,there seems to me to be more hope in developing such a resistant variety of ,ginseng than in discovering some fungicide to keep the disease in check4 ,bordeaux ,mixture4 ,it is surprising that any considerable number of farmers1 horticulturists1 ,ginseng growers1 etc41 are ignorant of a preparation so necessary as ,bordeaux for profitable cultivation of many crops4 ,the following is taken from ,bulletin #aid of the ,new ,jersey ,agricultural ,experiment ,station4 ,the advice given in this paper recently by ,professor ,craig is repeated and emphasized4 ,every farmer should have the bulletins issued by the experiment station of his own state and have them within easy reach at all times4 ,bordeaux mixture derives its name from the place of its discovery1 ,bordeaux1 ,france4 ,it consists of copper sulfate1 which is commonly called blue vitriol or bluestone1 fresh lime and water4 ,formulas used--,several strengths of the mixture are used under different conditions3 #a4 7#b3d3ej7 ,copper ,sulfate #b lbs4 ,quick ,lime #d ,water #ej gals4 #b4 7#c3f3ej7 ,copper ,sulfate #c lbs4 ,quick ,lime #f ,water #ej gals4 #c4 7#d3d3ej7 ,copper ,sulfate #d lbs4 ,quick ,lime #d ,water #ej gals4 #d4 7#f3f3ej7 ,copper ,sulfate #f lbs4 ,quick ,lime #f ,water #ej gals4 ,formula #a is used for very tender foliage1 as peach1 plum1 greenhouse plants1 tender seedlings1 etc4 ,formula #b which is a half stronger than the preceding has about the same use but for slightly less tender leaves4 ,formula #c is the formula for general use on apples1 pears1 asparagus1 grapes1 tomatoes1 melons1 strawberries1 etc4 ,formula #d is the strongest formula that is often used4 ,it is considered best for potatoes and cranberries4 ,it may be used on grapes1 on apples and pears before blossoming and sometimes on other crops4 ,it was once more commonly used1 but1 except as here quoted1 it is generally being displaced by ,formula #c4 99 99 99 ,normal or #a4f per cent4 ,bordeaux mixture3 ,copper-sulfate 7,blue ,vitriol7 #f pounds ,quick-lime 7,good stone lime7 #d ,water #ej gallons ,six pounds of sulfate of copper dissolved in fifty gallons of water1 when applied at the proper time1 will prevent the growth of fungi4 ,however1 if applied in this form1 the solution will burn the foliage4 ,four pounds of quick-lime to six pounds of copper will neutralize the caustic action4 ,when sulfate of copper and lime are added in this proportion1 the compound is ,bordeaux mixture4 ,weighing of copper and lime at time of mixing is very inconvenient4 ,bordeaux mixture is best when used within a few hours after being mixed4 ,therefore a stock mixture of ,bordeaux is impracticable4 ,it is1 however1 practicable to have stock preparation of sulfate of copper and of lime ready for mixing when required4 ,the lime should be fresh quick-lime and when slaked must always be covered with water to exclude the air4 ,in this manner a stock mixture of lime can be kept all summer unimpaired4 ,sulfate of copper can be dissolved in water and held in solution until needed4 ,one gallon of water will hold in solution two pounds of copper sulfate4 ,to accomplish this the sulfate should be suspended at the surface of the water in a bag4 ,the water most loaded with copper will sink to the bottom and the water least loaded will rise to the surface4 ,if fifty pounds of sulfate are suspended in twenty-five gallons of water on an evening1 each gallon of water will1 when stirred the next morning1 hold two pounds of sulfate4 ,this will form the stock solution of copper sulfate4 ,if three gallons of this solution are put in the spray barrel1 it is equivalent to six pounds of copper4 ,now fill the spray barrel half full of water before adding any lime4 ,this is important for if the lime is added to so strong a solution of sulfate of copper1 a curdling process will follow4 ,stir the water in the lime barrel so as to make a dilute milk of lime1 but never allow it to be dense enough to be of a creamy thickness4 ,if of the latter condition1 lumps of lime will clog the spray nozzle4 ,continue to add to the mixture this milk of lime so long as drops of ferrocyanide of potassium 7yellow prussiate of potash7 applied to the ,bordeaux mixture continue to change from yellow to brown color4 ,when no change of color is shown1 add another pail of milk of lime to make the necessary amount of lime a sure thing4 ,a considerable excess of lime does no harm4 ,the barrel can now be filled with water and the ,bordeaux mixture is ready for use4 ,the preparation of ferrocyanide of potassium for this test may be explained4 ,as bought at the drug store1 it is a yellow crystal and is easily soluble in water4 ,ten cents worth will do for a season's spraying of an average orchard4 ,it should be a full saturation2 that is1 use only enough water to dissolve all the crystals4 ,the cork should be notched or a quill inserted so that the contents will come out in drops4 ,a drop will give as reliable a test as a spoonful4 ,the bottle should be marked ,poison4 ,dip out a little of the ,bordeaux mixture in a cup or saucer and drop the ferrocyanide on it4 ,so long as the drops turn yellow or brown on striking the mixture1 the mixture has not received enough lime4 ,process ,lime for ,bordeaux ,mixture4 ,the so-called new process1 or prepared limes1 now offered on the market1 are of two classes4 ,one consists of the quick-lime that has been ground to a powder4 ,the other is the dry water-slaked lime made by using only enough water to slake the quick-lime1 but not enough to leave it wet4 ,practically all of the process lime on the market is the ground quick-lime4 ,when the hard stone lime becomes air-slaked it is evident to the eye from the change to a loose powdery mass4 ,should one of these prepared limes be to any considerable degree air-slaked1 its appearance would be no indication of its real condition4 ,a simple test for the presence of much carbonate of lime in these prepared limes1 can be easily performed1 a small amount of lime--#a_/d teaspoonful--dropped on a little hot vinegar1 will effervesce or sizzle if it contain the carbonate of lime1 acting about the same as soda4 ,a sample of a new process lime analyzed at this ,station showed #cj per cent1 magnesia4 ,this came from burning a dolomitic limestone1 that is1 one containing carbonate of magnesia with the carbonate of lime4 ,the magnesia does not slake with water like the lime and hence is useless in the ,bordeaux mixture4 ,there is no easy way outside a chemical laboratory of telling the presence of magnesia4 ,as a general rule more process lime is required to neutralize the copper sulfate than good stone lime4 ,it is always well to make ,bordeaux mixture by using the ferrocyanide of potassium test--,cornell ,university4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,marketing ,,and ,,prices4 ,preparing ,dry ,root for ,market--,there are more growers of ,ginseng1 ,i believe1 according to ,special ,crops1 who are not fully posted on handling ,ginseng root after it is harvested than there are who fail at any point in growing it1 unless it may be in the matter of spraying4 ,there are still many growers who have never dried any roots1 and of course know nothing more than has been told them4 ,stanton1 ,crossley and others of the pioneers state freely in their writings that three pounds of green root 7fall dug7 would make one pound of dry4 ,the market does not want a light1 corky1 spongy root1 neither does it want a root that1 when dried1 will weigh like a stone4 ,root when offered to a dealer should be absolutely dry1 not even any moisture in the center of the root4 ,root that is absolutely dry will1 in warm1 damp weather1 collect moisture enough so it will have to be given a day's sun bath or subjected to artificial heat4 ,a root should be so dry that it will not bend4 ,a root the size of a lead pencil should break short like a piece of glass4 ,you ask why this special care to have ,ginseng root dry to the last particle of moisture more than any other root4 ,the answer is that ,ginseng has to cross the ocean and to insure against its getting musty when sealed up to keep it from the air1 it must be perfectly dry4 ,we know a great many growers have felt hurt because a dealer docked them for moisture1 but they should put themselves in the dealer's place4 ,when he disposes of the root it must be perfectly dry4 ,at from #e4jj to #aj4jj per pound moisture is rather expensive4 ,the grower should see to it that his root is dry and then instruct the man he ships to that you will stand no cutting4 ,illustration3 ,dug and ,dried--,ready for ,market4 ,one other cause of trouble between grower and dealer is fiber root4 ,this light1 fine stuff is almost universally bought and sold at #a4jj per pound4 ,this seems to be the only stationary thing about ,ginseng4 ,it would seem that the fine root could be used in this country for ,ginseng tincture1 but it is not so strong as the regular root1 and our chemists prefer the large cultivated root at #e4jj to #g4jj a pound4 ,now1 when your ,ginseng root is dry as a bone1 stir it around or handle it over two or three times1 and in doing so you will knock off all the little1 fine roots4 ,this is what goes in the market as fiber root and should be gathered and put in a separate package4 ,as ,i said before this fiber root is worth #a4jj per pound and usually passes right along year after year at that same price4 ,now as to color4 ,it is impossible to tell just now what color the market will demand4 ,we advise medium4 ,we do not think the extreme dark will be as much sought for as formerly2 neither do we think the snow white will be in demand4 ,now1 you can give your ,ginseng any color you desire4 ,if you want to dry it white1 wash it thoroughly as soon as you dig it4 ,this does not mean two or three hours after being dug1 but wash it at once4 ,if you want a very dark root1 dig it and spread on some floor and leave it as long as you can without the fiber roots breaking4 ,this will usually be from three to five days4 ,in washing we prefer to put it on the floor and turn a hose on it1 and if you have a good pressure you will not need to touch the root with the hands4 ,in any case do not scrub and scour the root4 ,just get the dirt off and stop4 ,about one day after digging the root should be washed if a medium colored root is desired4 ,after your root is washed ready to dry there is still a half dozen ways of drying4 ,many prefer an upper room in the house for small lots4 ,spread the root on a table or bench about as high as the window stool4 ,then give it lots of air4 ,another good method is to subject it to a moderate artificial heat--from #fj to #ij degrees4 ,we have seen some very nice samples of dry root where the drying was all done on the roof of some building1 where it was exposed to the sun and dew1 but was protected from rain4 ,the slower the drying the darker the root4 ,many suppose it is a difficult task to properly dry the ,ginseng root1 but it is not4 ,the one essential is time4 ,the operation cannot be fully and properly completed in much less than one month's time4 ,of course it should be dried fast enough so it will not sour1 rot or mould4 ,if you take a look at the root every day you can readily see if it is going too slow and1 if you find it is1 at once use artificial heat for a few hours or days if need be4 ,no diseased or unsound root should ever be dried4 ,after the root is once dry it should be stored in dry place4 ,early fall generally is a poor time to sell as the ,chinese exporters usually crowd the price down at that time4 ,in the ,southern ,states artificial heat is seldom needed as the weather is usually warm enough to cure the roots about as they should be4 ,in the ,northern ,states1 such as ,minnesota1 ,wisconsin1 ,michigan1 ,new ,york and ,new ,england ,states1 cold and frosty nights and chilly days usually come in ,october1 and sometimes in ,september1 so that artificial heat is generally required to properly dry fall dug roots4 ,the statistics as published were compiled by ,belt1 ,butler ,co41 buyers of ,ginseng1 #adj ,greene ,st41 ,new ,york3 ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #ahhf1 #a4ij ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #ahhg1 #b4aj ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #ahhh1 #b4cj ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #ahhi1 #b4he ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #ahij1 #c4dj ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #ahia1 #c4dj ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #ahib1 #c4jj ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #ahic1 #c4jj ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #ahid1 #c4ej ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #ahie1 #c4be ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #ahif1 #d4aj ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #ahig1 #c4be ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #ahih1 #d4jj ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #ahii1 #f4jj ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #aijj1 #e4jj ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #aija1 #e4ej ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #aijb1 #e4aj ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #aijc1 #f4bj ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #aijd1 #g4dj ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #aije1 #g4jj ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #aijf1 #g4jj ,average prices for wild ,ginseng1 ,sept4 #ast1 #aijg1 #g4jj ,the prices as published1 it will be noticed1 were average prices paid for wild ,ginseng ,september #a of each year4 ,wild ,ginseng has usually sold higher in the season1 say ,october and ,november4 ,late in the season of #aijd it sold for #h4ej for good ,northern root1 which we believe was the top notch for average lots4 ,from #ahfj to #ahfe1 ,ginseng ranged from #ff;c to #he;c per lb41 and from that period until #ahii it gradually increased in price until in ,september of that year it brought from #c4ej to #f4ej per lb41 according to price and quality4 ,in #aijj prices ruled from #c4jj to #e4ge per lb41 but this was due to the war then existing in ,china which completely demoralized the market4 ,in #aija prices ranged from #c4ge to #g4be #aijb prices ranged from #c4ej to #f4be #aijc prices ranged from #d4ge to #g4ej #aijd prices ranged from #e4ej to #h4jj #aije prices ranged from #e4ej to #g4ej #aijf prices ranged from #e4ge to #g4ej #aijg prices ranged from #e4ge to #g4be ,these prices cover the range from ,southern to best ,northern root4 ,the above information was furnished from the files of ,samuel ,wells ,co41 ,cincinnati1 ,ohio1 the firm which has been in the seng business for more than half a century4 99 99 99 ,u4 ,s4 ,,government ,,reports4 ,year ,pounds ,average price exported4 per lb4 #aheh #cff1jee 4#eb #ahfh #cgj1jff #a4jb #ahgh #dba1cie #a4ag #ahhh #cjh1cfe #b4ac #ahih #agd1jfc #c4ff #aija #adi1jfi #e4cj 99 99 99 ,export of ,ginseng for ten months ending ,april1 #aijh1 was #add1ecc pounds1 valued at #a1jdi1gcf1 against #ib1fej1 valued at #fcd1ebc1 for ten months ending ,april1 #aijg1 and #aea1ahh pounds1 valued at #a1ajf1edd for ten months ending ,april1 #aijf4 ,since #aheh ,ginseng has advanced from #eb cents a pound to #h4jj in #aijg for choice lots1 an advance of #adjj4 ,in ,september1 #ahca1 ,ginseng was quoted to the collector at #ae to #af cents per pound4 ,in the first place1 practically all the ,ginseng grown or collected from the woods in this country is exported1 nearly all of it going to ,china1 where it is used for medicinal purposes4 ,the following figures are taken from the advanced sheets of the ,monthly ,summary of ,commerce and ,finance issued by the ,united ,states ,department of ,commerce and ,labor4 ,in the advanced sheets for ,june1 #aijf1 we find under exports of ,domestic ,merchandise the following item3 ,twelve ,months ,ending ,june4 ,ginseng lbs4 #aijd #aca1hhb #hea1hbj #aije #adf1ehf #a1jfi1hdi #aijf #afj1iei #a1age1hdd ,from these figures it is clear that the ,ginseng crop is of considerable proportions and steadily increasing4 ,it is classed with chemicals1 drugs1 dyes and medicines and is in its class equaled or exceeded in value by only three things3 copper sulphate1 acetate of lime and patent medicines4 ,these figures include1 of course1 both the wild and cultivated root4 ,a little investigation1 however1 will soon convince any one that the genuine wild root has formed but a small portion of that exported in the last three years4 ,this is for the very good reason that there is practically no wild root to be found4 ,it has been all but exterminated by the seng digger1 who has carefully searched every wooded hillside and ravine to meet the demand of the last few years for green roots for planting4 ,practically all of the ,ginseng now exported will of necessity be cultivated4 ,of all the ,ginseng exported from this country1 ,new ,york ,state very probably supplies the greater part4 ,it was in that state that the cultivation of the plant originated and it is there that the culture has become most extensive and perfected4 ,the largest garden in this country1 so far as known1 is that of the ,consolidated ,ginseng ,company of ,new ,york ,state4 ,here about ten acres are under shade1 all devoted to the growing of ,ginseng4 ,the crop is certainly a special one1 to be successfully grown only by those who can bring to their work an abundance of time and intelligent effort4 ,for those who are willing to run the risks of loss from diseases and who can afford to wait for returns on their investment1 this crop offers relatively large profits4 ,illustration3 ,a ,three ,year ,old ,cultivated ,root4 ,it is very simple to prepare a few wild roots for market4 ,wash them thoroughly1 this ,i do with a tooth or nail brush1 ,writes a ,northern grower1 as they will remove the dirt from the creases without injury4 ,only a few roots should be put in the water at once as it does not benefit them to soak4 ,i have usually dried wild roots in the sun1 which is the best way1 but never put roots in the hot sun before the outside is dry1 as they are apt to rot4 ,the cultivated root is more difficult to handle4 ,they are cleaned the same as wild roots4 ,on account of size and quality they have to be dried differently4 ,my first cultivated roots were dried around the cook stove1 which will answer for a few roots1 providing the lady of the house is good natured4 ,last year ,i dried about #ejj pounds of green roots and so had to find something different4 ,i made a drier similar to ,mr4 ,stanton's plan1 i4 e41 a box any size to suit the amount of roots you wish to dry4 ,the one ,i made is about two feet by two and a half feet and two and one-half feet high1 with one side open for the drawers to be taken out4 ,the drawers are made with screen wire for bottom4 ,they should be at least two inches deep and two and one-half inches would be better4 ,i bored a three-fourth-inch hole in the top a little ways from each corner and five in the center in about ten inches square1 but now ,i have taken the top off1 as ,i find they dry better4 ,i started this on the cook stove1 but did not like it as ,i could not control the heat4 ,as ,i had two ,blue ,flame oil stoves ,i tried it over one of them and it worked fine4 ,they were three-hole stoves1 so ,i laid a board across each end for the drier to rest on4 ,the drier has a large nail driven in each corner of the bottom so that it was four inches above the stove4 ,then ,i fixed a piece of galvanized iron about #ajx#bj inches so that it was about two inches above top of stove1 for the heat to strike against and not burn the roots4 ,at first ,i left out two of the lower drawers for fear of burning them4 ,i only used the middle burner--and that turned quite low4 ,i tried the flame with my hand between the stove and roots so as not to get it too high4 ,in this way ,i could get a slow heat and no danger of burning1 which is the main trouble with drying by stove4 ,it would take from two to four days to dry them1 according to size4 ,as soon as they were dried they were put in open boxes so if there was any moisture it could dry out and not mould1 which they will do if closed up tight4 ,in using an oil stove one should be used that will not smoke4 ,never set the roots over when the stove is first lighted and they should be removed before turning the flame out1 as they are apt to get smoked4 ,do not set stove in a draft4 ,in packing the dry root in boxes ,i break off the fine fiber1 then they are ready for market4 ,some time prior to #aijg1 or since cultivated ,ginseng has been upon the market1 its value has been from #a4jj to #b4jj per pound less than the wild and not in as active demand1 even at that difference1 as the wild4 ,today the value is much nearer equal4 ,at first those engaged in the cultivation of ,ginseng made the soil too rich by fertilizing and growth of the roots was so rapid that they did not contain the peculiar scent or odor of the genuine or wild4 ,of late years growers have learned to provide their plants with soil and surroundings as near like nature as possible4 ,to this can largely be attributed the change4 ,preparing the ,roots for ,market4 ,the roots are dug in the autumn1 after the tops have died4 ,great care is taken not to bruise or injure them4 ,they are then washed in rain water1 the soil from all crevices and cracks being carefully cleaned away by a soft brush4 ,then they are wiped on a soft absorbent cloth1 and are ready to be dried for market4 ,the roots should never be split in washing or drying4 ,it is of great importance1 too1 that the little neck or bud-stem should be unbroken1 for if missing the root loses two-thirds of its value in ,chinese eyes4 ,the roots may be dried in the sun or in a warm1 dry room1 but never over a stove or fire4 ,some growers have a special drier and use hot air very much on the principle of an evaporator4 ,this does the work quickly and satisfactorily4 ,as soon as the little fibrous roots are dry enough1 they arc either clipped off or rubbed away by hand1 and the root returned to the drier to be finished4 ,the more quickly the roots are dried the better1 if not too much heated4 ,much of the value of the product depends on the manner in which it is cured4 ,this method is the one usually employed in ,america1 but the ,chinese prepare the root in various ways not as yet very well understood in the ,united ,states4 ,their preparation undoubtedly adds to the value of the product with the consumer4 ,importance of ,taste and ,flavor4 ,soils and fertilizers have a marked influence on products where taste and flavor is important1 as with tobacco1 coffee1 tea1 certain fruits1 etc4 ,this is true of ,ginseng in a very marked degree4 ,to preserve the flavor which marks the best grade of ,ginseng1 by which the ,chinese judge it1 it is essential that the soil in the beds should be as near like the original native forest as possible4 ,woods earth and leaf mold should be used in liberal quantities4 ,hardwood ashes and some little bone meal may be added1 but other fertilizers are best avoided to be on the safe side4 ,when the chief facts of ,ginseng culture had been ascertained1 it naturally followed that some growers attempted to grow the biggest1 heaviest roots possible in the shortest time1 and hence fertilized their beds with strong1 forcing manures1 entirely overlooking the question of taste or flavor4 ,when these roots were placed on the market the ,chinese buyers promptly rejected them or took them at very low prices on account of defective quality4 ,this question of flavor was a new problem to ,american buyers1 for the reason stated and one which they were not prepared to meet at a moment's notice4 ,hence there has been a tendency with some exporters to be shy of all cultivated roots 7fearing to get some of these off quality lots7 until they were in position to test for flavor or taste by expert testers1 as is done with wines1 teas1 coffees1 tobaccos and other products where flavor is essential4 ,this mistake led to the belief with some that the cultivated root is less valuable than the wild1 but the very reverse is true4 ,it has been proven by the fact that until these off quality lots appeared to disturb the market and shake confidence for the time being1 cultivated roots have always commanded a much better price per pound than uncultivated4 ,the grower who freely uses soil from the forest and lets forcing fertilizers severely alone1 has nothing to fear from defective quality1 and will always command a good price for his product4 ,ginseng should only be dug for the market late in the fall4 ,in the spring and summer the plant is growing and the root is taxed to supply the required nutriment4 ,after the plant stops growing for the season the root becomes firm and will not dry out as much as earlier in the season4 ,it takes four to five pounds of the green root early in the season to make one of dry2 later three green will make one of dry4 ,in the ,ginseng1 like many other trades1 there are tricks4 ,in some sections they practice hollowing out roots while green and filling the cavity with lead or iron4 ,when ,ginseng is worth four or five dollars per pound and lead or iron only a few cents1 the profit from this nefarious business can be seen4 ,the buyers have got on to the practice1 however1 and any large roots that appear too heavy are examined4 ,the filling of roots with lead1 etc41 has about had its day4 ,seng should be dug and washed clean before it wilts or shrinks2 it should then be dried in the shade where the dust and dirt cannot reach it and should not be strung on strings4 ,the roots should be handled carefully so as not to break them up1 the more fiber the less the value1 as well as size which helps to determine the value4 ,the collecting of the root for the market by the local dealer has its charm2 at least one would think so1 to see how eagerly it is sought after by the collector1 who often finds when he has enough for a shipment that he faces a loss instead of a profit4 ,the continual decrease in the annual output of the root should produce a steadily advancing market4 ,the price does advance from year to year1 but the variation in the price of silver and the scheming of the ,chinamen produces crazy spurts in the price of the root4 ,present prices are rather above average1 but little can be predicted about future conditions4 ,chinese conservatism1 however1 leads us to believe present prices will continue4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,letters ,,from ,,growers4 ,the culture of ,ginseng has a pioneer or two located in this part of the country 7,n4 ,ohio71 and having one-fourth of an acre under cultivation myself1 it was with interest that ,i visited some of these growers and the fabulous reports we have been reading have not been much exaggerated1 in my estimation1 but let me say right here they are not succeeding with their acres as they did with their little patch in the garden4 ,one party gathered #be pounds of seed from a bed #djx#ej feet last season1 and has contracted #cj pounds of the seed at #cf per pound1 which he intends to gather from this bed this season4 ,he then intends to dig it1 and ,i will try to get the facts for this magazine4 ,now1 to my own experience4 ,i planted three hundred roots in the fall of '#ii4 ,the following season from the lack of sufficient shade they failed to produce any seed2 ,i should have had two or three thousand seed4 ,understand1 these were wild roots just as they were gathered from the forest4 ,in #aija ,i gathered about one pound or #h1jjj seed1 in #aijb three pounds and am expecting #cj1jjj seed from these #cjj plants this season4 ,last season ,i gathered #afj seed from one of these plants and #bjj seed bunches are not uncommon for cultivated roots to produce at their best4 ,i have dug no roots for market yet1 as there has been too great a demand for the seed4 ,my one-fourth acre was mostly planted last season1 and is looking very favorable at the present time4 ,it is planted in beds #acj feet long and #e feet wide2 the beds are ridged up with a path and ditch #b feet across from plant to plant1 making the beds1 including the paths1 #g feet wide4 ,beds arranged in this manner with the posts that support the shade set in the middle of the beds are very convenient to work in1 as you do not have to walk in the beds1 all the work being done from the paths4 ,my soil is a clay loam and it was necessary for me to place a row of tile directly under one bed2 this bed contains #a1jjj plants and has been planted two years1 and ,i find the tile a protection against either dry or wet weather2 ,i shall treat all beds in a like manner hereafter4 ,if you are thinking of going into the ,ginseng business and your soil is sand or gravel1 your chances for success are good2 if your soil is clay1 build your beds near large trees on dry ground or tile them and you will come out all right4 ,in regard to the over-production of this article1 would say that dry ,ginseng root is not perishable1 it will keep indefinitely and the producers of this article will not be liable to furnish it to the ,chinaman only as he wants it at a fair market price4 ,w4 ,c4 ,sorter1 ,lake ,county1 ,ohio4 99 99 99 ,even in this thickly settled country1 ,i have been able to make more money digging ,ginseng than by trapping1 and ,i believe that most trappers could do the same if they became experts at detecting the wild plant in its native haunts4 ,i have enjoyed hunting and trapping ever since ,i could carry a firearm with any degree of safety to myself1 and have tramped thru woods full of ,ginseng and ,golden ,seal for twenty years1 without knowing it4 ,three years ago last summer ,i saw an advertisement concerning ,ginseng ,culture4 ,i sent and got the literature on the subject and studied up all ,i could4 ,then ,i visited a garden where a few cultivated plants were grown1 and so learned to know the plant4 ,i had been told that it grew in the heavy timber lands along ,rock ,river1 so ,i thought ,i would start a small garden of some #ajj or #bjj roots4 ,the first half day ,i found #f plants1 and no doubt tramped on twice that many1 for ,i afterward found them thick where ,i had hunted4 ,the next time ,i got #bf roots2 then #hj1 so ,i became more adept in spotting the plants1 the size of my bag grew until in ,september ,i got #cdc roots in one day4 ,that fall1 #aijd1 ,i gathered #e1ejj roots and #b1jjj or #c1jjj seed4 ,these roots and seed ,i set out in the garden in beds #e feet wide and #dj feet long1 putting the roots in #c or #e inches apart anyway1 and the seeds broadcast and in rows4 ,i mulched with chip manure1 leaf mold and horse manure4 ,covered with leaves in the fall1 and built my fence4 ,the next spring the plants were uncovered and they came well4 ,i believe nearly every one came up4 ,they were too thick1 but ,i left them4 ,the mice had run all thru the seed bed and no doubt eaten a lot of the seed4 ,that spring ,i bought #e1jjj seed of a seng digger and got soaked4 ,the fall of #aije ,i dug #ejj more roots and harvested #ae1jjj seeds from my beds4 ,the roots were planted in an addition and seed put down cellar4 ,last fall ,i gathered #e1ejj more roots from the woods1 grew about #c1jjj seedlings in the garden and harvested #ge1jjj seeds4 ,i dug a few of the older roots and sold them4 ,the worst enemy ,i find to ,ginseng culture is ,alternaria1 of a form of fungus growth on the leaf of the plant4 ,this disease started in my beds last year1 but ,i sprayed with ,bordeaux ,mixture and checked it4 ,i have not as yet been troubled with damping off of seedlings4 ,i shall try ,bordeaux if it occurs4 ,my garden is now #ajj feet by #ej feet1 on both sides of a row of apple trees1 in good rich ground which had once been a berry patch4 ,i used any old boards ,i could get for the side fence1 not making it too tight4 ,for shade ,i have tried everything ,i could think of4 ,i used burlap tacked on frames1 but it rotted in one season4 ,i used willow and pine brush and throwed corn stalks and sedge grass on them4 ,for all ,i could see1 the plants grew as well under such shade as under lath1 although the appearance of the yard is not so good4 ,i also ran wild cucumbers over the brush and like them very well4 ,they run about #ae feet1 so they do not reach the center of the garden until late in the season4 ,i planted them only around the edge of the garden4 ,illustration3 ,bed of ,mature ,ginseng ,plants ,under ,lattice4 ,in preparing my soil1 ,i mixed some sand with the garden soil to make it lighter2 also1 woods earth1 leaf mold1 chip manure and barnyard manure1 leaving it mostly on top4 ,i take down the shade each fall and cover beds with leaves and brush4 ,this industry is not the gold mine it was cracked up to be4 ,the price is going down1 lumber for yard and shade is going up4 ,the older the garden1 the more one has to guard against diseases1 so one may not expect more than average returns for his time and work4 ,still ,i enjoy the culture1 and the work is not so hard1 and it is very interesting to see this shy wild plant growing in its new home4 ,in order to keep up the demand for ,ginseng1 we must furnish the quality the ,chinese desire1 and to do this1 ,i believe we must get back to the woods and rotten oak and maple wood1 leaf mold and the humid atmosphere of the deep woodlands4 ,i have learned much during the short time ,i have been growing the plant1 but have only given a few general statements4 ,john ,hooper1 ,jefferson ,co41 ,wis4 99 99 99 ,i believe most any one that lives where ,ginseng will grow could make up a small bed or two in their garden and by planting large roots and shading it properly1 could make it a nice picture4 ,then if they could sell their seed at a good price might make it profitable1 but when it comes down to growing ,ginseng for market ,i believe the only place that one could make a success would be in the forest or in new ground that still has woods earth in it and then have it properly shaded4 ,the finest garden ,i ever saw is shaded with strips split from chestnut cuts or logs4 ,there are thousands of young seng in this garden from seedlings up to four years old this fall1 and several beds of roots all sizes that were dug from the woods wild and are used as seeders4 ,these plants have a spreading habit and have a dark green healthy look that won't rub off4 ,it is enough to give seng diggers fits to see them4 ,i have my ,ginseng garden in a grove handy to the house1 where it does fairly well1 only it gets a little too much sun4 ,i have a few hundred in the forest1 where it gets sufficient shade and there is a vast difference in the color and thriftiness of the two4 ,the seed crop will be a little short this fall in this section1 owing to heavy frosts in ,may which blighted the blossom buds on the first seng that came up4 ,my seed crop last fall was ten quarts of berries which are buried now in sand boxes4 ,my plan for planting them this fall is to stick the seeds in beds about #dx#d inches4 ,i see where some few think that the mulch should be taken off in the spring1 which ,i think is all wrong4 ,i have been experimenting for seven years with ,ginseng and am convinced that the right way is to keep it mulched with leaves4 ,the leaves keep the ground cool1 moist and mellow and the weeds are not half so hard to keep down4 ,it is surely the natural way to raise ,ginseng4 ,my worst trouble in raising ,ginseng is the damping off of the seedlings4 ,my worst pest is chickweed1 which grows under the mulch and seems to grow all winter4 ,it seeds early and is brittle and hard to get the roots when pulling4 ,plantain is bad sometimes1 the roots go to the bottom of the bed4 ,gladd weed is also troublesome4 ,i think one should be very careful when they gather the mulch for it is an easy matter to gather up a lot of bad weed seed4 ,i see in the ,h-,t-,t where some use chip manure on their seng beds4 ,i tried that myself1 but will not use it again on seed beds any way4 ,i found it full of slugs and worms which preyed on the seedlings4 ,sometimes cut worms cut off a good many for me4 ,grub worms eat a root now and then4 ,leaf rollers are bad some years1 but the worst enemy of all is wood mice4 ,if one does not watch carefully they will destroy hundreds of seed in a few nights4 ,i find the best way to destroy them is to set little spring traps where they can run over them4 ,there was a new pest in this locality this year which destroyed a big lot of seed4 ,it was a green cricket something like a katydid4 ,they were hard to catch1 too4 ,thos4 ,g4 ,fulcomer1 ,indiana ,co41 ,pa4 ,illustration3 ,some ,thrifty ,plants--,an ,ohio ,garden4 ,the notions of the ,chinese seem as difficult to change as the law of the ,medes and ,persians1 and his notion that the cultivated article is no good1 if once established1 will always be established4 ,this will be a sad predicament for the thousands who may be duped by the reckless ,ginseng promoter4 ,one principle of success in my business is to please the purchaser or consumer4 ,this is the biggest factor in ,ginseng culture4 ,the ,chinaman wants a certain quality of flavor1 shape1 color1 etc41 in his ,ginseng1 and as soon as the cultivators learn and observe his wishes so soon will they be on the right road to success4 ,ginseng has been brought under cultivation and by doing this it has been removed from its natural environments and subjected to new conditions1 which are making a change in the root4 ,the object of the ,ginseng has been lost sight of and the only principle really observed has been to grow the root1 disregarding entirely the notions of the consumer4 ,thousands have been induced by the flattering advertisements to invest their money and begin the culture of ,ginseng4 ,not one-half of these people are familiar with the plant in its wild state and have any idea of its natural environments4 ,they are absolutely unfit to grow and prepare ,ginseng for the ,chinese market4 ,thousands of roots have been spoiled in the growing or in the drying by this class of ,ginseng growers4 ,many roots have been scorched with too much heat1 many soured with not the right conditions of heat1 many more have been spoiled in flavor by growing in manured beds and from certain fertilizers4 ,all these damaged roots have gone to the ,chinese as cultivated root and who could blame him for refusing to buy and look superstitious at such roots8 ,now as to profits4 ,not one-half the profits have been made as represented4 ,not one-half of those growing ,ginseng make as much as many thousands of experienced gardeners and florists are making with no more money invested and little if any more labor and no one thinks or says anything about it4 ,many articles have appeared in the journals of the past few years1 and when you read one you will have to read all1 for in most part they have been from the over-stimulated mind of parties seeking to get sales for so-called nursery stock4 ,probably the first man to successfully cultivate ,ginseng was ,mr4 ,stanton1 of ,new ,york ,state4 ,his gardens were in the forest1 from this success many followed4 ,then the seed venders and wide publicity and the garden cultivation under lattice shade4 ,then the refusal of the ,chinese to buy these inferior roots4 ,now1 it is my opinion the growers must return to the forest and spare no labor to see that the roots placed on the market are in accordance with the particular notions of the consumer4 ,ginseng growers may then hope to establish a better price and ready market for their root4 ,the color required by the ,chinese1 so far as my experiments go1 come from certain qualities of soil4 ,the yellow color in demand comes to those roots growing in soil rich in iron4 ,the particular aromatic flavor comes from those growing in clay loam and abundant leaf mold of the forest4 ,i have found that by putting sulphate of iron sparingly in beds and the roots growing about two years in this take on the yellow color4 ,i have three gardens used for my experiments1 two in forest and one in garden4 ,they contain altogether about twenty-five thousand plants4 ,one garden is on a steep north hillside1 heavily shaded by timber4 ,these plants have a yellowish color and good aromatic taste4 ,they have grown very slow here2 about as much in three years as they grow in one year in the garden4 ,the other forest garden is in an upland grove with moderate drain1 clay loam and plenty of leaf mold2 the trees are thin and trimmed high4 ,the beds are well made1 the roots are light yellow and good flavor1 they grow large and thrifty like the very best of wild4 ,i am now planting the seed six inches apart and intend to leave them in the bed without molesting until matured4 ,the beds under the lattice in the garden have grown large1 thick1 white and brittle1 having many rootlets branching from the ends of the roots1 ,the soil is of a black1 sandy loam4 ,they do not have the fine aromatic flavor of those roots growing in the woods4 ,the plants ,i have used in the most part were produced from the forest here in ,minnesota and purchased from some diggers in ,wisconsin4 ,i have a few ,i procured from parties advertising seed and plants1 but find that the wild roots and seeds are just as good for the purpose of setting if due care is exercised in sorting the roots4 ,there has been considerable said in the past season by those desiring to sell nursery stock condemning the commission houses and ignoring or minimizing the seriousness of the condition which confronts the ,ginseng grower in a market for his root4 ,now1 ,i believe the commission men are desirous of aiding the ,ginseng growers in a market for his roots so long as the grower is careful in his efforts to produce an article in demand by the consumer4 ,in my opinion those who are desirous of entering an industry of this kind will realize the most profits in the long run if they devote attention to the study and cultivation of those medical plants used in the therapy of the regular practice of medicine1 such as ,hydrastis1 ,seneca1 ,sanguinaria1 ,lady ,slipper1 ,mandrake1 etc4 ,they are easily raised and have a ready market at any of our drug mills4 ,i have experimented with a number of these and find they thrive under the care of cultivation and ,i believe in some instances the real medical properties are improved1 as ,atropine in ,belladonna and ,hydrastine in ,hydrastis4 ,i have several thousand ,hydrastis plants under cultivation and intend to make tests this season for the quantity of ,hydrastine in a given weight of ,hydrastis and compare with the wild article4 ,it is the amount of ,hydrastine or alkaloid in a fluid extract which by test determines the standard of the official preparation and is the real valuable part of the root4 ,this drug has grown wonderfully in favor with the profession in recent years and this increased demand with decrease of supply has sent the price of the article soaring so that we are paying five times as much for the drug in stock today as we paid only three or four years ago4 ,i trust that ,i have enlarged upon and presented some facts which may be of interest and cause those readers who are interested in this industry to have a serious regard for the betterment of present conditions1 to use more caution in supplying the market and not allow venders to seriously damage the industry by their pipe dream in an attempt to find sales for so-called nursery stock4 ,l4 ,c ,ingram1 ,m4 ,d41 ,wabasha ,county1 ,minn4 99 99 99 ,it was in the year of #aija1 in the month of ,june1 that ,i first heard of the wonderful ,ginseng plant4 ,being a lover of nature and given to strolling in the forests at various times1 ,i soon came to know the ,ginseng plant in its wild state4 ,having next obtained some knowledge regarding the cultivation of this plant from a grower several miles away1 ,i set my first roots to the number of #ajj in rich1 well-drained garden soil1 over which ,i erected a frame and covered it with brush to serve as shade4 ,in the spring of #aijb nearly all the roots made their appearance and from these ,i gathered a nice crop of seed later on in the season4 ,that summer ,i set out #b1bjj more wild roots in common garden soil using lath nailed to frames of scantling for shade4 ,lath was nailed so as to make two-thirds of shade to one-third of sun4 ,this kind of shading ,i have since adopted for general use1 because ,i find it the most economical and for enduring all kinds of weather it cannot be surpassed4 ,during the season of #aijc ,i lost several hundred roots by rot1 caused by an excessive wet season and imperfect drainage4 ,in the seasons of #aijc and #aijd ,i set about #b1jjj wild roots in common garden soil1 mixed with sand and woods dirt and at this writing 7,july #ith1 #aije7 some of these plants stand two feet high1 with four and five prongs on branches1 thus showing the superiority of this soil over the others ,i have previously tried4 ,illustration3 ,new ,york ,grower's ,garden4 ,during my five years of practical experience in the cultivation of this plant ,i have learned the importance of well drained ground1 with porous open sub-soil for the cultivation of ,ginseng4 ,my experience with clay hard-pan with improper drainage has been very unsatisfactory1 resulting from the loss of roots by rot4 ,clay hard-pan sub-soil should be tile-drained4 ,experience and observation have taught me that ,ginseng seed is delicate stuff to handle and it is a hard matter to impress upon people the importance of taking care of it4 ,i have always distinctly stated that it must not be allowed to get dry and must be kept in condition to promote germination from the time it is gathered until sown4 ,where a consider able quantity is to be cared for1 the berries should be packed in fine1 dry sifted sand soon after they are gathered1 using three quarts of sand and two quarts of berries4 ,the moisture of the berries will dampen the sand sufficiently4 ,but if only a few are to be packed the sand should be damp4 ,place one-half inch sand in box and press smooth4 ,on this place a layer of berries2 cover with sand1 press1 and repeat the operation until box is full1 leaving one-half inch of sand on top2 on this place wet cloth and cover with board4 ,place box in cellar or cool shady place4 ,the bottom of the box should not be tight4 ,a few gimlet holes with paper over them to keep the sand from sifting thru will be all right4 ,any time after two or three months1 during which time the seeds have lost their pulp and nothing but the seed itself remains1 seed may be sifted out1 washed1 tested and repacked in damp sand until ready to sow4 ,best ,time to ,sow ,seed4 ,since it takes the seed eighteen months to germinate1 seed that has been kept over one season should be planted in ,august or ,september4 ,i like to get my old crop of seed out of the way before the new crop is harvested1 and also because my experience has been that early sowing gives better results than late4 ,one should be careful in building his ,ginseng garden that he does not get sides closed too tight and thus prevent a free circulation of air going thru the garden1 for if such is the case during a rainy period the garden is liable to become infected with the leaf spot and fungus diseases4 ,the drop in price of cultivated root was caused chiefly thru high manuring1 hasty and improper drying of the root4 ,in order to bring back the cultivated root to its former standing among the ,chinese1 we must cease high manuring and take more pains and time in drying the root1 and then we will have a steady market for ,american cultivated root for years to come4 ,j4 ,v4 ,hardacre1 ,geauga ,county1 ,ohio4 99 99 99 ,in #aijj ,i went to the woods and secured about fifty plants of various sizes and set them in the shade of some peach and plum trees in a very fertile spot4 ,they came up in #aija1 that is1 part of them did1 but the chickens had access to them and soon destroyed the most of them1 that is1 the tops4 ,in #aijb only a few bunches came up1 and through neglect 7for ,i never gave them any care7 the weeds choked them and they did no good4 ,in #aijc the spirit of ,ginseng growing was revived in me and ,i prepared suitable beds1 shade and soil1 and went to work in earnest4 ,i secured several more plants and reset those that ,i had been trying to grow without care4 ,in #aijd my plants came up nicely4 ,i also secured several hundred more plants and set them in my garden4 ,the plants grew well and ,i harvested about #a1jjj seed in the fall4 ,several ,ginseng gardens were injured by a disease that seemed to scald the leaves and then the stalk became affected4 ,in a short time the whole top of the plant died1 but the root remained alive4 ,my ,ginseng was not affected in this way1 or at least ,i did not notice it4 ,in #aije ,i had a nice lot of plants appear and they grew nicely for a while1 and as ,i was showing a neighbor thru the garden he pointed out the appearance of the disease that had affected most of the gardens in this county the previous year1 and was killing the tops off of all the ,ginseng in them this year4 ,i began at once to fight for the lives of my plants by cutting off all affected parts and burning them4 ,i also took a watering pot and sprinkled the plants with ,bordeaux ,mixture4 ,this seemed to help1 and but few of the plants died outright4 ,i harvested several thousand seed4 ,i placed the seed in a box of moist sand and placed them in the cellar and about one-third of them were germinated by the following spring1 and there was not another garden in this vicinity1 to my knowledge1 that secured any seed4 ,this fact caused me to think that spraying with ,bordeaux ,mixture would check the disease4 ,it was certain that if the disease could not be prevented or quit of its own accord1 ,ginseng could not be grown in this county4 ,in #aijf my plants came up nicely and grew as in the previous season4 ,i noticed the disease on some of the plants about the last of ,may so ,i began removing the affected parts1 also to sprinkle with ,bordeaux ,mixture with about the same results as the year before4 ,in the fall ,i harvested about twelve or fifteen thousand seed4 ,i might say here that ,i sprinkled the plants about every two or three weeks4 ,i raised the only seed that was harvested in this vicinity1 and most all the large seng was dried and sold out of their gardens4 ,early in #aijg ,i secured a compressed air sprayer1 for ,i had come to the conclusion that spraying would be lots better than sprinkling4 ,on the appearance of the first plants in the spring ,i began spraying and sprayed every week or ten days until about the first of ,september4 ,i saved the life of most of my plants4 ,for an experiment ,i left about five feet of one bed of two-year-old plants unsprayed4 ,it grew nicely until about the #ajth of ,june1 then the disease struck it1 and in about two or three weeks it was about all dead1 while the remainder that was sprayed lived thru till frost1 and many of them bore seed4 ,i harvested about #bj1jjj seed in the fall4 ,i believe if ,i had not persisted in the spraying ,i would not have harvested one fully matured seed1 for none of my neighbors secured any4 ,in ,september1 #aijf1 ,i dug one bed of large roots thinly set on a bed #dx#af feet which netted me #h4di4 ,in ,september1 #aijg1 ,i dug a bed #dx#bj feet which netted me #ai4ca4 ,this is my experience4 ,of course ,i have omitted method of preparing beds1 shade1 etc4 ,a4 ,c ,herrin1 ,pulaski ,county1 ,ky4 99 99 99 ,many inquiries are continually being received concerning ,ginseng1 ,some of the many questions propounded are as follows3 ,is ,ginseng growing profitable8 ,is it a difficult crop to grow8 ,how many years will it take to grow marketable roots8 ,when is the best time to set plants and sow the seed8 ,what kind of soil is best adapted to the crop8 ,does the crop need shade while growing8 ,do the tops of ,ginseng plants die annually8 ,must the roots be dried before marketable8 ,what time of year do you dig the roots8 ,does the cultivation of the plants require much labor8 ,what are the roots used for and where does one find the best markets8 ,about what are the dry roots worth per pound8 ,how are the roots dried8 ,how many roots does it take to make a pound8 ,have you sold any dry roots yet from your garden8 ,how long does it take the seed of ,ginseng to germinate8 ,do you sow the seeds broadcast or plant in drills8 ,how far apart should the plants be set8 ,do you mulch beds in winter8 ,is it best to reset seedlings the first year8 ,how many plants does it require to set an acre8 ,what is generally used for shading8 ,has the plant or root any enemies8 ,when does the seed ripen8 ,how wide do you make your beds8 ,do you fertilize your soil8 ,will the plants bear seed the first year8 ,what price do plants and seed usually bring8 ,what does the seed look like8 ,it will be almost impossible to answer all of the above questions1 but will try to give a few points regarding ,ginseng and ,ginseng growing which may help some reader out4 ,in the spring of #ahii ,i began experimenting with a few ,ginseng plants1 writes an ,indiana party1 and at present have thousands of plants coming along nicely from one to seven years old4 ,last fall ,i planted about eight pounds of new seed4 ,the mature roots are very profitable at present prices4 ,they are easily grown if one knows how4 ,it takes about five years to grow marketable roots4 ,the seed is planted in ,august and ,september2 the plants set in ,september and ,october4 ,a rich1 dark sandy loam is the most desirable soil for the crop1 which requires shade during growth4 ,the plants are perennial1 dying down in the fall and reappearing in the spring4 ,the roots must be dried for market4 ,they should be dug some time in ,october4 ,cultivation of the crop is comparatively simple and easy4 ,the crop is practically exported from this country to ,china1 where the roots are largely used for medicinal purposes4 ,the best prices are paid in ,new ,york1 ,chicago1 ,cincinnati and ,san ,francisco4 ,dry roots usually bring #d4jj to #h4jj per pound as to quality4 ,the drying is accomplished the same way fruit is dried4 ,the number of roots in a pound depends on their age and size4 ,the seed of ,ginseng germinates in eighteen months4 ,sow the seed in drill rows and set the plants about eight inches apart each way4 ,mulch the beds with forest leaves in the fall4 ,the seedlings should be reset the first year4 ,it requires about #ajj1jjj plants to cover an acre4 ,the shade for the crop is usually furnished by the use of lath or brush on a stationary frame built over the garden4 ,moles and mice are the only enemies of ,ginseng and sometimes trouble the roots1 but are usually quite easily kept out4 ,the seed of ,ginseng ripens in ,august4 ,seed beds are usually made four feet wide4 ,the best fertilizer is leaf mould from the woods4 ,the plants will not bear much seed the first year4 ,the price of both seed and plants varies considerably4 ,the seed looks like those of tomatoes1 but is about ten times larger4 ,ginseng is usually found growing wild in the woods where beech1 sugar and poplar grow4 ,the illustration shows a plant with seed4 ,early in the season1 say ,june and early ,july1 there is no stem showing seed4 7,see cover47 ,the plant usually has three prongs with three large leaves and has small ones on each stem4 ,note the illustration closely4 ,sometimes there are four prongs1 but the number of leaves on each prong is always five--three large and two small4 ,the leading ,ginseng states are ,west ,virginia1 ,kentucky and ,tennessee4 ,it is also found in considerable quantities in ,virginia1 ,pennsylvania1 ,ohio1 ,indiana1 ,illinois1 ,michigan1 ,new ,york1 and even north into ,southern ,canada4 ,it is also found in other ,central and ,southern states4 ,during the past few years the wild root has been dug very close1 and in states where two or three years ago ,ginseng was fairly plentiful is now considerably thinned out4 ,in some sections sengers follow the business of digging the wild root from ,june to ,october4 ,they make good wages quite often4 ,it is these sengers that have destroyed the wild crop and paved the way for the growers4 ,the supply of wild root will no doubt become less each year1 unless prices go down so that there will not be the profit in searching for it4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,general ,,information4 ,cultivated root being larger than wild takes more care in drying4 ,improper drying will materially impair the root and lessen its value4 ,it is those who study the soil and give attention to their fruit that make a success of it4 ,the same applies to growing ,ginseng and other medicinal plants4 ,when buying plants or seeds to start a garden it will be well to purchase from some one in about your latitude as those grown hundreds of miles north or south are not apt to do so well4 ,ginseng culture is now carried on in nearly all states east of the ,mississippi ,river as well as a few west4 ,the leading ,ginseng growing states1 however1 are ,new ,york1 ,michigan1 ,ohio1 ,kentucky and ,minnesota4 ,thruout the ,ginseng producing section the plants are dug by sengers from early spring until late fall4 ,the roots are sold to the country merchants for cash or exchanged for merchandise4 ,the professional digger usually keeps his seng until several pounds are collected1 when it is either shipped to some dealer or taken to the county seat or some town where druggists and others make the buying of roots part of their business4 ,here the digger could always get cash for roots which was not always the case at the country store4 ,quite often we hear some one say that the ,chinese will one of these days quit using ,ginseng and there will be no market for it4 ,there is no danger1 or at least no more than of our people giving up the use of tea and coffee4 ,ginseng has been in constant use in ,china for hundreds of years and they are not apt to forsake it now4 ,the majority of exporters of ,ginseng to ,china are ,chinamen who are located in ,new ,york and one or two cities on the ,pacific coast4 ,there is a prejudice in ,china against foreigners so that the ,chinamen have an advantage in exporting4 ,few dealers in ,new ,york or elsewhere export--they sell to the ,chinamen who export4 ,the making of ,bordeaux ,mixture is not difficult4 ,put #h pounds bluestone in an old sack or basket and suspend it in a #ej-;gallon barrel of water4 ,in another barrel of same size1 slack #h pounds of good stone lime and fill with water4 ,this solution will keep4 ,when ready to use1 stir briskly and take a pail full from each barrel and pour them at the same time into a third barrel or tub4 ,this is ,bordeaux ,mixture4 ,if insects are to be destroyed at the same time1 add about #d ounces of paris green to each #ej gallons of ,bordeaux4 ,keep the ,bordeaux well stirred and put on with a good spray pump4 ,half the value in spraying is in doing it thoroughly4 ,it is our opinion that there will be a demand for ,seneca and ,ginseng for years4 ,the main thing for growers to keep in mind is that it is the wild or natural flavor that is wanted4 ,to attain this see that the roots are treated similar to those growing wild4 ,to do this1 prepare beds of soil from the woods where the plants grow1 make shade about as the trees in the forests shade the plants1 and in the fall see that the beds are covered with leaves4 ,study the nature of the plant as it grows wild in the forest and make your cultivated plants wild by giving them the same conditions as if they were growing wild in the forest4 ,as mentioned in a former number1 an easy way to grow roots is in the native forest4 ,the one drawback is from thieves4 ,the above appeared as an editorial in the ,hunter-,trader-,trapper1 ,august1 #aije4 ,growing ,ginseng and ,golden ,seal will eventually become quite an industry1 but as we have said before1 those that make the greatest success at the business1 will follow as closely as possible the conditions under which the plants grow in the forests1 in their wild state4 ,therein the secret lies4 ,there is no class of people better fitted to make a success at the business than hunters and trappers1 for they know something of its habits1 especially those of the ,eastern1 ,central and ,southern ,states1 where the plants grow wild4 ,there is no better or cheaper way to engage in the business than to start your garden in a forest where the plant has grown4 ,forests where beech1 sugar and poplar grow are usually good for ,ginseng4 ,the natural forest shade is better than the artificial4 ,illustration3 ,forest ,bed of ,young ,seng4 ,these ,plants1 ,however1 ,are too ,thick4 ,this is a business that hunters and trappers can carry on to advantage for the work on the gardens is principally done during the off hunting and trapping season4 ,the writer has repeatedly cautioned those entering the business of ,ginseng culture to be careful4 ,the growing of ,ginseng has not proven the gold mine that some advertisers tried to make the public believe1 but at the same time those who went at the business in a business-like manner have accomplished good results--have been well paid for their time4 ,in this connection notice that those that have dug wild root for years are the most successful4 ,why8 ,because they are the ones whose gardens are generally in the forests or at least their plants are growing under conditions similar to their wild state4 ,therein the secret lies4 ,the majority of farmers1 gardeners1 etc41 know that splendid sweet potatoes are grown in the lands of the ,new ,jersey meadows4 ,the potatoes are known thruout many states as ,jersey ,sweets and have a ready sale4 ,suppose the same potato was grown in some swampy middle state1 would the same splendid ,jersey ,sweet be the result8 ,most assuredly not4 ,if the same kind of sandy soil which the sweet potato thrives in in ,new ,jersey is found the results will be nearer like the ,jersey4 ,again we say to the would-be grower of medicinal roots or plants to observe closely the conditions under which the roots thrive in their wild state and cultivate likewise1 that is1 grow in the same kind of soil1 same density of shade1 same kind and amount of mulch 7leaves1 etc47 as you observe the wild plant4 ,the growing of medicinal plants may never be a successful industry for the large land owner1 for they are not apt to pay so much attention to the plants as the person who owns a small place and is engaged in fruit growing or poultry raising4 ,the business is not one where acres should be grown1 in fact we doubt if any one will ever be successful in growing large areas4 ,the person who has acres of forest land should be able to make a good income by simply starting his gardens in the woods4 ,the shade is there1 as well as proper mulch1 etc4 ,in fact it is the forest where most of the valuable medicinal plants grow of their own accord4 ,the conditions of the soil are there to produce the correct flavor4 ,some of the growers who are trying to produce large roots quickly are having trouble in selling their production4 ,the dealers telling them that their roots have not the wild natural flavor--but have indications of growing too quickly and are probably cultivated4 ,while plants can be successfully cultivated by growing under conditions similar to the forest yet if there are forest lands near1 you had better make your gardens there4 ,this will save shading4 ,in the north1 say ,canada1 ,new ,england and states bordering on ,canada1 shading need not be so thick as farther south4 ,in those states1 if on high land1 even a south slope may be used4 ,in other states a northern or eastern slope is preferred1 altho if the shading is sufficiently heavy gardens thrive4 ,read what the various growers say before you start in the business1 for therein you will find much of value4 ,they have made mistakes and point these out to others4 ,from #ahib to #ahig the writer was on the road for a ,zanesville1 ,ohio1 firm as buyer of raw furs1 hides1 pelts and tallow4 ,the territory covered was ,southern ,ohio1 ,western ,pennsylvania1 ,west ,virginia and ,northern ,kentucky4 ,during that time ,ginseng was much more plentiful than now4 ,once at ,portsmouth a dealer from whom ,i occasionally bought hides1 had #ba sugar barrels full of dried seng--well on to #c1jjj pounds4 ,it was no uncommon thing to see lots of #ajj to #ejj pounds4 ,i did not make a business of buying seng and other roots1 as it was not handled to any great extent by the house ,i traveled for1 altho ,i did buy a few lots ranging from #e to #ajj pounds1 ,the five years that ,i traveled the territory named ,i should say that ,i called upon dealers who handled #ajj1jjj pounds or #bj1jjj annually4 ,this represented probably one-fifth of the collection4 ,these dealers of course had men out4 ,just what the collection of ,ginseng in that territory is now ,i am unable to say as ,i have not traveled the territory since #aijj1 but from what the dealers and others say am inclined to think the collection is only about #aj what it was in the early '#ijs4 ,this shows to what a remarkable extent the wild root has decreased4 ,the same decrease may not hold good in all sections1 yet it has been heavy and unless some method is devised the wild root will soon be a thing of the past4 ,diggers should spare the young plants4 ,these have small roots and do not add much in value to their collection4 ,if the young plants were passed by for a few years the production of the forest--the wild plant--could be prolonged indefinitely4 ,a root buyer for a ,charleston1 ,w4 ,va41 firm1 who has traveled a great deal thru the wild ,ginseng sections of ,west ,virginia1 ,kentucky1 ,tennessee1 ,indiana and ,ohio says3 ,the root is secured in greatest quantities from the states in the order named4 ,golden seal is probably secured in greatest quantities from the states as follows3 ,west ,virginia1 ,kentucky1 ,ohio1 ,missouri1 ,pennsylvania4 ,a great deal is also secured from ,western ,states and the ,north4 ,the sengers start out about the middle of ,may1 altho the root is not at the best until ,august4 ,at that time the bur is red and the greatest strength is in the root4 ,many make it a business to dig seng during the summer4 ,some years ago ,i saw one party of campers where the women 7the entire family was along7 had simply cut holes thru calico for dresses1 slipping same over the head and tied around the waist--not a needle or stitch of thread had been used in making these garments4 ,some of these sengers travel with horses and covered rig4 ,these dig most of the marketable roots4 ,others travel by foot carrying a bag to put ,ginseng in over one shoulder and over the other a bag in which they have a piece of bacon and a few pounds of flour4 ,thus equipped they stay out several days4 ,the reason these men only dig ,ginseng is that the other roots are not so valuable and too heavy to carry4 ,sometimes these men dig ,golden ,seal when near the market or about ready to return for more supplies4 ,some years ago good wages were made at digging wild roots but for the past few years digging has been so persistent that when a digger makes from #a4jj to #b4jj per day he thinks it is good4 ,some say that the ,ginseng growing business will soon be overdone and the market over-supplied and prices will go to #a4jj per pound or less for dried root4 ,if all who engage in the business were able to successfully grow the plant such might be the case4 ,note the many that have failed4 ,several complain that their beds in the forests are infested with many ups and downs from such causes as damp blight1 root rot1 animals and insect pests4 ,a few growers report that mice did considerable damage in the older beds by eating the neck and buds from the roots4 ,there seems to be a mistaken idea in regard to gardens in the forest4 ,many prepare their beds in the forests1 plant and cultivate much the same as the grower under artificial shade4 ,while this is an improvement over the artificial shade1 fertilized and thickly planted bed1 it is not the way that will bring best and lasting results4 ,why8 ,because plants crowded together will contract diseases much sooner than when scattered4 ,one reason of many failures is that the plants were too thick4 ,those that can grow in the forests are going to be the ones that make the greatest success4 ,farmers1 horticulturists1 gardeners1 trappers1 hunters1 guides1 fishermen who have access to forest land should carefully investigate the possibilities of medicinal root culture4 ,those who have read of the fortune to be made at growing ,ginseng and other medicinal roots in their backyard on a small plat 7say a rod or two7 had best not swallow the bait4 ,such statements were probably written by ignorant growers who knew no better or possibly they had seed and plants for sale4 ,ginseng growing1 at best1 should be done by persons who know something of plants1 their habits1 etc1 as well as being familiar with soil and the preparation of same for growing crops4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,medicinal ,,qualities4 ,in reply to ,e4 ,t4 ,flanegan and others who wish to know how to use ,ginseng as a medicine1 ,i will suggest this way for a general home made use1 says a writer in ,special ,crops4 ,take very dry root1 break it up with a hammer and grind it thru a coffee mill three or four times till reduced to a fine powder4 ,then take three ounces of powder and one ounce of milk sugar4 ,to the milk sugar add sixty drops of oil of wintergreen and mix all the powders by rubbing them together and bottle4 ,dose one teaspoonful1 put into a small teacupful of boiling water4 ,let it stay a little short of boiling point ten minutes4 ,then cool and drink it all1 hot as can be borne1 before each meal4 ,it may be filtered and the tea served with cream and sugar with the meal4 ,made as directed this is a high grade and a most pleasant aromatic tea and has a good effect on the stomach1 brain and nervous system4 ,to those who have chronic constipation1 ,i would advise one fourth grain of aloin1 taken every night1 or just enough to control the constipation1 while taking the ,ginseng tea4 ,if the evening dose of ,ginseng be much larger it is a good safe hypnotic1 producing good natural sleep4 ,the writer prefers the above treatment to all the whiskey and patent medicine made4 ,to those who are damaged or made nervous by drinking coffee or tea1 quit the coffee or tea and take ,ginseng tea as above directed4 ,it is most pleasant tasted and a good medicine for your stomach4 ,i do not know just how the ,chinese prepare it into medicine1 but ,i suppose much of it is used in a tea form as well as a tincture4 ,as it is so valuable a medicine their mode of administration has been kept a secret for thousands of years4 ,there must be some medical value about it of great power or the ,chinese could not pay the price for it4 ,it has been thought heretofore that the ,chinese were a superstitious people and ,used ,ginseng thru ignorance1 but as we get more light on the medical value of the plant the plainer it gets that it is us fellows--the ,americans--that have been and are yet in the shade and in a dark shade1 too4 ,we think the time not far off when it will be recognized as a medical plant and a good one1 too1 and its great medical value be made known to the world4 ,for several years past ,i have been experimenting with ,ginseng as a medical agent and of late ,i have prescribed1 or rather added it1 to the treatment of some cases of rheumatism4 ,i remember one instance in particular of a middle-aged man who had gone the rounds of the neighborhood doctors and failed of relief1 when he employed me4 ,after treating him for several weeks and failing to entirely relieve him1 more especially the distress in bowels and back1 ,i concluded to add ,ginseng to his treatment4 ,after using the medicine he returned1 saying the last bottle had served him so well that he wanted it filled with the same medicine as before4 ,i attribute the curative properties of ,ginseng in rheumatism to stimulating to healthy action of the gastric juices2 causing a healthy flow of the digestive fluids of the stomach1 thereby neutralizing the extra secretion of acid that is carried to the nervous membranes of the body and joints1 causing the inflammatory condition incident to rheumatism4 ,ginseng combined with the juices of a good ripe pineapple is par excellent as a treatment for indigestion4 ,it stimulates the healthy secretion of pepsin1 thereby insuring good digestion without incurring the habit of taking pepsin or after-dinner pills to relieve the fullness and distress so common to the ,american people4 ,the above compound prepared with good wine in the proper way will relieve many aches and pains of a rebellious stomach2 and if ,i should advise or prescribe a treatment for the old sang digger who is troubled with dyspepsia or foul stomach1 ,i would tell him to take some of your own medicine and don't be selling all to the ,chinamen4 ,illustration3 ,a ,healthy ,looking ,garden--,yard4 ,i want to repeat here what ,i have often said to sengers of my acquaintance1 especially those get-rich-quick fellows who have been dumping their half-grown and poorly cured ,ginseng on the market1 thereby killing the good-will of the celestial for a market and destroying the sale of those who cultivate clean and matured roots2 they had much better give their roots time to mature in their gardens and if the market price is not what it ought to be to compensate for the labor1 they had better hold over another season before selling4 ,i have all the product of last season in ,ginseng and ,golden ,seal in my possession1 for the reason that the price did not suit me4 ,drug manufacturers ask #g4jj per pound for ,fluid ,extract ,golden ,seal wholesale4 ,when they can make from one-half pound dried root one pound ,fluid ,extract ,golden ,seal costing them #ge cents1 that's a pretty good profit for maceration and labeling4 ,ginseng has been used to some extent as a domestic medicine in the ,united ,states for many years4 ,as far as ,i can learn1 the home use is along the line of tonic and stimulant to the digestive and the nervous system4 ,many people have great faith in the power of the ,ginseng root to increase the general strength and appetite as well as to relieve eructations from the stomach4 ,as long ago as ,bigelow's time1 some wonderful effects are recorded of the use of half a root in the increase of the general strength and the removal of fatigue4 ,only the other day a young farmer told me that ,ginseng tea was a good thing to break up an acute cold and ,i think you will find it used for rheumatism and skin diseases4 ,it undoubtedly has some effect on the circulation1 perhaps thru its action on the nervous system and to this action is probably due its ascribed anti-spasmodic properties4 ,the use of ,ginseng has largely increased within the last few years and several favorable reports have been published in the medical journals4 ,one physician1 whose name and medium of publication ,i cannot now recall1 speaks highly of its anti-spasmodic action in relieving certain forms of hiccough4 ,if this is true1 it places it at once among the important and powerful anti-spasmodics and suggests its use in other spasmodic and reflex nervous diseases as whooping cough1 asthma1 etc4 ,i have practiced medicine for eight years4 ,i sold my practice one year ago and since have devoted my entire attention to the cultivation of ,ginseng and experimenting with ,ginseng in diseases and am satisfied that it is all that the ,chinese claim for it2 and1 if the people of the ,united ,states were educated as to its use1 our supply would be consumed in our own country and it would be a hard blow to the medical profession4 ,it would make too long an article for me to enumerate the cases that ,i have cured2 but1 ,i think it will suffice to say that ,i have cured every case where ,i have used it with one exception and that was a case of consumption in its last stages2 but the lady and her husband both told me that it was the only medicine that she took during her illness that did her any good4 ,the good it did her was by loosening her cough2 she could give one cough and expectorate from the lungs without any exertion4 ,i believe it is the best medicine for consumption in its first stages and will probably cure4 ,i wish the readers of ,special ,crops to try it in their own families--no difference what the disease is4 ,make a tea of it4 ,a good way is to grate it in a nutmeg grater4 ,grate what would make about #ae grains1 or about one-fourth to one-half teaspoonful and add half a pint or less of boiling water4 ,the dose to be taken at meal times and between meals4 ,in a cold on the lungs it will cure in two or three days1 if care is taken and the patient is not exposed4 ,my theory is that disease comes from indigestion directly or indirectly4 ,ginseng is the medicine that will regulate the digestion and cure the disease no difference by what name it is called2 if the disease can be cured4 ,ginseng will cure it where no other drug will4 ,i will cite one case2 a neighbor lady had been treated by two different physicians for a year for a chronic cough4 ,i gave her some ,ginseng and told her to make a tea of it and take it at meal times and between meals2 in two weeks ,i saw her and she told me that she was cured and that she never took any medicine that did her so much good1 saying that it acted as a mild cathartic and made her feel good4 ,she keeps ,ginseng in her house now all the time and takes a dose or two when she does not feel well4 ,i am satisfied that wonderful cures can be made with ,ginseng and am making them myself1 curing patients that doctors have given up2 and if handled properly our supply will not equal the demand at home in course of five or six years1 thus increasing the price4 99 99 99 ,at the last annual meeting of the ,michigan ,ginseng ,association1 ,dr4 ,h4 ,s4 ,mc,master of ,cass ,co4 presented a paper on the uses of this plant1 which appeared in the ,michigan ,farmer4 ,he spoke in part as follows3 ,ginseng is a mild1 non-poisonous plant1 well adapted to domestic as well as professional uses4 ,in this respect it may be classed with such herbs as boneset1 oxbalm1 rhubarb and dandelion4 ,the medicinal qualities are known to be a mild tonic1 stimulant1 nervine and stomachic4 ,it is especially a remedy for ills incident to old age4 ,two well-known preparations made--or said to be--from ,ginseng root are on the market4 ,one of these1 called ,seng1 has been for many years on druggists' shelves4 ,it is sometimes used for stomach troubles and with good results4 ,i think it is now listed by the leading drug houses4 ,another called ',ginseng ,tone' is a more recent preparation1 and is highly spoken of as a remedy4 ,but for home or domestic use we would suggest the following methods of preparing this drug3 #ast4 ,the simplest preparation and one formerly used to some extent by the pioneers of our forest lands1 is to dig1 wash and eat the green root1 or to pluck and chew the green leaves4 ,ginseng1 like boneset1 aconite and lobelia1 has medicinal qualities in the leaf4 ,to get the best effect1 like any other medicine it should be taken regularly from three to six times a day and in medicinal quantities4 ,in using the green root we would suggest as a dose a piece not larger than one to two inches of a lead pencil1 and of green leaves one to three leaflets4 ,these1 however1 would be pleasanter and better taken in infusion with a little milk and sweetened and used as a warm drink as other teas are4 #bnd4 ,the next simplest form of use is the dried root carried in the pocket1 and a portion as large as a kernel of corn1 well chewed1 may be taken every two or three hours4 ,good results come from this mode of using1 and it is well known that the ,chinese use much of the root in this way4 #c;d4 ,make a tincture of the dried root1 or leaves4 ,the dried root should be grated fine1 then the root1 fiber or leaves1 separately or together1 may be put into a fruit jar and barely covered with equal parts of alcohol and water4 ,if the ,ginseng swells1 add a little more alcohol and water to keep it covered4 ,screw top on to keep from evaporating4 ,macerate in this way #aj to #ad days1 strain off and press all fluid out1 and you have a tincture of ,ginseng4 ,the dose would be #aj to #ae drops for adults4 ,put an ounce of this tincture in a six-ounce vial1 fill the vial with a simple elixir obtained at any drug store1 and you have an elixir of ,ginseng1 a pleasant medicine to take4 ,the dose is one teaspoonful three or four times a day4 ,the tincture may be combined with the extracted juice of a ripe pineapple for digestion1 or combined with other remedies for rheumatism or other maladies4 #dth4 ,lastly ,i will mention ,ginseng tea1 made from the dry leaves or blossom umbels4 ,after the berries are gathered1 select the brightest1 cleanest leaves from mature plants4 ,dry them slowly about the kitchen stove in thick bunches1 turning and mixing them until quite dry1 then put away in paper sacks4 ,tea from these leaves is steeped as you would ordinary teas1 and may be used with cream and sugar4 ,it is excellent for nervous indigestion4 ,these home preparations are efficacious in neuralgia1 rheumatism1 gout1 irritation of bronchi or lungs from cold1 gastro-enteric indigestion1 weak heart1 cerebro-spinal and other nervous affections1 and is especially adapted to the treatment of young children as well as the aged4 ,ginseng is a hypnotic1 producing sleep1 an anodyne1 stimulant1 nerve tonic and slightly laxative4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,ginseng ,,in ,,china4 ,with the exception of tea1 says the ,paint1 ,oil and ,drug ,review1 ,ginseng is the most celebrated plant in all the ,orient4 ,it may well be called the cure-all as the ,chinese have a wonderful faith in its curative and strengthening properties1 and it has been appropriately called the cinchona of ,china4 ,it is considered to be a sovereign cure for fevers and weaknesses of all kinds1 and is1 indeed1 the chief and most costly medicine of the ,chinese ,empire4 ,ginseng is found wild in the mountain forests of eastern ,asia from ,nepa to ,manchuria4 ,it once grew in ,fukien1 ,kaighan and ,shansi1 but was supplanted by the ,manchuria wild root4 ,the root is carefully hunted for by the ,manchus1 who boast that the weeds of their country are the choice drugs of the ,chinese1 a boast which has much foundation in fact4 ,of the thirty-seven ports in ,china where the imperial maritime customs are established to import ,ginseng1 imports during #aije were as follows3 ,shanghai1 #ajc1hjb pounds2 ,wuhu1 #b1cgd2 ,kiuhiang1 #b1hjj2 ,hankow1 ,american clarified1 #cd1hjj2 ,wenchau #i1ajj2 ,chungking1 ,american clarified1 #f1bjj2 ,chefoo1 #hj1djh2 ,canton1 #ge1hjj1 and ,foochow1 #ae1jjg4 ,the total importation at these ports for the last four years were3 #aijb1 #djg1jba pounds2 #aijc1 #djd1jjj pounds2 #aijd1 #cac1eih pounds1 and #aije1 #cca1cha pounds4 ,these figures1 however1 by no means cover all the ,ginseng entering ,china1 as much of it comes thru the native custom houses1 which keep no tabulated data of exports and imports1 and great quantities of it are smuggled into the country1 especially over the ,korean boundary line4 ,niuchwang is the one ,chinese port which exports native ,ginseng4 ,its exports for the last four years were1 respectively1 #bbh1jjj1 #bae1jjj1 #eg1jjj and #afj1ijj pounds4 ,to give an accurate price for ,ginseng would be impossible1 so greatly does it differ from the variety of the root offered to consumers4 ,some wild roots have been known to realize their weight in gold2 while the cultivated variety can be purchased from #e cents a pound up4 ,generally speaking1 the present average prices are1 for the best ,ginseng1 #ab4jj a pound2 for fair quality1 #f4ej1 and for the ordinary1 #ej cents to #a4jj4 ,japan sends to ,china the cheapest ,ginseng1 a great deal of which is used to adulterate the highest quality from ,korea4 ,in values and quality of the root the four principal producing countries rank as follows3 ,manchuria1 ,korea1 ,america and ,japan4 ,prices often vary in accordance with the method used in clarifying the root4 ,some ,chinese provinces prefer it white1 others reddish and still others require it of a yellowish tinge4 ,the ,korean root is reddish in color1 due1 some say1 to the ferruginous soil on which it grows1 and1 according to others1 to a peculiar process of clarifying4 ,most of the ,korean product goes to southern ,china by way of ,hongkong4 ,wild ,ginseng1 from whatever country1 always commands a better price than the cultivated article1 chiefly because of ,chinese superstition1 which prefers root resembling man or some grotesque creature to that of the regular normal roots which cultivation naturally tends to produce4 ,chinese druggists1 when questioned as to the real difference between the ,manchuria wild and the ,american cultivated ,ginseng root1 admit that the difference in quality is mostly imaginary1 altho there is a real difference in the appearance of the roots4 ,but the ,manchuria ,ginseng comes from the ,emperor's mother country and from the same soil whence sprang the god of heaven and therefore the ,chinese regard it as infinitely more efficacious as a curative agent than any other ,ginseng could possibly be4 ,many assert that the future demand for ,ginseng will be a decreasing one1 from the fact that its imaginary properties of curing every disease on earth will be dissipated in proportion to the advance of medical science4 ,there can be no doubt1 however1 that ,ginseng does possess certain curative properties and it can be safely asserted that it will require many generations1 perhaps centuries1 to shake the ,chinaman's faith in his mysterious time-honored cure-all4 ,illustration3 ,root ,resembling ,human ,body4 ,american ,ginseng1 of which large quantities are annually exported to ,china1 is classed1 as a rule1 with hsiyang1 that is1 west ocean1 foreign or western country ,ginseng4 ,the imports of this article at ,niuchwang for #aije amounted in value to #d1fab gold4 ,the exports of ,manchurian ,ginseng thru ,niuchwang to ,chinese ports for #aije aggregated in value #ahj1aii gold and for #aijd1 #bje1dca gold4 ,wild ,manchuria ,ginseng is rare1 even in ,manchuria1 and its estimated valuation ranges at present from #dej to #fjj gold a pound4 ,the total imports of ,ginseng into ,china for #aijd aggregated #bgg tons1 valued at #icb1agc4dd and for #aije to #a1ije tons1 valued at #a1dfj1bjf4ei4 ,the increased valuation of the imports of last year emphasizes the increased price of ,ginseng in the ,chinese market4 ,hsiyang1 or ,american ,ginseng1 is marketed in ,china largely thru ,hongkong and ,shanghai foreign commission houses4 ,importations of the ,american product are increasing in bulk with each succeeding year1 and the business gives every indication of becoming a very large one in a short time4 99 99 99 ,in most of the booklets and articles we have seen on ,ginseng1 the writers quote exorbitant figures as to what the root sells for in ,china4 ,a good many of them quote from reports received from ,u4 ,s4 ,consuls1 who1 when they give prices1 reckon on ,mexican dollars which are only about half the value of ours and some of them go so far as to quote retail prices for very small quantities of extra quality root4 ,some of the growers and dealers in this country1 therefore1 imagine that they are not paid what they should be for their stock and that there is an enormous profit for the men who ship to ,china4 ,such is an entirely wrong idea and can be best proven by the fact that during the past couple of years three of the leading export houses have gone out of business1 owing to there being no money in it4 ,we do not know of any business conducted on as small a percentage profit as ,ginseng4 ,frequently prices paid in this country are in excess of the market in ,china4 ,this not only means a direct loss to the exporter on his goods but also the cost of making clean 7removing fibres1 siftings and stems7 shrinkage1 insurance and freight4 ,business is also conducted on different lines from years ago4 ,then the buyers in ,china bought readily1 prices were lower and more people could afford to use it4 ,today1 prices are tripled and while the supply is smaller1 the demand is very much less and ,chinese buyers make the exporters carry it until they really need it1 in a good many cases buying root and not taking it for three or four months1 and consequently keeping the exporters without their money4 ,the expense of carrying ,ginseng is also heavy owing to the high rate of interest1 which is #h and over4 ,the folly of depending upon ,u4 ,s4 ,consul reports is shown in the great difference in the figures which they send4 ,many of these men have but very little knowledge of business1 most of them knowing more about politics4 ,it is not likely that this class of men will spend very much time in investigating a subject of this character4 ,the market here for wild root since ,june #ast has been the dullest we have ever known and the same condition prevails in ,china4 ,we are glad to state that cultivated root is selling at much better prices than last year4 ,it is hard to account for the disfavor with which it was regarded a year ago in ,china1 and the prejudice against it has been overcome more rapidly than we expected4 ,at this time last year it was almost unsalable and we were buying as low as #c4jj to #d4jj per pound4 ,many houses declined to buy at all4 ,now that the prejudice against it has sort of worn off1 we look for a good market and consider the outlook very favorable and would advise people not to give up their gardens in too great a hurry4 ,we make a specialty of cultivated root and will be pleased to give information as to handling1 drying1 etc41 to any reader who desires it4 ,we have been buying ,ginseng for over thirty years4 ,belt1 ,butler ,co4 ,new ,york4 99 99 99 ,consul-,general ,amos ,p4 ,wilder of ,hongkong1 in response to numerous ,american inquiries as to the trade in ,ginseng1 with especial reference to the cultivated root1 prices and importations1 reports as follows3 ,the ,ginseng business is largely in the hands of the ,chinese1 the firms at ,hongkong and ,canton having ,american connections4 7,the five leading ,hongkong ,chinese firms in the ,ginseng importing business are named by ,mr4 ,wilder1 as also the leading ,european importing concern1 and all the addresses are obtainable from the ,bureau of ,manufacturers74 ,i am authorized to say that ,american growers may correspond with the ,european concern direct relative to large direct shipments4 ,they receive goods only on consignment and have some forty years' standing in this industry4 ,this firm1 as do the ,chinese1 buys in bulk and distributes thru jobbers to the medicine shops1 which abound in all ,chinese communities4 ,the ,cantonese have prestige in cleaning and preparing the root for market4 ,last year the best quality of ,ginseng brought from #b1jjj to #b1cjj ,mexican per picul 7equal to #acc #a_/b pounds71 but selected roots have brought #b1djj to #b1eej4 ,it is estimated here that growers should net about #g4be gold per pound4 ,the buying price of ,ginseng is uncertain4 ,there being no standard1 no price can be fixed4 ,the ,american-,chinese shippers have the practice of withholding the ,ginseng to accord with the demand in ,china4 ,owing to failures among ,chinese merchants since the war and the confusion in ,san ,francisco1 trade in this industry has been slack and prices have fallen off4 ,if the root is perfect and unbroken it is preferred4 ,much stress should be laid on shipping clean1 perfect and attractive roots4 ,size1 weight and appearance are factors in securing best prices1 the larger and heavier the root the better4 ,when the shipment arrives the importer invites jobbers to inspect the same4 ,the roots are imported in air-tight casks in weight of about #ajj pounds4 ,it is certain that there are many different qualities of ,ginseng and the price is difficult to fix 7except on inspection in ,china74 ,as to wild and cultivated roots1 two or three years ago when cultivated ,ginseng was new1 buyers made no distinction and the price ruled the same2 but having learned of the new industry1 experts here assure me the roots can readily be distinguished4 ,they say that the wild root is darker in color and rougher4 ,the wild is preferred4 ,experts now allege a prejudice against the cultivated root1 affirming that the wild root has a sweeter taste4 ,the cultivated roots being larger and heavier1 they first earned large prices1 but are now at a disadvantage1 altho marketable4 ,illustration3 ,wild ,ginseng ,roots4 ,the cultivated is as yet but a small percentage of the entire importations1 but is increasing4 ,seventy-five per cent of all importations are in the hands of the ,chinese4 ,small growers in ,america will do best to sell to the collecting buyers in ,new ,york1 ,cincinnati and other cities4 ,hongkong annual importations are now about #ajj1jjj pounds4 ,too many misleading and conflicting articles have been published on the subject of ,ginseng culture in ,korea1 a true statement of the facts may be of interest4 ,we all know the ,korean ,ginseng always commands a high price in ,china and ,i believe there must be a very good reason for it4 ,either the ,korean method of cultivation1 curing or marketing was superior to the ,american method or centuries of experience in its cultivation had taught him a lesson and a secret we had yet to learn4 ,after considerable correspondence with parties in ,korea which gave me very little information and to set my mind at rest on these questions1 ,i went to ,korea in #aijc for the sole purpose of obtaining all the information possible on ,ginseng culture according to ,korean methods and also if possible to secure enough nursery stock to plant a ,ginseng garden in ,america with the best ,korean stock4 ,strange to say1 even after ,i reached the city of ,seoul1 the capital of ,korea1 ,i could not obtain any more reliable information on ,ginseng than ,i already knew before ,i left ,america4 ,they told me where the great ,ginseng district was located1 that #dj1jjj cattys were packed each year for export1 etc41 but as to the soil1 planting1 cultivation1 irrigation1 shading1 curing1 packing1 etc41 they knew nothing that was reliable4 ,all the ,american people use sugar in one form or another1 but how many could tell a person seeking for reliable information concerning the planting of the cane or sugar beet1 of the character of the soil necessary1 of its cultivation and irrigation1 the process of refining1 packing and marketing1 etc4 ,comparatively few1 indeed1 and so it is with the ,koreans on the cultivation of ,ginseng4 ,they all use it1 but1 like the ,chinese1 not one in several thousand ever saw a ,ginseng plant growing4 ,after considerable delay ,i secured a competent interpreter1 a cook1 and food supplies1 and started from ,seoul for the great ,ginseng district1 traveling part of the way by rail1 then by sampan1 and finally reached my destination on ,korean ponies4 ,arriving at the ,ginseng center1 ,i lived among the ,ginseng growers from the time the seed crop ripened until nearly all the five-year-old roots1 or older ones1 were dug up and delivered to the government at their drying grounds1 which is about four acres in extent4 ,this compound is enclosed on three sides by buildings from #ajj to #aej feet in length and a uniform width of twelve feet and the rest of the compound with a high stone wall with a gate1 which is closely guarded by soldiers armed with guns4 ,near the center of this compound is a well where the roots are washed as soon as they are received4 ,there is no entrance from the outside to any of these buildings4 ,every one must pass the guards at the gate1 for the buildings1 together with the wall1 make a complete enclosure4 ,the ,ginseng gardens are scattered over considerable territory1 most of which is surrounded by a high stone wall about twenty or twenty-five miles in circumference1 similar to the great wall of ,china1 and which many years ago was the site of one of the ancient capitals of ,korea4 ,part of the growers make a specialty of raising one-year-old plants1 to supply those who have sufficient means to wait four years more for the roots to mature4 ,generally1 speaking1 the grower that produces the commercial root raises but little if any one-year roots4 ,all ,ginseng gardens are registered as required by law1 stating how many kan 7a kan of ,ginseng is the width of the bed1 about #cj inches and #e #a_/b feet long7 are under cultivation1 so the ,high ,government ,official1 specially appointed for the ,ginseng district1 always knows how many roots should be available at harvest time and every grower must sell his entire crop that is five years old or over to the government and his responsibility does not cease until he has delivered his crop at the government drying grounds4 ,his roots are then carefully selected and all that do not come up to a required size are rejected and delivered back to the grower and these he can either dry for his own use or he can transplant them and perhaps next year they will come up to the required standard4 ,the ,koreans pay great attention to the selection of their ,ginseng seed4 ,no plant is allowed to bear seed that is less than four years old and very little seed is used from four-year plants4 ,nearly all the seed comes from five-year-old plants and a little from six-year-old4 ,only the best and strongest appearing plants are allowed to bear seed1 and even these very sparingly1 as part of the seed head is picked off while in the blossom and from which they make a highly prized tea4 ,the seed stem of all other plants are pinched off1 forcing all the strength1 as well as medicinal properties1 into the root4 ,many of the best growers never allow their plants to bear seed1 and only the required amount of seed is raised each year to supply the demand4 ,after the seed is gathered1 it is graded by passing it thru a screen of a certain size4 ,this grader is made like an old-fashioned flour sieve1 only the bottom is made of a heavy oil paper with round holes cut in it1 and all seed that will pass thru these holes are destroyed1 so only the largest and best seed are kept for planting4 ,the soil which they use for their ,ginseng garden is a very poor disintegrate granite1 to which has been added leaf mould mostly from the chestnut oak1 in the proportion of three-eighths leaf mould to five-eighths granite4 ,the leaves are gathered in the spring and summer1 dried in the sun1 pulverized and sprinkled with water to help decomposition4 ,this is the only fertilizer used4 ,the beds are raised about eight inches above the level of the ground and are carefully edged with slabs of slate4 ,what is called a holing board is used to mark the places for the seed4 ,it is made of a board as long as the beds are wide 7about thirty inches7 and has three rows of pegs #a_/b-;inch long and #a #a_/b inches apart each way4 ,a seed is planted in each hole and covered by pressing the soil down with the hands4 ,about #a_/d-;inch of prepared soil is added to the bed and smoothed over4 ,no other mulch is used4 ,the roots are transplanted each year1 setting them a little farther apart each time1 until at the third transplanting1 or at four years old1 they are #fx#f inches apart1 and at each transplanting the amount of leaf mould used in the prepared soil is reduced4 7,note the difference between this and the ,american method of heavy fertilizing74 ,only germinated seed is planted and the time for planting is regulated by the ,korean ,calendar and not by the weather and if at that time it is at all cold1 the beds are immediately covered with one or two thickness of rice straw thatch and as soon as the weather is suitable this thatch is removed and the shade erected4 ,each bed is shaded separately by setting a row of small posts in the ground #d feet high and #e #a_/b feet or #a kan apart1 on the north side of each bed and on the south side a similar row1 only about #a foot high4 ,bamboo poles are securely lashed to these posts and they in turn support the cross pieces on which rests the roof covering1 made of reeds woven together with a very small straw rope4 ,at the time of the summer solstice1 the rainy season comes on1 so a thick covering of thatch is spread over the reed covering1 which sheds the rain into the walks1 while the back and front are enclosed with rush blinds1 that on the north side being raised or lowered according to the temperature4 ,if it is a very hot day the blinds are lowered from about #aj ,a4 ,m4 to #d ,p4 ,m41 leaving the beds in almost darkness4 ,the beds are all protected from the rain and are irrigated by sprinkling them when needed4 ,at the close of the growing season1 after the roots have gone dormant1 all that are not dug up are covered with a layer of soil #g or #h inches thick4 ,all the shade is pulled down except the posts and spread over the soil and the garden is left thus for the winter1 and the grower selects another site to which he can move his plants in the spring1 and each year new soil is prepared4 ,from the time the roots are two years old there is another added care4 ,they are now worth stealing1 consequently the garden has to be watched day and night4 ,a watch tower about #af feet high is erected and the hands take turn about1 occupying it as a sentry4 ,another man constantly patrols the garden during the night4 ,the ,koreans are the largest consumers of ,ginseng in the world1 in proportion to their population1 and they have carefully cultivated it for centuries with the one particular object in view1 its medicinal properties4 ,for quality always1 rather than quantity4 ,they sacrifice everything else for a powerful medicinal root1 and they surely grow it4 ,i have seen some remarkable results from its use during my stay in ,korea4 ,say what we may about it1 but it plays a very important part in the life of both the ,korean and the ,chinese people4 ,do you wonder now that the ,korean ,ginseng always commands a high price8 ,if the ,american growers had followed closer along the lines of the ,korean growers and aimed for a high grade of medicinal root1 the market for ,american ,ginseng would not be where it is today4 ,that is1 the cultivated ,ginseng4 ,the ,american growers have it in their own hands to either make a success or failure of ,ginseng culture1 but one thing is certain1 heavy seed bearing1 excessive fertilizing and rapid drying will never produce a high standard of ,ginseng4 ,the principal market of the world is ours if we only reach out for it with that high standard and maintain it and especially so if we will unite together and market our product thru one central agency controlled by the producers4 ,mr4 ,chinaman may sometimes be mistaken as to whether ,ginseng is wild or cultivated4 ,he may also be mistaken as to whether it comes from ,korea or ,china 7,i have seen him make this mistake71 but let him once sample a liberal dose of it1 and he won't make any mistake as to whether it is good1 medium or bad4 99 99 99 ,the ,ginseng ,trade4 ,the following article by ,mr4 ,burnett appeared in the ,minneapolis ,journal last ,february and shows what dealers think of the ,ginseng industry3 ,i wish you would give room for what ,i have to say in regard to an article in your ,journal last fall by our ex-,consul1 ,john ,goodnow4 ,some things he says are correct3 ,that the demand is based entirely on superstition2 that the root has life-giving qualities2 and that those having the nearest resemblance to human beings are most valuable4 ,that is quite true4 ,i have seen the ,chinese exporters' eyes dance when they saw such roots in a lot4 ,now for the errors in what he said4 ,he says the trade is in the hands of a syndicate and they only handle ,korean ,ginseng4 ,possibly this syndicate tells the ,chinese retail merchants that to keep them from boycotting our ,american ,ginseng4 ,if so1 why is it that the wild root this fall has been at ready sale at #f4ge to #g4aj per pound8 ,we1 who buy it1 do not hold it and if we did not find a ready sale for it we would soon cease to buy it4 ,there has been marketed in ,minneapolis probably #ej1jjj worth this year and in the ,united ,states a million dollars' worth4 ,so you see his error3 for1 either directly or indirectly1 it gets to ,china at good prices4 ,chinese ,superstitions4 ,now in regard to the cultivated root1 to show your readers how the value is based on superstition1 we will cite one instance in our experience4 ,we sent our clerk to a laundry where there were a half dozen ,celestials to sell some nice cultivated root4 ,some roots were manlike in shape4 ,they tasted it1 were delighted with it and bought it readily and told him to bring them all he could get1 as what they did not need for their own use they would ship to their exporter in ,san ,francisco4 ,our man told them he would be around in one week4 ,we sent him again in just a week4 ,he said on his return they looked daggers at him and said1 ,we no wantee your cultivated root4 ,this convinced us they had shipped it to the agents of the syndicate at ',frisco and received their returns4 ,now1 does this not show that the demand is all based on superstition8 ,it was very good until they were informed that it was cultivated4 ,now your readers may say1 how can they distinguish between the cultivated and the wild8 ,i will tell you2 the cultivated is usually much firmer and twice as heavy as the wild and generally much cleaner4 ,then most of the cultivated has been raised from small1 wild roots dug from the forests and in transplanting they have not taken pains to place the tap root straight in the earth4 ,this causes it to be clumpy--that is1 not straight like most wild roots4 ,this1 with its solidity and cleanliness makes it easy to tell from the wild roots4 ,illustration3 ,pennsylvania ,grower's ,garden4 ,the ,cultivated ,plant4 ,now we have had a number of lots of cultivated that we got full prices for4 ,they were roots grown from seeds1 symmetrical in shape1 not too large1 not too clean and dug before they became very solid4 ,my idea is1 if not allowed to grow more than as large as one's fingers1 when dry and dug immediately after the seeds are ripe1 or even before1 if seeds are not needed1 and not washed too clean1 we can find sale for such4 ,at present the ordinary cultivated does not bring quite half the price of the wild4 ,there are some who buy that for ,american use1 several firms putting up ,ginseng cures4 ,some people1 like the ,chinese1 believe it has merits1 but as the demand is limited the price is low4 ,that the ,chinese think that the root grown by nature has life-giving qualities and that cultivated has no virtues1 is certain4 ,the only way to do is to grow in natural woods soil 7manure of any kind must be avoided1 as it causes a rank growth7 dig and wash it so they can't tell the difference4 ,one thing is certain1 it's a hardy plant1 altho slow to get started1 and good money can be made at #b4jj to #c4jj a pound4 ,instead of being hard to grow1 as many persons think1 it is very hard to kill4 99 99 99 ,a belief among the ,chinese people is that ,ginseng roots1 especially if of peculiar shape1 will cure practically all diseases of mind and body4 ,the ,chinese are not given to sentiment2 their emotional nature is not highly developed2 they are said to be a people who neither kiss nor cuss1 and their physical sensibilities are so dull that a ,chinaman can lie down on his back across his wheelbarrow with feet and head hanging to the ground1 his mouth wide open and full of flies and sleep blissfully for hours under the hottest ,july sun4 ,there is nothing about them1 therefore1 to suggest that they possess the lively imagination to make them have faith in a remedy with purely imaginary virtues4 ,nevertheless1 among these people1 a plant not found by any medical scientist to possess any curative powers is used almost universally1 to cure every kind of ailment and has been so used for generations4 ,intelligent ,chinese resent the imputation of superstition to their people4 ,but the fact remains that the ,ginseng roots are valued according to the peculiarity of their shapes4 ,the word ,ginseng is composed of two ,chinese words which mean man and plant1 and the more nearly shaped like a man the roots are1 the more they are valued4 ,a root which is bifurcated and otherwise shaped like a man1 may be sold as high as #aj4jj an ounce2 a recent secretary of the ,chinese ,legation explains this on the ground of being valued as a curio2 but the curio is finally made into a decoction and swallowed1 and the swallower evidently hopes that the fantastic shape of the root will make the medicine more potent4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,ginseng--,,government ,,description1 ,,etc4 ,the following is from a bulletin issued by the ,u4 ,s4 ,department of ,agriculture--,bureau of ,plant ,industry--and edited by ,alice ,henkel3 ,panax ,quinquefolium ,l4 ,other ,common ,names--,american ,ginseng1 sang1 red-berry1 five-fingers4 ,habitat and ,range--,ginseng is a native of this country1 its favorite haunts being the rich1 moist soil in hardwood forests from ,maine to ,minnesota southward to the mountains of northern ,georgia and ,arkansas4 ,for some years ,ginseng has been cultivated in small areas from central ,new ,york to ,missouri4 ,description of ,plant--,ginseng is an erect perennial plant growing from #h to #ae inches in height and bearing three leaves at the summit1 each leaf consisting of five thin1 stalked ovate leaflets1 long pointed at the apex1 rounded or narrow at the base1 the margins toothed2 the three upper leaflets are largest and the two lower ones smaller4 ,from #f to #bj greenish yellow flowers are produced in a cluster during ,july and ,august1 followed later in the season by bright crimson berries4 ,it belongs to the ,ginseng family 7,araliaceae47 ,description of ,root--,ginseng has a thick1 spindle-shaped root1 #b to #c inches long or more1 and about one-half to #a inch in thickness1 often branched1 the outside prominently marked with circles or wrinkles4 ,the spindle-shaped root is simple at first1 but after the second year it usually becomes forked or branched1 and it is the branched root1 especially if it resembles the human form1 that finds particular favor in the eyes of the ,chinese1 who are the principal consumers of this root4 ,illustration3 ,ginseng 7,panax ,quinquefolium74 ,ginseng root has a thick1 pale yellow white or brownish yellow bark1 prominently marked with transverse wrinkles1 the whole root fleshy and somewhat flexible4 ,if properly dried1 it is solid and firm4 ,ginseng has a slight aromatic odor1 and the taste is sweetish and mucilaginous4 ,collection and ,uses--,the proper time for digging ,ginseng root is in autumn1 and it should be carefully washed1 sorted and dried4 ,if collected at any other season of the year1 it will shrink more and not have the fine1 plump appearance of the fall dug root4 ,the ,national ,dispensatory contains an interesting item concerning the collection of the root by the ,indians4 ,they gather the root only after the fruit has ripened1 and it is said that they bend down the stem of ripened fruit before digging the root1 covering the fruit with earth1 and thus providing for future propagation4 ,the ,indians claim that a large percentage of the seeds treated in this way will germinate4 ,altho once official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia1 from #ahdj to #ahhj1 it is but little used medicinally in this country except by the ,chinese residents1 most of the ,ginseng produced in this country being exported to ,china4 ,the ,chinese regard ,ginseng root as a panacea4 ,it is on account of its commercial prominence that it is included in this paper4 ,cultivation--,there is probably no plant that has become better known1 at least by name1 during the past ten years or more than ,ginseng4 ,it has been heralded from north to south and east to west as a money-making crop4 ,the prospective ,ginseng grower must not fail to bear in mind1 however1 that financial returns are by no means immediate4 ,special conditions and unusual care are required in ,ginseng cultivation1 diseases must be contended with1 and a long period of waiting is in store for him before he can realize on his crop4 ,either roots or seeds may be planted1 and the best success with ,ginseng is obtained by following as closely as possible the conditions of its native habitat4 ,ginseng needs a deep1 rich soil1 and being a plant accustomed to the shade of forest trees1 will require shade1 which can be supplied by the erection of lath sheds over the beds4 ,a heavy mulch of leaves or similar well rotted vegetable material should be applied to the beds in autumn4 ,if roots are planted1 they are set in rows about #h inches apart and #h inches apart in the row4 ,in this way a marketable product will be obtained sooner than if grown from seed4 ,the seed is sown in spring or autumn in drills #f inches apart and about #b inches apart in the row4 ,the plants remain in the seed bed for two years and are then transplanted1 being set about #h by #h inches apart4 ,it requires from five to seven years to obtain a marketable crop from the seed4 ,seed intended for sowing should not be allowed to dry out1 as this is supposed to destroy its vitality4 ,price--,the price of wild ,ginseng roots ranges from #e4jj a pound upward4 ,the cultivated root generally brings a lower price than the wild root1 and southern ,ginseng roots are worth less than those from northern localities4 ,exports--,the exports of ,ginseng for the year ended ,june #cj1 #aijf1 amounted to #afj1idi pounds1 valued at #a1age1hdd4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,michigan ,,mint ,,farm4 ,very few people know that the largest ,mint farm in the world is owned and operated by an unassuming ,michigan man named ,a4 ,m4 ,todd1 says ,special ,crops4 ,his career is interesting4 ,born on a farm near ,st4 ,joseph1 ,mich41 he early developed an idea that money was to be made in the growing of ,peppermint4 ,at that time the ,mint oil industry was small and in a state of crudeness in ,america1 for ,europe was supposed to be the stronghold of the industry4 ,to ,europe went ,mr4 ,todd to see about it4 ,he returned filled with plans and enthusiasm4 ,some ,details of the ,business4 ,the details are long1 but the main facts can be briefly told4 ,eventually1 while still a very young man1 ,mr4 ,todd purchased #a1djj acres of wild1 swampy land in ,allegan ,county1 ,mich4 ,the purchase price was #be1jjj4 ,he proceeded to hire a force of men to clear and ditch the new ,mint farm4 ,that was #bj or more years ago4 ,now1 let us take a look at that farm as it is today4 ,first we come to the main farm1 called ,campania1 and comprising just #a1fdj acres4 ,here are huge barns1 comfortable houses for employer and employees1 warehouses1 ice houses1 windmills1 library1 club rooms and bathrooms for use of employes2 #ag miles of wide1 deep1 open drainage ditches2 stills for distilling ,peppermint oil2 roadways1 telephones and all the system and comfort of a little village founded and maintained by one thoughtful man4 ,not far away is a second farm1 recently purchased where somewhat similar improvements are now going on4 ,this farm is named ,mentha1 and consists of #b1jjj acres4 ,then1 farther north1 a third farm completes the ,todd domain4 ,this place contains #g1jjj acres and is known as ,sylvania ,range4 ,the three farms1 with a total acreage of #aj1fdj acres1 are under one management and they form together the largest ,mint farm in all the world4 ,starting with #ajj4jj capital1 ,mr4 ,todd's plant today is worth several hundred thousand dollars4 ,distiller as ,well as ,grower4 ,but ,mr4 ,todd is more than a ,mint grower4 ,with his distilleries he turns the crop into crude ,peppermint oil2 with his refineries he turns the crude oil into the refined products that find a ready market in the form of menthol1 or as a flavoring essence for drinks1 confectionery and chewing gum1 or for use in medicine4 ,furthermore1 he has been shrewd enough to figure out a method of utilizing1 profitably1 the by-products of the business1 ,mint hay4 ,in other words1 after the oil is extracted from a mass of ,mint plants in a distillery vat1 the resulting cake of leaves and stems is dried and fed to cattle4 ,and1 oddly enough1 the animals greatly relish it and thrive upon it4 ,raises ,shorthorns on ,mint ,hay4 ,during the summer ,mr4 ,todd has #ejj ,shorthorns grazing on his #gjjj-;acre range1 where they require no human attention during the season when his men are busy planting1 cultivating and harvesting the first crop4 ,later1 these same ,shorthorns are driven from pasture to the big ,campania barns1 where the men care for them and feed them ,mint hay from ,mr4 ,todd's distilleries at a season when such workmen have little else to do4 ,in this way the by-product is utilized and the regular force of men is kept employed all the year around4 ,the growing of ,mint is simple1 yet there are some peculiar features about it4 ,for instance1 the land is so shaky at some seasons of the year that horses can not work on it unless they wear special1 broad wooden shoes4 ,this ,mint soil1 indeed1 is something like the muck found in typical celery fields1 being black1 damp and loose4 ,but it is less firm and more damp than the celery land at ,kalamazoo4 ,setting ,new ,mint ,fields4 ,the ,mint root is perennial4 ,once in two or three years1 however1 the fields are renewed to improve the crop4 ,when setting a new field the land is plowed and harrowed in the usual way4 ,it is then marked out in shallow furrows into which the sets are evenly dropped by skilled planters who cover each dropped root by shoveling dirt over it with the foot4 ,the rows are about #b #a_/b feet apart and the planting is done in early spring4 ,the sets are obtained by digging up and separating the runners and roots from old plants4 ,the planted rows soon send up shoots above ground and the new plants rapidly run or spread1 necessitating hoeing and cultivating only until late ,july1 at which time the field should be densely covered with a rank growth of waving green plants that forbid further cultural work4 ,harvesting the ,mint4 ,in ,august or ,september the field is mowed1 raked and bunched2 in fact1 handled quite similarly to a clover hay field4 ,after allowing the plants to dry a short time1 the crop is loaded onto hay wagons and carted to the stills1 where the essential oil is extracted by means of a system of steam distillation4 ,the second year's crop is obtained by the simple method of plowing under the plants in the fall4 ,the roots send up new shoots next season1 while weeds are temporarily discouraged4 ,no cultivation is attempted the second year1 altho the hand pulling of weeds may sometimes prove desirable4 ,we think the growing of ,mint should not be attempted except on a large scale4 ,we have had many queries touching the plant and manner of cultivation that we have taken this means to answer them4 ,in boyhood days we were well acquainted with this industry in all its branches and can not advise the average ,ginseng grower to undertake its culture for the reason that there is not money enough in it to be profitable on small areas of land4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,miscellaneous ,,information4 ,remember1 unless thoroughly dried roots1 herbs1 leaves1 barks1 flowers and seeds are apt to heat or mold which greatly lessens their value4 ,if badly molded they are of little value4 ,the best time to collect barks is in the spring 7when the sap is up7 as it will peel easier at that time4 ,some barks must be rossed1 that is1 remove the outer or rough woody part4 ,in this class are such barks as white pine1 wild cherry1 etc4 ,leaves and herbs should only be gathered when the plant is mature-grown4 ,in curing they should be kept from the sun as too rapid curing tends to draw the natural color and this should be preserved as much as possible4 ,flowers should be gathered in the height of bloom1 for best results4 ,they require considerable attention to preserve as they are apt to turn dark or mold4 ,the time to gather seeds is when they are ripe4 ,this can easily be determined by the leaves on the plant1 vine or shrub which produced the seeds4 ,generally speaking1 seeds are not ripe until early fall1 altho some are4 ,there has been a heavy demand for years for wild cherry bark1 sassafras bark1 black haw bark1 prickly ash bark1 slippery elm bark1 cotton root bark as well as scullcap plants1 7herbs7 lobelia herb1 golden thread herb and red clover tops4 ,there has been a cash market for years for the following roots3 ,blood1 senega1 golden seal1 poke1 pink1 wild ginger1 star1 lady slipper1 black1 mandrake1 blue flag and queen's delight4 ,if you have a few pounds of ,ginseng or ,golden ,seal1 pack carefully in a light box and ship by express4 ,if less than four pounds1 you can send by mail--postage is only one cent an ounce4 ,a four-pound package by mail can be sent anywhere in ,america for #fd cents4 ,expressage1 unless short distances1 is apt to be more4 ,illustration3 ,lady ,slipper4 ,in shipping roots1 herbs1 leaves1 seeds1 etc41 where the value is only a few cents per pound it is best to collect #ej pounds or more before making a shipment4 ,in fact1 #ajj pounds by freight costs no more than #aj1 #bj1 #ej or any amount less than #ajj as #ajj pounds is the smallest charge4 ,some of the biggest liars in ,america seem to be connected with the seng growing business4 ,they probably have seed or plants to sell4 ,be careful in buying--there are many rascals in the business4 ,there is always a cash market for ,ginseng and ,golden ,seal4 ,in the large cities like ,new ,york1 ,chicago1 ,st4 ,louis1 ,minneapolis1 ,montreal1 ,cincinnati1 etc41 are dealers who make a special business of buying these roots4 ,in hundreds of smaller cities and towns druggists1 merchants1 raw fur dealers1 etc41 buy them also4 ,the roots1 barks1 leaves1 etc41 of less value are also bought pretty generally by the above dealers1 but if you are unable to find a market for them it will pay you to send #aj cents for copy of ,hunter-,trader-,trapper1 ,columbus1 ,ohio1 which contains a large number of root buyers' advertisements as well as several who want bark1 leaves1 seeds1 flowers1 herbs1 etc4 ,since #aheh ,ginseng has increased in value one thousand four hundred per cent41 but ,golden ,seal has increased in value in the same time two thousand four hundred per cent4 ,ginseng and ,golden ,seal should be packed tightly--light but strong boxes and shipped by express4 ,the less valuable roots can be shipped in burlap sacks1 boxes1 barrels1 etc41 by freight4 ,the various roots1 barks1 leaves1 plants1 etc41 as described in this book are found thruout ,america4 ,of course there is no state where all grow wild1 but there are many sections where several do4 ,after reading this book carefully you will no doubt be able to distinguish those of value4 ,plants are of three classes--annuals1 biennials1 perennials4 ,annuals grow from seed to maturity in one year and die2 biennials do not flower or produce seed the first year1 but do the second and die2 perennials are plants which live more than two years4 ,ginseng plants are perennial4 ,roots1 leaves1 barks1 etc41 should be spread out thin in some dry1 shady place4 ,a barn floor or loft in some shed is a good place1 providing it is light and airy1 altho the direct sunlight should not shine upon the articles being cured4 ,watch while curing and turn or stir each day4 ,prices given for roots1 plants1 leaves1 etc41 were those paid by dealers during #aijg unless otherwise specified4 ,these prices1 of course1 were paid in the leading markets for fair sized lots4 ,if you have only a few pounds or sold at some local market the price received was probably much less4 ,the demand for the various articles varies and1 of course1 this influences prices--when an article is in demand prices are best4 ,after studying the habitat and range of the various plants as published together with the illustrations1 there should be no difficulty in determining the various plants4 ,by habitat is meant the natural abode1 character of soil1 etc41 in which the plant thrives best and is found growing wild4 ,to illustrate3 ,seneca ,snakeroot--habitat and range--rocky woods and hillsides are its favorite haunts4 ,it is found in such places from ,new ,brunswick1 ,canada and ,western ,new ,england ,states to ,minnesota and the ,canadian ,rocky ,mountains1 and south along the ,allegheny ,mountains to ,north ,carolina and ,missouri4 ,from this it will be seen that it is useless to look for this plant in the ,southern ,states1 on the plains or in old cultivated fields1 for such places are not its natural home4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,golden ,,seal ,,cultivation4 ,i learned when a boy1 by actual experience1 that ,golden ,seal and ,ginseng will not grow in open cultivated fields or gardens4 ,i tried it faithfully4 ,the soil must be virgin1 or made practically so by the application of actual new land in such quantities that to prepare an acre for the proper growth of these plants would be almost impossible4 ,and to furnish and keep in repair artificial shade for1 say1 an acre1 would cost quite a little fortune4 ,of course one may cultivate a few hundred or few thousand in artificially prepared beds and shaded by artificial means1 but to raise these plants successfully in anything like large quantities we must let nature herself prepare the beds and the shade4 ,when we follow nature closely we will not be troubled with diseases1 such as blight and fungus4 ,i know this by actual experience dear1 and therefore dear to me4 ,plants propagate themselves naturally by seedage1 root suckers1 and by root formation upon the tips of pendulous boughs coming in contact with the ground4 ,man propagates them artificially in various ways1 as by layering1 cuttings1 grafting or budding1 in all of which he must follow nature4 ,the ,golden ,seal plant is readily propagated by any of the three following methods3 7#a7 by seed2 7#b7 by division of the large roots2 7#c7 by suckers1 or small plants which form on the large fibrous roots4 ,the seed berries should be gathered as soon as ripe1 and mashed into a pulp1 and left alone a day or two in a vessel1 then washed out carefully and the seed stored in boxes of sandy loam on layers of rock moss1 the moss turned bottom side up and the seed scattered thickly over it1 then cover with about one-half inch of sandy loam1 then place another layer of moss and seed1 until you have four or five layers in a box4 ,the box may be of any convenient size4 ,the bottom of the box should be perforated with auger holes to secure good drainage4 ,if water be allowed to stand upon the seeds they will not germinate1 neither will they germinate if they become dry4 ,the seeds should be kept moist but not wet4 ,they may be sown in the fall1 but1 ,i think the better way1 by far1 is to keep your box of seeds in a cellar where they will not freeze until the latter part of winter or very early spring4 ,if your seeds have been properly stratified and properly kept you will find by the middle of ,january that each little black seed has burst open and is wearing a beautiful shining golden vest4 ,in fact1 it is beginning to germinate1 and the sooner it is put into the seed-bed the better4 ,if left too long in the box you will find1 to your displeasure1 a mass of tangled golden thread-like rootlets and leaflets1 a total loss4 ,to prepare a seed-bed1 simply rake off the forest leaves from a spot of ground where the soil is rich and loamy1 then with your rake make a shallow bed1 scatter the seeds over it1 broadcast1 being careful not to sow them too thick4 ,firm the earth upon them with the back of the hoe or tramp them with the feet4 ,this bed should not be near a large tree of any kind1 and should be protected from the sun1 especially from noon to #c ,p4 ,m4 ,the ,golden ,seal seedling has two round seed leaves upon long stems during the first season of its growth4 ,these seed leaves do not resemble the leaves of the ,golden ,seal plant4 ,the second and usually the third years the plant has one leaf4 ,these seedlings may be set in rows in beds for cultivation in the early spring of the second or third year4 ,this plant grows very slowly from seed for the first two or three years1 after which the growth is more satisfactory4 ,by the second method1 i4 e41 by division of the large roots1 simply cut the roots up into pieces about one-fourth inch long and stratify in the same way as recommended for seeds1 and by spring each piece will have developed a bud1 and will be ready to transplant into beds for cultivation4 ,this is a very satisfactory and a very successful method of propagating this plant4 ,the plants grow off strong and robust from the start and soon become seed bearing4 ,illustration3 ,young ,golden ,seal ,plant in ,bloom4 ,by the third method we simply let nature do the work4 ,if the plants are growing in rich1 loose1 loamy soil1 so the fibrous roots may easily run in every direction1 the whole bed will soon be thickly set with plants4 ,these may be taken up and transplanted or may be allowed to grow and develop where they are4 ,this is the method by which ,i propagate nearly all of my plants4 ,it is a natural way and the easiest of the three ways to practice4 ,as to the proper soil and location for a ,golden ,seal garden ,i would recommend a northern or northeastern exposure4 ,the soil should be well drained and capable of a thrifty growth of deciduous trees4 ,it should contain an ample supply of humus made of leaf mold4 ,it will then be naturally loose and adapted to the growth of ,golden ,seal4 ,cut out all undergrowth and leave for shade trees that will grow into value4 ,i am growing locust trees for posts in my ,golden ,seal garden4 ,i do not think fruit trees of any kind suitable for this purpose4 ,in preparing the ground for planting simply dig a trench with a mattock where you intend to set a row4 ,this loosens up the soil and makes the setting easy4 ,set the plants in this row four to six inches apart4 ,for convenience ,i make the rows up and down the hill4 ,in setting spread the fibrous roots out each way from the large main root and cover with loose soil about one to two inches deep1 firming the soil around the plant with the hands4 ,be very careful not to put the fibrous roots in a wad down in a hole4 ,they do not grow that way4 ,plants may be set any time through the summer1 spring or fall1 if the weather he not too dry4 ,the tops will sometimes die down1 in which case the root will generally send up a new top in a few days4 ,if it does not it will form a bud and prepare for growth the next spring4 ,the root seldom if ever dies from transplanting4 ,i know of no plant that is surer to grow when transplanted than ,golden ,seal4 ,i make the rows one foot to fifteen inches apart4 ,it does not matter as it will soon fill the spaces with sucker plants any way4 ,the cultivation of ,golden ,seal is very simple4 ,if you have a deep1 loose soil filled with the necessary humus your work will be to rid the plot of weeds1 and each fall add to the fall of forest leaves a mulch of rotten leaves4 ,do not set the plants deeper than they grew in a natural state1 say about #a_/b to #c_/d inch4 ,spread the fibrous roots out in all directions and cover with leaf mold or some fine1 loamy new soil4 ,water if the ground be at all dry4 ,then mulch with old forest leaves that have begun to decay4 ,let the mulch be about three or four inches deep and held on by a few light brush4 ,the wind would blow the leaves away if not thus held in place4 ,be careful1 however1 not to press the leaves down with weights4 ,illustration3 ,golden ,seal ,plants4 ,remove the brush in the early spring1 but let the leaves remain4 ,the plants will come up thru them all right4 ,this plant grows best in a soil made up entirely of decayed vegetation1 such as old leaf beds and where old logs have rotted and fallen back to earth4 ,if weeds or grass begin to grow in your beds pull them up before they get a start4 ,be careful to do this4 ,do not hoe or dig up the soil any way1 ,the fibrous roots spread out in all directions just under the mulch4 ,to dig this up would very much injure the plants4 ,i think the plants should be set in rows about one foot apart1 and the plants three or four inches apart in the rows4 ,this would require about #a1jjj plants to set one square rod4 ,my ,golden ,seal garden is in a grove of young locust trees that are rapidly growing into posts and cash4 ,the leaves drop down upon my ,golden ,seal and mulch it sufficiently4 ,the locust belongs to the ,leguminous family of plants1 so while the leaves furnish the necessary shade they drink in the nitrogen from the atmosphere and deposit great stores of it in the soil4 ,this makes the soil porous and loose and gives the plant a very healthy dark green appearance4 ,we have only to follow the natural manner of the growth of the ,golden ,seal to be successful in its culture4 ,select a piece of sloping land1 so as to be well drained1 on the north or northeast side of the hill--virgin soil if possible4 ,let the soil be rich and loamy1 full of leaf mold and covered with rotting leaves and vegetation4 ,this is the sort of soil that ,golden ,seal grows in1 naturally4 ,it is hard to fix up a piece of ground1 artificially1 as nature prepares it1 for a wild plant to grow in4 ,so select a piece if possible that nature has prepared for you4 ,do not clear your land4 ,only cut away the larger timber4 ,leave the smaller stuff to grow and shade your plants4 ,there is no shade that will equal a natural one for ,ginseng or ,golden ,seal4 ,now1 take a garden line and stretch it up and down the hill the distance you want your bed to be wide4 ,mark the place for the row along the line with a mattock1 and dig up the soil to loosen it1 so as to set the plants1 or1 rather1 plant the roots easily4 ,with a garden dibble1 or some other like tool make a place for each plant4 ,set the plants #d to #f inches apart in the row4 ,the crown of the plant or bud should be set about #a inch beneath the surface4 ,firm the earth around the plant carefully4 ,this is an important point and should be observed in setting any plant4 ,more plants are lost each year by carelessly leaving the earth loose over and around the roots than from any other cause4 ,do not leave a trench in the row4 ,this may start a wash4 ,let the rows be about #a foot apart4 ,if land is no item to you1 the rows may be further apart4 ,they will1 if properly cared for1 in a few years1 by sending up sprouts from the roots1 fill up the end completely4 ,illustration3 ,thrifty ,golden ,seal ,plant4 ,when you have finished setting your bed1 cover it with a good mulch of rotten leaves from the forest and throw upon them some brush to keep the wind from blowing them away4 ,by spring the leaves will settle down compactly and you will be pleased to see your plants grow luxuriously4 ,october and ,november are the best months of the year in which to set ,golden ,seal plants4 ,they are1 also1 the months in which it should be dug for the market4 ,it may be set in the spring if the plants are near by4 ,the roots will always grow if not allowed to dry before transplanting4 ,if your bed does not supply you with plants fast enough by suckering1 you may propagate plants by cutting the roots into pieces about one-fourth inch long1 leaving as many fibrous roots on each piece as possible4 ,these cuttings should be made in ,september or ,october and placed in boxes of sand over winter4 ,the boxes should be kept in a cellar where they will not freeze4 ,by spring these pieces will have developed a bud and be ready for transplanting1 which should be done just as early as the frost leaves the ground so it can be worked4 ,all the culture needed by this plant is to mulch the beds with forest leaves each fall and keep it clear of grass and field weeds4 ,wild weeds do not seem to injure it4 ,golden ,seal transplants easily and responds readily to proper cultivation4 ,there is no witchcraft in it4 ,the seeds ripen in a large red berry in ,july to germinate1 if planted at once1 the next spring4 ,the fibrous roots1 if stratified in sand loam in the autumn1 will produce fine plants4 ,any good1 fresh1 loamy soil1 that is partially shaded will produce a good ,golden ,seal4 ,you want soil that is in good tilth1 full of humus and life1 and free from grasses and weeds4 ,it will stand a great deal more sunlight than ,ginseng4 ,it will also produce a crop of marketable roots much quicker than ,ginseng4 ,there is no danger of an over supplied market1 as the whims of a nation changing1 or of a boycott of a jealous people4 ,i have my little patch of ,golden ,seal that ,i am watching and with which ,i am experimenting4 ,i want to say right here that you do not need a large capital to begin the culture of these plants that are today being exploited by different parties for cultivation4 ,just get a little plot of virgin soil1 say six yards long by one yard wide and divide it into two equal lots4 ,then secure from the woods or from some one who has stock to sell about #ajj plants of each1 then cultivate or care for your apron garden and increase your plantation from your beds as you increase in wisdom and in the knowledge of the culture of these plants4 ,the ,bible says ,despise not the day of small things4 ,do not1 for your own sake1 invest a lot of money in a ,seng or ,seal plantation or take stock in any exploiter's scheme to get rich quick by the culture of these plants4 ,some one has written a book entitled ,farming by ,inches4 ,it is a good book and should be in every gardener's library4 ,now1 if there be any crops that will pay a big dividend on the investment farmed by inches ,seng and ,seal are the crops4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,golden ,,seal1 ,,history1 ,,etc4 ,the increasing use of ,golden ,seal in medicine has resulted in a wide demand for information about the plant1 its identification1 geographical distribution1 the conditions under which it grows1 methods of collecting and preparing the rhizomes1 relations of supply and demand1 and the possibilities of its cultivation4 ,this paper with the exception of the part relating to cultivation was prepared 7under the direction of ,dr4 ,rodney ,h4 ,true1 ,physiologist in ,charge of ,drug and ,medicinal ,plant ,investigations7 by ,miss ,alice ,henkel1 ,assistant in ,drug and ,medicinal ,plant ,investigations2 and ,mr4 ,g4 ,fred ,klugh1 ,scientific ,assistant in the same office1 in charge of ,cultural ,experiments in the ,testing ,gardens1 furnished the part treating of the cultivation of this plant4 ,in the preparation of this paper1 which was undertaken to meet the demand for information relative to ,golden ,seal1 now fast disappearing from our forests1 many facts have been obtained from ,lloyd's ,drugs and ,medicines of ,north ,america4 ,lyster ,h4 ,dewey1 ,acting ,botanist4 ,office of ,botanical ,investigations and ,experiments1 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c1 ,sept4 #g1 #aijd4 ,history4 ,as in the case of many other native medicinal plants1 the early settlers learned of the virtues of ,golden ,seal thru the ,american ,indians1 who used the root as a medicine and the yellow juice as a stain for their faces and a dye for their clothing4 ,the ,indians regarded ,golden ,seal as a specific for sore and inflamed eyes and it was a very popular remedy with pioneers of ,ohio and ,kentucky for this affliction1 as also for sore mouth1 the root being chewed for the relief of the last named trouble4 ,barton in his ,collection for an ,essay towards a ,materia ,medica of the ,united ,states1 #ahjd1 speaks of the use of a spiritual infusion of the root of ,golden ,seal as a tonic bitters in the western part of ,pennsylvania and the employment of an infusion of the root in cold water as a wash for inflammation of the eyes4 ,according to ,dr4 ,c4 ,s4 ,rafinesque1 in his ,medical ,flora in #ahbi1 the ,indians also employed the juice or infusion for many external complaints1 as a topic tonic and that some ,indians employ it as a diuretic stimulant and escharotic1 using the powder for blistering and the infusion for the dropsy4 ,he states further that internally it is used as a bitter tonic1 in infusion or tincture1 in disorders of the stomach1 the liver1 etc4 ,it was not until the demand was created for ,golden ,seal by the eclectic school of practitioners1 about #agdg1 that it became an article of commerce1 and in #ahfj the root was made official in the ,pharmacopoeia of the ,united ,states1 which place it has held to the present time4 ,habitat and ,range4 ,golden ,seal occurs in patches in high open woods where there is plenty of leaf mold1 and usually on hillsides or bluffs affording nature drainage1 but it is not found in very moist or swampy situations1 in prairie land1 or in sterile soil4 ,it is native from southern ,new ,york to ,minnesota and western ,ontario1 south to ,georgia and ,missouri1 ascending to an altitude of #b1ejj feet in ,virginia4 ,it is now becoming scarce thruout its range4 ,not all of this region1 however1 produced ,golden ,seal in abundance4 ,ohio1 ,indiana1 ,kentucky and ,west ,virginia have been the greatest ,golden ,seal producing states1 while in some localities in southern ,illinois1 southern ,missouri1 northern ,arkansas1 and central and western ,tennessee the plant1 tho common1 could not be said to be sufficiently plentiful to furnish any large amount of the root4 ,in other portions of its range it is sparingly distributed4 ,common ,names4 ,many common names have been applied to this plant in different localities1 most of them bearing some reference to the characteristic yellow color of the root1 such as yellow root1 yellow puccoon1 orange-root1 yellow paint1 yellow ,indian paint1 golden root1 ,indian dye1 curcuma1 wild curcuma1 wild tumeric1 ,indian tumeric1 jaundice root and yellow eye2 other names are eyebalm1 eye-root and ground raspberry4 ,yellow root1 a popular name for it1 is misleading1 as it has been applied to other plants also1 namely to gold thread1 false bittersweet1 twinleaf and the yellow-wood4 ,the name ,golden ,seal1 derived from its yellow color and seal-like scars on the root1 has been1 however1 generally adopted4 ,description of the ,plant4 ,it is a perennial plant and the thick yellow rootstock sends up an erect1 hairy stem about a foot in height1 around the base of which are two or three yellowish scales4 ,the stems1 as they emerge from the ground1 are bent over1 the tops still remaining underground1 and sometimes the stems show some distance above the surface before the tops are brought out from the soil4 ,the yellow color of the roots and scales extends partly up the stem so far as it is covered by soil1 while the portion of the stem above the ground has a purplish color4 ,golden seal has only two leaves 7rarely three71 the stem bearing these seeming to fork at the top1 one branch supporting a large leaf and the other a smaller one and a flower4 ,occasionally there is a third leaf1 much smaller than the other two and stemless4 ,the leaves are prominently veined on the lower surface1 and are palmately #e to #i lobed1 the lobes broad1 acute1 sharply and unequally toothed4 ,the leaves are only partially developed at flowering time and are very much wrinkled1 but they continue to expand until they are from #f to #h inches in diameter1 becoming thinner in texture and smoother4 ,the upper leaf subtends or encloses the flower bud4 ,early in spring1 about ,april or ,may1 the flower appears1 but few ever see it as it lasts only five or six days4 ,it is greenish-white1 less than half an inch in diameter1 and has no petals1 but instead three small petal-like sepals1 which fall away as soon as the flower expands1 leaving only the stamens--as many as #dj or #ej--;in the center of which are about a dozen pistils1 which finally develop into a round1 fleshy1 berrylike head4 ,the fruit ripens in ,july or ,august1 turning a bright red and resembling a large raspberry1 whence the common name ground raspberry1 is derived4 ,each fruit contains from #aj to #bj small1 black1 shining1 hard seeds4 ,if the season has been moist1 the plant sometimes persists to the beginning of winter1 but if it has been a dry season it dies soon after the fruit is ripe1 so that by the end of ,september no trace of the plant remains above the ground4 ,in a patch of ,golden ,seal there are always many sterile stems1 simple and erect1 bearing a solitary leaf at the apex but no flower4 ,mr4 ,homer ,bowers1 of ,montgomery county1 ,ind41 who propagated ,golden ,seal from the seed for the purpose of studying its germination and growth1 states that the plant grown from naturally sown seed often escapes observation during the first year of its existence owing to the fact that in this entire period nothing but two round seed leaves are produced and at this stage the plant does not look materially different from other young seedings4 ,during its second year from seed one basal leaf is sent up1 followed in the third year by another smaller leaf and the flower4 ,description of the ,rhizome1 or ,rootstock4 ,the rhizome 7rootstock7 and rootlets of ,golden ,seal1 or hydrastis1 as it is also known in the drug trade1 are the parts employed in medicine4 ,the full-grown rhizome1 when fresh1 is of a bright yellow color1 both internally and externally1 about #a #a_/b to #b #a_/b inches in length1 and from one-fourth to three-fourths of an inch in thickness4 ,fibrous yellow rootlets are produced from the sides of the rhizome4 ,the fresh rhizome contains a large amount of yellow juice1 and gives off a rank1 nauseating odor4 ,when dry the rhizome measures from one to two inches in length and from one-eighth to one-third of an inch in diameter4 ,it is crooked1 knotty1 wrinkled1 of a dull brown color outside1 and breaks with a clean1 short1 resinous fracture1 showing a lemon-yellow color if the root is not old4 ,if the dried root is kept for a long time it will be greenish-yellow or brown internally1 and becomes inferior in quality4 ,on the upper surface of the rhizome are several depressions1 left by former annual stems1 which resemble the imprint of a seal2 hence the name ,golden ,seal4 ,the fibrous rootlets become very wiry and brittle in drying1 break off readily and leaving only small protuberances1 so that the root as found in commerce is sometimes almost bare4 ,the dried rhizome has also a peculiar1 somewhat narcotic1 disagreeable odor1 but not so pronounced as in the fresh material2 an exceedingly bitter taste2 and a persistent acridity which causes an abundant flow of saliva when the rhizome is chewed4 ,collection and ,preparation of the ,root4 ,the root should be collected in autumn after the plants have matured4 ,spring-dug root shrinks far more in drying and always commands a lower price than the fall-dug root4 ,after the roots are removed from the earth they should be carefully freed from soil and all foreign particles4 ,they should then be sorted and small1 undeveloped roots and broken pieces may be laid aside for replanting4 ,after the roots have been cleaned and sorted they are ready to be dried or cured4 ,great care and judgment are necessary in drying the roots4 ,it is absolutely necessary that they should be perfectly dry before packing and storing1 as the presence of moisture induces the development of molds and mildews1 and of course renders them worthless4 ,the roots are dried by the exposure to the air1 being spread out in thin layers on drying frames or upon a large1 clean1 dry floor4 ,they should be turned several times during the day1 repeating this day after day until the roots are thoroughly dried4 ,if dried out of doors they should be placed under cover upon indication of rain and at night so that they may not be injured by dew4 ,after the roots are thoroughly dried they may be packed as tightly as possible in dry sacks or barrels and they are then ready for shipment4 ,diminution of ,supply4 ,altho1 perhaps1 in some secluded localities ,golden ,seal may still be found rather abundantly1 the supply is rapidly diminishing and there is a growing scarcity of the plant thruout its range4 ,with the advance of civilization and increase in population came a growing demand for many of our native medicinal plants and a corresponding decrease in the sources of supply4 ,as the rich forest lands of the ,ohio valley and elsewhere were required for the needs of the early settlers they were cleared of timber and cultivated1 and the ,golden ,seal1 deprived of the shelter and protection necessary to its existence1 gradually disappeared1 as it will not thrive on land that is cultivated4 ,where it was not destroyed in this manner the root diggers1 diligently plying their vocation1 did their share toward exterminating this useful little plant1 which they collected regardless of the season1 either before the plants had made much growth in the spring or before the seeds had matured and been disseminated1 thus destroying all means of propagation4 ,the demand for the root appears to be increasing1 and the time seems to be not far distant when this plant will have become practically exterminated1 so far as the drug supply is concerned4 ,the cultivation of golden seal seems now to have become a necessity in order to meet the demand and save the plant from extinction4 ,prior to #aijj there seemed to be no one1 so far as the ,department of ,agriculture could ascertain1 who had ever attempted the cultivation of golden seal for the market4 ,from that time on1 many inquiries were directed to the ,department by persons who were quick to note the upward tendency of prices for golden seal and there are now several growers in different parts of the country who have undertaken the cultivation of golden seal on a commercial scale4 ,cultivation4 ,the ,united ,states ,department of ,agriculture has been carrying on experiments in the cultivation of ,golden ,seal on a small scale at ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 since the spring of #ahii1 in the hope that methods might be worked out according to which this valuable wild drug plant could be grown on a commercial scale4 ,in these experiments the aim has been to imitate the natural conditions of growth as closely as possible4 ,the results that have thus far been obtained1 while not as complete in some respects as would be desirable1 seem to justify the conclusion that ,golden ,seal can be successfully cultivated4 ,the methods of operation described apply to the conditions at ,washington1 and the treatment may need to be somewhat modified under other conditions of soil and climate4 ,necessary ,soil ,conditions4 ,the soil conditions should imitate as closely as possible those seen in thrifty deciduous forest4 ,the soil should contain an ample supply of humus1 well worked into the ground1 to secure the lightness and moisture-retaining property of forest soils4 ,the best form of humus is probably leaf mold1 but good results may be obtained by mulching in the autumn or early winter with leaves1 straw1 stable manure1 or similar materials4 ,after the soil has been prepared and planted1 it is well to add a mulch in the fall as a partial protection to the roots during the winter1 and the decay of this material adds to the value of the soil by the time the plants appear in the spring4 ,the forest conditions are thus imitated by the annual addition of vegetable matter to the soil1 which by its gradual decay accumulates an increasing depth of a soil rich in materials adapted to the feeding of the plants and to the preservation of proper physical conditions4 ,the growth of the weeds is also hindered to a considerable extent4 ,if sufficient attention is given to the presence of this mulch1 the nature of the underlying soil is of less importance than otherwise4 ,in the case of clay the thorough incorporation of a large amount of decayed vegetable matter tends to give lightness to the otherwise heavy soil1 facilitating aeration and drainage4 ,since the roots of the ,golden ,seal do not grow well in a wet soil1 thorough drainage is necessary4 ,a lighter1 sandy soil is improved by the addition of humus1 since its capacity to hold moisture is thereby increased and the degree of fertility is improved4 ,the looser the soil1 the easier it is to remove the roots in digging without breaking or injuring them4 ,before planting1 the soil should be thoroughly prepared to a depth of at least #f or #h inches1 so as to secure good aeration and drainage4 ,the good tilth thus secured will be in a degree preserved by the continued addition of the mulch4 ,a further advantage of a careful preparation is seen in a decrease in the amount of cultivation required later4 ,artificial ,shade4 ,since the ,golden ,seal grows naturally in the woods1 it must be protected from the full light of the sun by artificial shade4 ,that used in connection with the experiments of the ,department was made of ordinary pine plastering lath1 nailed to a suitable frame elevated on posts4 ,the posts were of cedar #h #a_/b feet long1 set #b #a_/b feet in the ground in rows #aa feet apart1 and #af feet distance from each other in the rows4 ,supports #b by #d inches were set on cedar blocks #b feet long sunk below the soil surface in the middle of the #af-;foot spaces4 ,pine pieces #b by #d inches were nailed edgewise to the tops of the posts and supports4 ,the posts were notched to receive the #b by #d-;inch sticks4 ,pieces #b by #d inches were nailed across these at intervals of #d feet4 ,the laths were nailed to these1 leaving spaces about an inch wide4 ,this shade has been found to be satisfactory1 as it is high enough above the ground to allow such work as is necessary in preparing and cultivating the land4 ,if the lathing is extended #b or #c feet beyond the posts on the sunny sides1 injury from the sun's rays at the edges of the area will be prevented4 ,the sides may be protected by portable board walls about #b feet high set around the edges4 ,protection from injury by winds when the tops are large may be thus secured4 ,too much dampness should be guarded against in the use of the board sides1 since conditions might be developed favorable to the damping off fungus and to aphides during the hot1 rainy periods4 ,trees may be used for shade1 but this is in some ways to be regarded as unsatisfactory4 ,when the shade produced is of the right density1 the use of the moisture and raw food materials of the soil by the trees is an undesirable feature4 ,attention ,required4 ,the cultivation of ,golden ,seal is simple4 ,having secured a deep1 loose soil1 rich in humus1 renewed annually by the application of a new mulch1 the removal of weeds is the chief care4 ,the soil1 if properly prepared1 will tend to maintain itself in good condition4 ,the manner of treatment is very similar to that required by ,ginseng1 which is also a plant of moist woods4 ,if the ground is thoroughly prepared1 beds are not absolutely necessary4 ,the plants may be grown in rows #a foot apart and #f inches apart in the rows4 ,beds may be thought by some to be more convenient1 enabling the grower to remove the weeds and collect the seed more readily4 ,if beds are used1 they may be made from #d to #h feet wide1 running the entire length of the shade1 with walks from #ah inches to #b feet wide between4 ,boards #f or #h inches wide are set up around the sides of the beds1 being held in place by stakes driven on each side of the board in the center and at the ends4 ,these beds are filled with prepared soil1 and the plants are set #h inches apart each way4 ,methods of ,propagation4 ,there are three possible ways of propagating the plant3 7#a7 by seed2 7#b7 by division of the rhizomes2 7#c7 by means of small plants formed on the stronger fibrous roots4 ,thus far no success has been attained in growing ,golden ,seal from the seed4 ,the second and third methods have given better results4 ,experiments ,with ,seeds4 ,seeds just after ripening were planted in sandy soil mixed with well rotted stable manure and mulched lightly with manure4 ,other lots were kept over winter in a dry condition and planted in the spring in potting soil in a greenhouse4 ,no seedlings have appeared1 but a long rest period may be demanded and the seed may yet germinate4 ,experiments ,with ,divided ,rhizomes4 ,in the spring of #aijb1 #dj plants were secured and planted under a shade of temporary character1 but the season was too far advanced to permit of much growth during that year4 ,in #aijc1 proper shade was supplied1 all other conditions were better1 and the plants made a good growth4 ,the crop was dug about the middle of ,november #aijc2 the roots were weighed and divided4 ,they were again planted and in ,may1 #aijd1 there were found to be #aej strong plants and a few smaller ones as a result of this division1 an increase of #bge per cent4 ,this method of propagation seems to be the most important and the other two of second importance4 ,the processes are simple and no skill is needed4 ,the plant dies down in late summer and the stem decays1 leaving a scar in its place on the rhizome4 ,two or more buds are formed on the sides of the rhizome and these accumulate energy for growth the following spring4 ,if the root is cut in as many pieces as there are buds1 giving each plant a portion of the rhizome1 some fibrous roots1 and one or more buds1 the number of the plants can be doubled4 ,the roots are planted and mulched and the process is complete4 ,the rains pack the soil around the roots and they are ready to grow when spring comes4 ,the process may be repeated every year and the number of roots increased indefinitely4 ,the stronger fibrous roots of the larger plants dug in the autumn of #aijc were formed from a few inches to a foot from the rhizome4 ,some were about half an inch long1 but the majority of them were smaller4 ,the larger ones need no special treatment and may be planted with the main crop4 ,the smaller ones should be planted in boxes or beds of well prepared soil1 at a distance of about #c inches apart1 mulched with a thin coating of leaf mold or similar material1 and grown in shade until large enough to transplant to the shelter with the larger plants4 ,they will probably require at least three years to reach their full development4 ,if they could be left undisturbed in the beds where they are formed they would receive nourishment from the older rhizomes and perhaps grow faster1 but it is probably best to divide the older roots every year where propagation alone is desired1 planting the smaller roots and the plants made by division of the rhizomes4 ,the larger roots are marketed to more advantage than the smaller ones1 so it is best to have the surplus consist of the larger roots4 ,the frequent working of the soil allowed by this treatment will keep it in better condition than if left undisturbed for a longer period4 ,yield of ,roots4 ,the yield from the small plant grown by the ,department was #d pounds of green roots to an eighth of a square rod of soil1 or #e1abj pounds per acre4 ,this1 when dried1 would give about #a1ejj pounds of marketable roots4 ,the conditions were not very good1 the shade being too close to the plants and the plants being set too far apart4 ,the yield will probably be larger with the shade now in use4 ,the #aej roots obtained by dividing the above crop now occupy less than one-fourth of a square rod and are set in rows one foot apart and #f inches apart in the rows4 ,time ,necessary to ,mature ,crop4 ,the number of years necessary to produce the largest crop has not been definitely determined1 but the roots begin to decay after the fourth year and the central and largest part of the root decays at the oldest scar1 leaving two or more plants in place of the old one4 ,no advantage can be gained by growing the plants more than three years and probably very little by growing them more than two years4 ,for propagation alone1 one year will give good results1 while for maintaining a constant area and producing a crop1 two or three years1 depending upon the growth made1 will give a good crop of large1 marketable roots4 ,market ,conditions4 ,golden ,seal is a root the price of which has fluctuated widely1 because of the alternate oversupply and scarcity1 manipulation of the market1 lack of demand1 or other influences4 ,high prices will cause the diggers to gather the root in abundance1 thus overstocking the market1 which the next season results in lower prices1 at which diggers refuse to collect the root1 thus again causing a shortage in the supply4 ,lack of demand usually brings about a shrinkage in price1 even tho the supply is light1 while an active demand will cause prices to advance in spite of a plentiful supply4 ,the arrival of spring dug root has a weakening effect on the market1 altho the fall dug root is always preferred4 ,for the past few years1 however1 high prices have been steadily maintained and there appears to be but one cause for this and that is1 as already pointed out1 that the forests no longer yield unlimited quantities of this valuable root1 as in former years1 and the scant supply that can be had is inadequate to meet the constantly increasing demand4 ,according to the market reports contained in the ,oil1 ,paint and ,drug ,reporter1 the year #aijd opened with a quotation of #gd to #ge cents1 will soon advance 7in one week early in ,february7 from #gf cents to #ie cents4 ,a still further advance occurred about the end of ,february1 when the price went up from #a4jj to #a4be per pound4 ,in ,march the market was almost destitute of supplies1 but lack of interest brought the price down to #a4aj4 ,in ,may the price again advanced to #a4be and it was stated that the local supplies were being held by a small number of dealers1 altho it was believed that together they held not more than #a1jjj pounds4 ,about ,june #ast the arrival of spring dug roots caused the market to sag1 prices ranging from #a4aj to #a4ah during that month and in ,july from #ij cents to #a4aj4 ,in ,august the lowest price was #a4ae and the highest #a4ej1 no discrimination being made between the fall dug and the spring dug roots4 ,from ,september #ast to ,october #aeth1 #aijd1 the price of ,golden ,seal varied but little1 #a4ce being the lowest and #a4dj the highest quotation4 ,no supplies worth mentioning can be obtained in the ,west2 the stock in ,new ,york is short and the demand1 especially for export1 is increasing4 ,it is impossible to ascertain the exact annual consumption of ,golden ,seal root1 but the estimates furnished by reliable dealers place these figures at from #bjj1jjj to #cjj1jjj pounds annually1 about one-tenth of which is probably used for export4 ,it will be observed that the price of this article is very sensitive to market conditions and it seems probable that the point of overproduction would be easily reached if a large number of ,golden ,seal growers were to meet with success in growing large areas of this drug4 ,by ,alice ,henkel1 ,assistant1 and ,g4 ,fred ,flugh1 ,scientific ,assistant1 ,drug and ,medicinal ,plant ,investigations4 ,u4 ,s4 ,department of ,agriculture4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,growers' ,,letters4 ,considerable has been said the past few years concerning ,hydrastis 7,golden ,seal7 and ,i do not wish to enter on a long article describing this plant1 but will make the facts brief and narrate some of my experiences with the plant under cultivation4 ,the scientific name is ,hydrastis ,candensis1 the common name ,golden ,seal1 yellow root1 puccoon root1 ,indian tumeric1 etc41 according to the section in which it is found4 ,it is a perennial plant with an annual stem same as ,ginseng1 and appears above ground in the spring at the same time and manner4 ,the stalk coming thru the ground bent and leaves folded4 ,it has from one to three palmately five to nine lobed leaves1 uneven and sharply toothed4 ,the fruit or seed grows from the base of one of these leaves4 ,flower is first whitish green producing the fruit red and resembling a strawberry1 maturing last of ,july and the first of ,august4 ,the berry contains from fifteen to twenty small oval black shinny seeds4 ,only a portion of the stalks ever bear seed4 ,from the middle to the last of ,september the stalks die down and when winter comes on the hydrastis bed appears the same as a ,ginseng bed4 ,the root stalk or rhizome is thick1 rough covered with rounded indentations or eyes1 dark yellow in color and having many long threadlike bright yellow fibres branching in all directions4 ,it has one and sometimes as many as four buds which will produce the next season's stalks4 ,besides these there are many latent buds and little plantlets on the runners of fibrous roots4 ,the root and all of its fibres is the part used in medicine4 ,i presume it will be difficult to fix a date when this plant was first used in medicine4 ,but it is known that the ,indians used it in healing diseases and in preparing stains and paints when first observed by the white man4 ,dr4 ,rafinesque first makes mention of it in a medical work in #ahbh and the elective physicians adopted it in their practice in #ahdg4 ,the ,pharmacopoeia of the ,u4 ,s4 in #ahfj made ,hydrastis an official drug and described the manufacture of different preparations4 ,it has since gained in favor and in extent of application until at present it is almost the specific in the treatment of certain catarrhal conditions4 ,thousands of pounds being used by the physicians in different parts of the world variously estimated from #bjj1jjj to #cjj1jjj pounds annually1 more extensively1 as you see1 than ,ginseng4 ,the price has advanced as given by the ,drug ,reporter1 from #ahid of #ah to #bc cents a pound1 to #aijc1 of #eb to #ge cents a pound1 since #aijc to #aijf it has advanced to #a4aj to #a4cj a pound4 ,the figures representing the highest and lowest quotations of those years4 ,the price of the plant has advanced first because investigation has proven the value of the plant as a drug in the healing art increasing its consumption1 second the consumption of and destruction of its habitat is limiting its supply4 ,it is used in all countries1 but not found in all countries in its wild state4 ,the ,united ,states supplies the majority of the root4 ,its cultivation is very promising and profitable because only very few have entered the industry yet1 the wild supply is becoming exhausted1 the drug trade demands it and its consumption depends upon a sound demand4 ,there is a promising opportunity in this industry and when ,i am speaking ,i am not offering inducements to get the rich quick individual1 but to the careful1 painstaking1 plodding individual who is willing to give at least some labor for a handsome compensation4 ,i have been one of the pioneers to begin the investigation and cultivation of this plant1 and shall tell some of my experience in handling the plants4 ,illustration3 ,golden ,seal in an ,upland ,grove4 ,i procured four years ago several pounds of green ,hydrastis root from a digger and set them out in three different patches4 ,one in the open garden1 one in an inclosure shaded in the garden1 and one bed in a grove4 ,i had the beds made the same as instructions had been given me for making beds for ,ginseng4 ,ground loose and mellow1 ,i selected only roots with buds formed1 and set an inch under ground and six inches apart4 ,this was in ,june4 ,all the plants came up and all made a good growth except those in the open1 the leaves on these remained small and pinched about two to three inches from the ground4 ,in digging them ,i found that they had thrown out a number of fibrous roots4 ,in the fall ,i procured and set several thousand roots in the woods4 ,the next fall ,i set many more1 but this time ,i cut the roots into three or four pieces and planted4 ,all came the next summer1 some not appearing above ground until ,june4 ,i have had no success in planting seeds1 so do not use this means of raising the plants4 ,the method ,i use now is to cut the roots across so a latent bud will be on one piece1 all small pieces broken and the fibers for some of these grow a plant4 ,after preparing the beds loose ,i lay little trenches across and drop the pieces in these every two or three inches apart1 then cover about an inch with loose dirt1 then leaves and mulch4 ,the best time ,i have found to plant is in ,september1 the earlier the better1 for the buds then form before freezing up and are ready to come in the spring early4 ,they grow larger and thriftier if well rotted manure is in the ground and this does not interfere with the quality of the root4 ,the largest roots ,i have seen grew in a hog lot supplied with hog manure4 ,in three or four years ,i dig the roots1 using a manure fork1 the largest ones ,i wash and dry2 the smaller ones and pieces ,i use for planting4 ,i am arranging a barrel shaped affair closed at the ends and covered around with wire to wash the roots4 ,the method is to put a rod thru with handles on ends and rest on grooves on posts immersed half way of barrel in running water and revolve4 ,in this way ,i believe the roots can be washed readily by splashing and falling in the water1 and tons of the roots easily handled and washed clean with little help4 ,i have dried them by spreading on racks to dry in the sun4 ,in bright sun it requires two or three days4 ,as they wilt1 ,i place on paper in order to save the fibres that break off4 ,when making a business of growing these roots and having good1 fresh roots in considerable quantity1 a better price can be commanded by dealing direct with the drug mill4 ,a great many of the roots when dug will weigh one ounce or more and the roots lose in weight about the same as drying ,ginseng4 ,dr4 ,l4 ,c4 ,ingram1 ,wabasha ,county1 ,minn4 99 99 99 ,there has never been a time in the history of this country when the cultivation of certain medicinal plants1 as ,golden ,seal1 ,ginseng1 ,seneca and others appealed so much to those interested in such things as the present4 ,many of these plants have hitherto been found growing wild in our woods and fields1 and along our road sides and waste places1 and have usually been gathered in an immature state and out of season1 washed and cured in a slovenly manner and bartered at country stores for coffee and calico and other commodities4 ,in this way the drugs and drug trade of the country have been supplied4 ,i think it is very evident to the casual observer that this manner of supply is nearing its close finally and forever4 ,the merchant who handles the stock may not know as yet the great and growing scarcity of almost all our medicinal plants4 ,but the digger who has stood at the first end of the drug trade1 in touch with the natural supply1 knows that the fountains are dried up1 in great measure1 and that the streams of the trade must necessarily soon cease to flow or be supplied by artificial means4 ,in most cases medicinal plants grow naturally in the best soils1 the sandy1 loamy1 moist north hill sides1 the rich1 black coves at the heads of our small streams and in the rich alluvial bottoms along our larger creeks and small rivers4 ,they will not grow in wet lands or on south hill sides4 ,this should be remembered by the would-be culturist and the natural whims of the plant attended to1 else failure and disappointment are sure4 ,what ,i have said is peculiarly the case with ,golden ,seal1 the yellow root of our locality1 the ground raspberry of another1 the yellow puccoon of another and probably bearing other local names in other localities4 ,the natural habitat of ,golden ,seal has been cleared up for farming or grazing purposes1 while the keen eyed sanger has ferreted out every nook and corner adapted to the growth of this plant and then ruthlessly dug it1 little and big1 old and young1 until today it is a very scarce article4 ,the ,indians regarded ,golden ,seal as a sure remedy for sore and inflamed eyes1 sore mouths1 old sores1 wounds1 etc41 and first taught the whites its use as a remedy4 ,the pioneers used it as teas1 washes and salves years before it became known to the medical fraternity4 ,it did not become an article of commerce in any way until about the year #ahdg1 and then it was so plentiful and so little used that the trade was supplied at #c cents per pound for the dried root4 ,i dug it myself1 when a boy1 as late as #ahfh1 and received #e cents per pound for the dried root1 in trade1 at a country store4 ,i found it plentiful in patches in open woods where the ground was rich and favored the growth of paw paw1 dogwood1 walnut1 elm1 sugar maple1 etc4 ,it grew best in land well drained and full of leaf mold4 ,remember this1 ye planters4 ,well1 the demand has rapidly increased1 and the supply1 from the causes afore mentioned1 has more rapidly decreased1 until the price has risen from #c cents to #a4ej per pound4 ,golden ,seal was originally found growing in favorable localities from ,southern ,new ,york west to ,minnesota1 thence south to ,arkansas and east to ,georgia and the hill regions of the ,carolinas4 ,ohio1 ,indiana1 ,west ,virginia and ,eastern ,kentucky have been by far the greatest ,golden ,seal producing sections4 ,golden ,seal is a perennial plant1 the gnarly1 knotty root of which is the part used in medicine4 ,these knotty roots send out in every direction many long1 slender1 bright yellow1 fibrous roots4 ,each root in spring early sends up one to six hairy stems six inches to fifteen or twenty inches in height1 each stem supporting at the top one1 or if a seed yielding plant1 two large leaves1 in shape somewhat resembling the leaf of the sugar maple1 but thicker and more leathery4 ,at the base of each stem are two or three scale like leaves starting from the root1 around the stem and extending to the surface of the ground4 ,these scales are yellow while the leaf stems are somewhat purplish in color4 ,the seed bearing stocks fork near the top of the plant1 each stem supporting a leaf1 the smaller leaf enclosing a flower bud at the base and at the top of the leaf stem4 ,the plants that are not of seed bearing age and size do not fork and have but one leaf4 ,the flowers are greenish1 about an inch in diameter and open1 here1 about the first of ,may4 ,then continue open about five days when the petals fall and the development of the seed berry begins4 ,this berry ripens in ,july4 ,when ripe it is red in color and resembles a large raspberry and contains about #bj to #cj small1 round1 black1 shiny1 hard seeds4 ,these seeds1 if stratified at once and kept in moist1 sandy loam1 will begin to open by the first of ,february1 each seed showing a beautiful1 bright1 shiny1 golden bud4 ,the seeds should be planted very early4 ,when it comes up the young plant has two leaves and does not develop any further leaf or stem growth during the first summer4 ,the first two leaves do not look at all like those that follow4 ,so1 be careful or you will destroy your plants for weeds4 ,plants may be readily propagated by cutting up the roots into pieces1 say #a_/d-;inch long and placing these root cuttings in boxes of loamy sand in the autumn4 ,by spring each root cutting will have developed a fine bud and be ready for transplanting1 which should be done as early as possible4 ,the plant also propagates itself by sending up suckers from the fibrous roots4 ,illustration3 ,locust ,grove ,seal ,garden4 ,as to culture1 ,i would say1 follow nature4 ,do not plow and hoe and rake and make a bed as for onions4 ,just simply select a piece of virgin soil1 if possible1 and make rows1 say one foot apart and set the plants about three or four inches apart in the rows4 ,all the culture needful is to pull out the weeds1 and1 if the trees in the patch be not sufficient to furnish a good leaf mulch in the fall1 attend to this by mulching with a good coat of forest leaves4 ,my ,golden ,seal garden is in a locust grove that is rapidly growing into posts1 so1 you see1 ,i am getting two very profitable crops off the same land at the same time4 ,the plants should grow in a bed of this kind until it becomes full of roots1 which will require three to five years4 ,it is all the better if they are allowed to grow longer4 ,the whole patch should be dug in the fall when the tops die down4 ,the large roots should be carefully washed and cleansed of all foreign roots and fibers and dried on clean cloths in the shade1 when it is ready for market and should be shipped in clean1 new bags to some reliable dealer in the larger cities4 ,there are plenty of them and ,i would advise that you write to several of them1 telling them just what you have before you ship4 ,i know from actual experience that good money may be made by the right party in the culture of ,golden ,seal4 ,if a young man would start a garden of medicinal plants and attend to it at odd times1 studying the nature of the plants and carefully save all seeds and add them to his stock1 in a few years he would have a garden with a large sum of money4 ,i have estimated an acre of ,golden ,seal at full maturity and as thick on the ground as it should be grown to be worth #d1hdj1 or one dollar per square yard4 ,it will not take a very great while to fill an acre with plants4 ,besides1 if the land is planted in locust trees it is yielding two crops of wonderful value at the same time4 ,one young man from ,virginia says3 ,i have a piece of new ground just cleared up which ,i think would be just the thing1 and then ,i could set out short stem red cherries to shade and cover the ground4 ,please let me hear from you at once4 ,well1 if this piece of ground is on the right side of the hill1 that is1 the north or northeast or west slope1 and is rich1 loose and loamy1 full of leaf mold and naturally well drained1 it is all right for ,golden ,seal1 but would it suit cherries8 ,cherries might do very well for shade1 but ,i would prefer catalpa or locust or some other quick growing timber tree to any sort of fruit tree4 ,one reason is that in gathering the fruit and in caring for the trees ,i think the ,golden ,seal would be trampled upon and injured1 also the ground would be trampled and compacted and thus rendered unsuitable for this plant4 ,the ground in which ,golden ,seal grows should be kept in its new state as much as possible4 ,however1 my ,virginia friend may succeed well with his cherries and ,seal4 ,he must keep up the primitive condition of the soil and keep out weeds and grass4 ,another question1 ,how long will it take it to mature8 ,as to its maturity1 it may be dug1 cleansed1 dried and marketed at any time and in any stage of its growth4 ,but ,i think that a setting of ,golden ,seal should be dug in the fall three or four years after planting2 the large roots washed and cleansed and made ready for market1 while the smaller roots should be used for resetting the bed4 ,you will have enough small roots to set a patch ten or twelve times the size of the one you dig1 as each root set will in three or four years produce ten to fifteen good plants besides yielding a lot of seed4 ,how much will it cost to plant one-eighth of an acre8 ,one-eighth of an acre contains twenty square rods1 and to set one square rod1 in rows eighteen inches apart would take #cfc plants1 and twenty square rods would take #bj times #cfc plants1 or #g1bfj plants1 which at #aj4jj per thousand1 would cost #gb4fj4 ,but ,i would advise the beginner to make haste slowly in trying new things4 ,a thing may be all right and very profitable if we understand it and give it proper culture1 while it is very easy to make sad failure by over doing a good thing4 ,so let the beginner procure a thousand or so plants and start his garden on a small scale1 and increase his plantation from his own seed bed as his knowledge of the plant and its culture increases4 ,a very large garden may be set in a few years from #a1jjj plants4 ,should the seed be sown broadcast8 ,to be successful with the seed requires great patience and pains4 ,i make a large flat brush heap and burn it off in the fall4 ,i then dig up the ground to the depth of three or four inches and place boards edgewise around this bed1 letting them down into the ground two or three inches4 ,these boards are to keep out mice and to prevent washing4 ,i then sow the seeds in little trenches made with a hoe handle about six inches apart and pretty thick in the trenches and smooth over and tramp solid4 ,then sow a few handfuls of bone dust mulched with forest leaves and cover with brush to keep the leaves from blowing away4 ,you are done now until spring4 ,in the early spring1 after freezing weather is over1 carefully remove the brush and the mulch of leaves4 ,remember this must be done early as the plant wants to come up early4 ,watch for your young plants and carefully pull up every weed as soon as it shows itself4 ,mulch again in the fall and remove as before the next spring4 ,keep down weeds as before1 and by fall you will have a fine lot of ,no4 #a two-year-old plants1 which may be transplanted to the garden at once or early the next spring4 ,i should have stated that ,golden ,seal seed should not be allowed to dry after gathering4 ,they should be placed in layers of sand in a box and kept moist until planting time4 ,they begin to germinate very early1 and if you delay planting until spring you are nearly sure to lose them4 ,as to the profits1 ,i want it distinctly understood that ,i do not think that every one who starts a bed or patch of ,golden ,seal will be a millionaire in a few years4 ,but ,i do think1 and in fact ,i know1 that considering the land in cultivation1 the time and expense of its culture1 it is one of the most profitable crops that can be grown in this latitude4 ,lee ,s4 ,dick1 ,wayne ,county1 ,w4 ,va4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,golden ,,seal--,,government ,,description1 ,,etc4 ,the following is from a bulletin issued by the ,u4 ,s4 ,department of ,agriculture--,bureau of ,plant ,industry--and edited by ,alice ,henkel3 ,hydrastis ,canadensis ,l4 ,pharmacopoeial ,name--,hydrastis4 ,other ,common ,names--,yellowroot1 yellow puccoon1 orange-root1 yellow ,indian-paint1 turmeric-root1 ,indian turmeric1 ,ohio curcuma1 ground raspberry1 eye-root1 eye-balm1 yellow-eye1 jaundice-root1 ,indian-dye4 ,habitat and ,range--,this native forest plant occurs in patches in high1 open woods1 and usually on hill sides or bluffs affording natural drainage1 from southern ,new ,york to ,minnesota and western ,ontario1 south to ,georgia and ,missouri4 ,golden ,seal is now becoming scarce thruout its range4 ,ohio1 ,indiana1 ,kentucky and ,west ,virginia have been the greatest ,golden ,seal producing states4 ,illustration3 ,golden ,seal 7,hydrastis ,canadensis7 ,flowering ,plant and ,fruit4 ,description of ,plant--,golden ,seal is a perennial plant belonging to the same family as the buttercup1 namely the crowfoot family 7,ranunculaceae47 ,it has a thick yellow rootstock1 which sends up an erect hairy stem about #a foot in height1 surrounded at the base by #b or #c yellowish scales4 ,the yellow color of the roots and scales extends up the stem so far as it is covered by soil1 while the portion of the stem above ground has a purplish color4 ,the stem1 which has only two leaves1 seems to fork at the top1 one branch bearing a large leaf and the other a smaller one and a flower4 ,a third leaf1 which is much smaller than the other two and stemless1 is occasionally produced4 ,the leaves are palmately #e to #i lobed1 the lobes broad1 acute1 sharply and unequally toothed2 they are prominently veined on the lower surface and at flowering time1 when they are very much wrinkled1 they are only partially developed1 but they continue to expand until they are from #f to #h inches in diameter becoming thinner in texture and smoother4 ,the upper leaf subtends or incloses the flower bud4 ,the greenish white flower appears about ,april or ,may1 but it is of short duration1 lasting only five or six days4 ,it is less than half an inch in diameter1 and1 instead of petals1 has three small petal-like sepals1 which fall away as soon as the flower expands1 leaving only the numerous stamens 7as many as #dj or #ej71 in the center of which are about a dozen pistils1 which finally develop into a round fleshy1 berry-like head which ripens in ,july or ,august4 ,the fruit when ripe turns a bright red and resembles a large raspberry1 whence the common name ground-raspberry is derived4 ,it contains from #aj to #bj small black1 shining1 hard seeds4 ,illustration3 ,golden ,seal ,rootstock4 ,description of ,rootstock--,the fresh rootstock of ,golden ,seal1 which has a rank1 nauseating odor1 is bright yellow1 both internally and externally1 with fibrous yellow rootlets produced from the sides4 ,it is from #a #a_/b to #b #a_/b inches in length1 from #a_/d to #c_/d of an inch in thickness1 and contains a large amount of yellow juice4 ,in the dried state the rootstock is crooked1 knotty and wrinkled1 from #a to #b inches in length1 and from one-eighth to one-third of an inch in diameter4 ,it is a dull brown color on the outside and breaks with a clean1 short1 resinous fracture1 showing a lemon-yellow color inside4 ,after the rootstock has been kept for some time it will become greenish yellow or brown internally and its quality impaired4 ,the cup-like depressions or stem scars on the upper surface of the rootstock resemble the imprint of a seal1 whence the most popular name of the plant1 golden seal1 is derived4 ,the rootstock as found in commerce is almost bare1 the fibrous rootlets1 which in drying become very wiry and brittle1 breaking off readily and leaving only small protuberances4 ,the odor of the dried rootstock1 while not so pronounced as in the fresh material1 is peculiar1 narcotic and disagreeable4 ,the taste is exceedingly bitter1 and when the rootstock is chewed there is a persistent acridity1 which causes an abundant flow of saliva4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the root should be collected in autumn after the seeds have ripened1 freed from soil1 and carefully dried4 ,after a dry season ,golden ,seal dies down soon after the fruit is mature1 so that it often happens that by the end of ,september not a trace of the plant remains above ground2 but if the season has been moist1 the plant sometimes persists to the beginning of winter4 ,the price of ,golden ,seal ranges from #a to #a4ej a pound4 ,golden ,seal1 which is official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia1 is a useful drug in digestive disorders and in certain catarrhal affections of the mucous membranes1 in the latter instance being administered both internally and locally4 ,cultivation--,once so abundant in certain parts of the country1 especially in the ,ohio ,valley1 ,golden ,seal is now becoming scarce thruout its range1 and in consequence of the increased demand for the root1 both at home and abroad1 its cultivation must sooner or later be more generally undertaken in order to satisfy the needs of medicine4 ,in some parts of the country the cultivation of ,golden ,seal is already under way4 ,the first thing to be considered in growing this plant is to furnish it1 as nearly as possible1 the conditions to which it has been accustomed in its native forest home4 ,this calls for a well-drained soil1 rich in humus1 and partially shaded4 ,golden ,seal stands transplanting well1 and the easiest way to propagate it is to bring the plants in from the forest and transplant them to a properly prepared location1 or to collect the rootstocks and to cut them into as many pieces as there are buds1 planting these pieces in a deep1 loose1 well-prepared soil1 and mulching1 adding new mulch each year to renew the humus4 ,with such a soil the cultivation of ,golden ,seal is simple and it will be necessary chiefly to keep down the weeds4 ,the plants may be grown in rows #a foot apart and #f inches apart in the row1 or they may be grown in beds #d to #h feet wide1 with walks between4 ,artificial shade will be necessary and this is supplied by the erection of lath sheds4 ,the time required to obtain a marketable crop is from two to three years4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,cohosh--,,black ,,and ,,blue4 ,black ,cohosh4 ,cimicifuga ,racemosa 7,l47 ,nutt4 ,synonym--,actaea ,racemosa ,l4 ,pharmacopoeial ,name--,cimicifuga4 ,other ,common ,names--,black snakeroot1 bugbane1 bugwort1 rattlesnakeroot1 rattleroot1 rattleweed1 rattletop1 richweed1 squawroot4 ,habitat and ,range--,altho preferring the shade of rich woods1 black cohosh will grow occasionally in sunny situations in fence corners and woodland pastures4 ,it is most abundant in the ,ohio ,valley1 but it occurs from ,maine to ,wisconsin1 south along the ,allegheny ,mountains to ,georgia and westward to ,missouri4 ,description of ,plant--,rising to a height of #c to #h feet1 the showy1 delicate-flowered spikes of the ,black ,cohosh tower above most of the other woodland flowers1 making it a conspicuous plant in the woods and one that can be easily recognized4 ,illustration3 ,black ,cohosh 7,cimicifuga ,racemosa7 ,leaves1 ,flowering ,spikes and ,rootstock4 ,black ,cohosh is an indigenous perennial plant belonging to the same family as the ,golden ,seal1 namely1 the crowfoot family 7,ranunculaceae74 ,the tall stem1 sometimes #h feet in height1 is rather slender and leafy1 the leaves consisting of three leaflets1 which are again divided into threes4 ,the leaflets are about #b inches long1 ovate1 sharp pointed at the apex1 thin and smooth1 variously lobed and the margins sharply toothed4 ,the graceful1 spikelike terminal cluster of flowers1 which is produced from ,june to ,august1 is from #f inches to #b feet in length4 ,attractive as these flower clusters are to the eye1 they generally do not prove attractive very long to those who may gather them for their beauty1 since the flowers emit an offensive odor1 which account for some of the common names applied to this plant1 namely1 bugbane and bugwort1 it having been thought that this odor was efficacious in driving away bugs4 ,the flowers do not all open at one time and thus there may be seen buds1 blossoms1 and seed pods on one spike4 ,the buds are white and globular and as they expand in flower there is practically nothing to the flower but very numerous white stamens and the pistil1 but the stamens spread out around the pistil in such a manner as to give to the spike a somewhat feathery or fluffy appearance which is very attractive4 ,the seed pods are dry1 thick and leathery1 ribbed1 and about one-fourth of an inch long1 with a small beak at the end4 ,the smooth brown seeds are enclosed within the pods in two rows4 ,any one going thru the woods in winter may find the seed pods1 full of seeds1 still clinging to the dry1 dead stalk1 and the rattling of the seeds in the pods as the wind passes over them has given rise to the common names rattle-snakeroot 7not rattlesnake-root71 rattleweed1 rattletop and rattleroot4 ,description of ,rootstock--,the rootstock is large1 horizontal and knotty or rough and irregular in appearance4 ,the upper surface of the rootstock is covered with numerous round scars and stumps1 the remains of former leaf stems1 and on the fresh rootstocks may be seen the young1 pinkish white buds which are to furnish the next season's growth4 ,from the lower part of the rootstock long1 fleshy roots arc produced4 ,the fresh rootstock is very dark reddish brown on the outside1 white within1 showing a large central pith from which radiate rays of a woody texture1 and on breaking the larger roots also the woody rays will be seen in the form of a cross4 ,on drying1 the rootstock becomes hard and turns much darker1 both internally and externally1 but the peculiar cross formation of the woody rays in both rootstock and roots1 being lighter in color1 is plainly seen without the aid of a magnifying glass4 ,the roots in drying become wiry and brittle and break off very readily4 ,black cohosh has a heavy odor and a bitter1 acrid taste4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the root should be collected after the fruit has ripened1 usually in ,september4 ,the price ranges from #b to #c cents a pound4 ,the ,indians had long regarded black cohosh as a valuable medicinal plant1 not only for the treatment of snake bites1 but it was also a very popular remedy among their women1 and it is today considered of value as an alterative1 emmenagogue1 and sedative1 and is recognized as official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia4 ,blue ,cohosh4 ,caulophyllum ,thalictroides 7,l47 ,michx4 ,other ,common ,names--,caulophyllum1 pappoose-root1 squawroot1 blueberryroot1 blue ginseng1 yellow ginseng4 ,illustration3 ,blue ,cohosh 7,caulophyllum ,thalictroides74 ,habitat and ,range--,blue ,cohosh is found in the deep rich loam of shady woods from ,new ,brunswick to ,south ,carolina1 westward to ,nebraska1 being abundant especially thruout the ,allegheny ,mountain region4 ,description of ,plant--,this member of the barberry family 7,berberidaceae7 is a perennial herb1 #a to #c feet in height1 and indigenous to this country4 ,it bears at the top one large1 almost stemless leaf1 which is triternately compound--that is1 the main leaf stem divides into three stems1 which again divide into threes1 and each division bears three leaflets4 ,sometimes there is a smaller leaf1 but similar to the other1 at the base of the flowering branch4 ,the leaflets are thin in texture1 oval1 oblong1 or obovate and #c to #e lobed4 ,in the early stage of its growth this plant is covered with a sort of bluish green bloom1 but it generally loses this and becomes smooth4 ,the flowers are borne in a small terminal panicle or head1 and are small and greenish yellow4 ,they appear from ,april to ,may1 while the leaf is still small4 ,the globular seeds1 which ripen about ,august1 are borne on stout stalks in membranous capsules and resemble dark-blue berries4 ,description of ,rootstock--,the thick1 crooked rootstock of ,blue ,cohosh is almost concealed by the mass of matted roots which surrounds it4 ,there are numerous cup-shaped scars and small branches on the upper surface of the rootstock1 while the lower surface gives off numerous long1 crooked1 matted roots4 ,some of the scars are depressed below the surface of the rootstock1 while others are raised above it4 ,the outside is brownish and the inside tough and woody4 ,blue ,cohosh possesses a slight odor and a sweetish1 somewhat bitter and acrid taste4 ,in the powdered state it causes sneezing4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the root is dug in the fall4 ,very often the roots of ,golden ,seal or twinleaf are found mixed with those of ,blue ,cohosh4 ,the price of ,blue ,cohosh root ranges from #b #a_/b to #d cents a pound4 ,blue ,cohosh1 official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia for #ahij1 is used as a demulcent1 antispasmodic1 emmenagogue and diuretic4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,snakeroot--,,canada ,,and ,,virginia4 ,canada ,snakeroot4 ,asarum ,canadense ,l4 ,other ,common ,names--,asarum1 wild ginger1 ,indian ginger1 ,vermont snakeroot1 heart-snakeroot1 southern snakeroot1 black snakeroot1 colt's-foot1 snakeroot1 black snakeweed1 broadleaved asarabacca1 false colt's-foot1 cat's foot1 colicroot4 ,habitat and ,range--,this inconspicuous little plant frequents rich woods or rich soil along road sides from ,canada south to ,north ,carolina and ,kansas4 ,description of ,plant--,canada snakeroot is a small1 apparently stemless perennial1 not more than #f to #ab inches in height1 and belongs to the birthwort family 7,aristolochaceae74 ,it usually has but two leaves which are borne on slender1 finely hairy stems2 they are kidney shaped or heart shaped1 thin1 dark green above and paler green on the lower surface1 strongly veined1 and from #d to #g inches broad4 ,the solitary bell-shaped flower is of an unassuming dull brown or brownish purple and this modest color1 together with its position on the plant1 renders it so inconspicuous as to escape the notice of the casual observer4 ,it droops from a short1 slender stalk produced between the two leaf stems and is almost hidden under the two leaves1 growing so close to the ground that it is sometimes buried beneath old leaves1 and sometimes the soil must be removed before the flower can be seen4 ,it is bell shaped1 wooly1 the inside darker in color than the outside and of a satiny texture4 ,the fruit which follows is in the form of a leathery #f-;celled capsule4 ,illustration3 ,canada ,snakeroot 7,asarum ,canadense74 ,description of ,rootstock--,canada snakeroot has a creeping1 yellowish rootstock1 slightly jointed1 with this rootlets produced from joints which occur about every half inch or so4 ,in the drug trade the rootstock is usually found in pieces a few inches in length and about one-eighth of an inch in diameter4 ,these are four-angled1 crooked1 brownish and wrinkled on the outside1 whitish inside and showing a large central pith1 hard and brittle and breaking with a short fracture4 ,the odor is fragrant and the taste spicy and aromatic1 and has been said to be intermediate between ginger and serpentaria4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the aromatic root of ,canada snakeroot is collected in autumn and the price ranges from #aj to #ae cents a pound4 ,it was reported as very scarce in the latter part of the summer of #aijf4 ,canada ,snakeroot1 which was official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia from #ahbj to #ahhj1 is used as an aromatic1 diaphoretic and carminative4 ,serpentaria4 7#a7 ,aristolochia serpentaris ,l4 and 7#b7 ,aristolochia reticulata ,nutt4 ,pharmacopoeial ,name--,serpentaria4 ,illustration3 ,verginia ,serpentaria 7,aristolochia serpentaris74 ,other ,common ,names--7#a7 ,virginia serpentaria1 ,virginia snakeroot1 serpentary1 snakeweed1 pelican-flower1 snagrel1 sangrel1 sangree-root2 7#b7 ,texas serpentaria1 ,texas snakeroot1 ,red ,river snakeroot4 ,habitat and ,range--,virginia serpentaria is found in rich woods from ,connecticut to ,michigan and southward1 principally along the ,alleghenies1 and ,texas serpentaria occurs in the ,southwestern ,states1 growing along river banks from ,arkansas to ,louisiana4 ,description of ,virginia ,serpentaria--,about midsummer the queerly shaped flowers of this native perennial are produced4 ,they are very similar to those of the better known ,dutchman's-pipe1 another species of this genus1 which is quite extensively grown as an ornamental vine for covering porches and trellises4 ,virginia serpentaria and ,texas serpentaria both belong to the birth wort family 7,aristolochiaceae74 ,the ,virginia serpentaria is nearly erect1 the slender1 wavy stem sparingly branched near the base1 and usually growing to about a foot in height1 sometimes1 however1 even reaching #c feet4 ,the leaves are thin1 ovate1 ovate lance shaped or oblong lance shaped1 and usually heart shaped at the base2 they are about #b #a_/b inches long and about #a or #a #a_/b inches in width4 ,the flowers are produced from near the base of the plant1 similar to its near relative1 the ,canada snakeroot4 ,they are solitary and terminal1 borne on slender1 scaly branches1 dull brownish purple in color1 and of a somewhat leathery texture2 the calyx tube is curiously bent or contorted in the shape of the letter ,s4 ,the fruit is a roundish #f-;celled capsule1 about half an inch in diameter and containing numerous seeds4 ,description of ,texas ,serpentaria--,this species has a very wavy stem1 with oval1 heart-shaped1 clasping leaves1 which are rather thick and strongly reticulated or marked with a network of veins2 hence the specific name reticulata4 ,the entire plant is hairy1 with numerous long1 coarse hairs4 ,the small1 densely hairy purplish flowers are also produced from the base of the plant4 ,description of ,rootstock--,serpentaria has a short rootstock with many thin1 branching1 fibrous roots4 ,in the dried state it is thin and bent1 the short remains of stems showing on the upper surface and the under surface having numerous thin roots about #d inches in length1 all of a dull yellowish brown color1 internally white4 ,it has a very agreeable aromatic odor1 somewhat like camphor1 and the taste is described as warm1 bitterish and camphoraceous4 ,the ,texas serpentaria has a larger rootstock1 with fewer roots less interlaced than the ,virginia serpentaria4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the roots of serpentaria are collected in autumn4 ,various other roots are sometimes mixed with serpentaria1 but as they are mostly high-priced drugs1 such as golden seal1 pinkroot1 senega and ginseng1 their presence in a lot of serpentaria is probably accidental1 due simply to proximity of growth of these plants4 ,abscess-root 7,polemonium ,reptans ,l47 is another root with which serpentaria is often adulterated4 ,it is very similar to serpentaria1 except that it is nearly white4 ,the price of serpentaria ranges from #ce to #dj cents a pound4 ,serpentaria is used for its stimulant1 tonic1 and diaphoretic properties4 ,both species are official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,pokeweed4 ,phytolacca ,decandra ,l4 a4 ,synonym--,phytolacca ,americana 7,l74 a4 ,pharmacopoeial ,name--,phytolacca4 ,other ,common ,names--,poke1 pigeon-berry1 garget1 scoke1 pocan1 coakum1 ,virginia poke1 inkberry1 red inkberry1 ,american nightshade1 cancer-jalap1 redweed4 ,habitat and ,range--,pokeweed1 a common1 familiar1 native weed1 is found in rich1 moist soil along fence rows1 fields1 and uncultivated land from the ,new ,england ,states to ,minnesota south to ,florida and ,texas4 ,description of ,plant--,in ,europe1 where pokeweed has become naturalized from his country1 it is regarded as an ornamental garden plant1 and1 indeed1 it is very showy and attractive with its reddish purple stems1 rich green foliage1 and clusters of white flowers and dark-purple berries4 ,the stout1 smooth stems1 arising from a very large perennial root1 attain a height of from #c to #i feet and are erect and branched1 green at first1 then reddish4 ,if a piece of the stem is examined1 the pith will be seen to be divided into disk-shaped parts with hollow spaces between them4 ,the smooth leaves are borne on short stems and are about #e inches long and #b to #c inches wide1 ovate or ovate oblong1 acute at the apex1 and the margins entire4 ,the long-stalked clusters of whitish flowers1 which appear from ,july to ,september are from #c to #d inches in length1 the flowers numerous and borne on reddish stems4 ,in about two months the berries will have matured and assumed a rich dark-purple color4 ,these smooth and shining purple berries are globular1 flattened at both ends1 and contain black seeds embedded in a rich crimson juice4 ,this plant belongs to the pokeweed family 7,phytolaccaceae74 a4 ,phytolacca ,americana ,l4 by right of priority should be accepted but ,p4 ,decandra ,l4 is used in conformity with the ,pharmacopoeia4 ,illustration3 ,pokeweed 7,phytolacca ,decandra71 ,flowering and ,fruiting ,branch4 ,description of ,root--,pokeweed has a very thick1 long1 fleshy root1 conical in shape and branches very much resembling that of horseradish and poisonous4 ,in commerce it usually occurs in transverse or lengthwise slices1 the outside a yellowish brown and finely wrinkled lengthwise and thickly encircled with lighter colored ridges4 ,it breaks with a fibrous fracture and is yellowish gray within4 ,the transverse slices show many concentric rings4 ,there is a slight odor and the taste is sweetish and acrid4 ,the root when powdered causes sneezing4 ,illustration3 ,pokeweek ,root4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the root of the ,pokeweed1 which is official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia1 is collected in the latter part of autumn1 thoroughly cleaned1 cut into a transverse or lengthwise slices1 and carefully dried4 ,it brings from #b #a_/b to #d cents a pound4 ,the root is used for its alterative properties in treating various diseases of the skin and blood1 and in certain cases in relieving pain and allaying inflammation4 ,it also acts upon the bowels and causes vomiting4 ,the berries when fully matured are also used in medicine4 ,the young and tender shoots of the pokeweed are eaten in spring1 like asparagus1 but bad results may follow if they are not thoroughly cooked or if they are cut too close to the root4 ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,,may-,,apple4 ,podophyllum ,peltatum ,l4 ,pharmacopoeial ,name--,podophyllum4 ,other ,common ,names--,mandrake1 wild mandrake1 ,american mandrake1 wild lemon1 ground-lemon1 hog-apple1 devil's-apple1 ,indian apple1 raccoon-berry1 duck's-foot1 umbrella-plant1 vegetable calomel4 ,habitat and ,range--,the ,may-apple is an indigenous plant1 found in low woods1 usually growing in patches1 from western ,quebec to ,minnesota1 south to ,florida and ,texas4 ,description of ,plant--,a patch of ,may-apple can be distinguished from afar1 the smooth1 dark-green foliage and close and even stand making it a conspicuous feature of the woodland vegetation4 ,may-apple is a perennial plant1 and belongs to the barberry family 7,berberidaceae47 ,it is erect and grows about #a foot in height4 ,the leaves are only two in number1 circular in outline1 but with five to seven deep lobes1 the lobes #b cleft1 and toothed at the apex2 they are dark green above1 the lower surface lighter green and somewhat hairy or smooth1 sometimes #a foot in diameter1 and borne on long leafstalks which are fixed to the center of the leaf1 giving it an umbrella-like appearance4 ,the waxy-white1 solitary flower1 sometimes #b inches in diameter1 appears in ,may1 nodding on its short stout stalk1 generally right between the two large umbrella-like leaves1 which shade and hide it from view4 ,the fruit which follows is lemon shaped1 at first green1 then yellow1 about #b inches in length and edible1 altho when eaten immoderately it is known to have produced bad effects4 ,in a patch of ,may-apple plants there are always a number of sterile or flowerless stalks1 which bear leaves similar to those of the flowering plants4 ,illustration3 ,may-apple 7,podophyllum ,pellatum71 ,upper ,portion of ,plant with ,flower and ,rootstock4 ,description of ,rootstock--,the horizontally creeping rootstock of ,may-apple when taken from the ground1 is from #a to #f feet or more in length1 flexible1 smooth1 and round1 dark brown on the outside and whitish and fleshy within2 at intervals of a few inches are thickened joints1 on the upper surface of which are round stem scars and on the lower side a tuft of rather stout roots4 ,sometimes the rootstock bears lateral branches4 ,the dried rootstock1 as it occurs in the stores1 is in irregular1 somewhat cylindrical pieces1 smooth or somewhat wrinkled1 yellowish brown or dark brown externally1 whitish to pale brown internally1 breaking with a short1 sharp fracture1 the surface of which is mealy4 ,the odor is slight and the taste at first sweetish1 becoming very bitter and acrid4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the proper time for collecting the rootstock is in the latter half of ,september or in ,october4 ,the price paid for ,may-apple root ranges from #c to #f cents a pound4 ,may-apple root1 which is recognized as official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia1 is an active cathartic and was known as such to the ,indians4 ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,,seneca ,,snakeroot4 ,polygala ,senega ,l4 ,pharmacopoeial ,name--,senega4 ,other ,common ,names--,senega snakeroot1 ,seneca-root1 rattlesnake-root1 mountain flax4 ,habitat and ,range--,rocky woods and hillsides are the favorite haunts of this indigenous plant4 ,it is found in such situations from ,new ,brunswick and western ,new ,england to ,minnesota and the ,canadian ,rocky ,mountains1 and south along the ,allegheny ,mountains to ,north ,carolina and ,missouri4 ,description of ,plant--,the perennial root of this useful little plant sends up a number of smooth1 slender1 erect stems 7as many as #ae to #bj or more71 sometimes slightly tinged with red1 from #f inches to a foot in height1 and generally unbranched4 ,the leaves alternate on the stem1 are lance shaped or oblong lance shaped1 thin in texture1 #a to #b inches long1 and stemless4 ,the flowering spikes are borne on the ends of the stems and consist of rather crowded1 small1 greenish white1 insignificant flowers4 ,the flowering period of ,seneca ,snakeroot is from ,may to ,june4 ,the spike blossoms gradually1 and when the lower-most flowers have already fruited the upper part of the spike is still in flower4 ,the seed capsules are small and contain two black1 somewhat hairy seeds4 ,the short slender stalks supporting these seed capsules have a tendency to break off from the main axis before the seed is fully mature1 leaving the spike in a rather ragged-looking condition1 and the yield of seed1 therefore1 is not very large4 ,seneca ,snakeroot belongs to the milkwort family 7,polygalaceae74 ,a form of ,seneca ,snakeroot1 growing mostly in the ,north ,central ,states and distinguished by its taller stems and broader leaves1 has been called ,polygala ,senega ,var4 ,latifolia4 ,illustration3 ,seneca ,snakeroot 7,polygala ,senega71 ,flowering ,plant with ,root4 ,description of ,root--,seneca ,snakeroot is described in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia as follows3 ,somewhat cylindrical1 tapering1 more or less flexuous1 #c to #ae cm4 long and #b to #h mm4 thick1 bearing several similar horizontal branches and a few rootlets2 crown knotty with numerous buds and short stem remnants2 externally yellowish gray or brownish yellow1 longitudinally wrinkled1 usually marked by a keel which is more prominent in perfectly dry roots near the crown2 fracture short1 wood light yellow1 usually excentrically developed2 odor slight1 nauseating2 taste sweetish1 afterwards acrid4 ,the ,seneca ,snakeroots found in commerce vary greatly in size1 that obtained from the ,south1 which is really the official drug1 being usually light colored and small4 ,the principal supply of ,seneca ,snakeroot now comes from ,minnesota1 ,wisconsin1 and farther northward1 and this western ,seneca ,snakeroot has a much larger1 darker root1 with a crown or head sometimes measuring #b or #c inches across and the upper part of the root very thick4 ,it is also less twisted and not so distinctly keeled4 ,seneca ,snakeroot is often much adulterated with the roots of other species of ,polygala and of other plants4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the time for collecting ,seneca ,snakeroot is in autumn4 ,labor conditions play a great part in the rise and fall of prices for this drug4 ,it is said that very little ,seneca ,snakeroot has been dug in the ,northwest during #aijf1 due to the fact that the ,indians and others who usually engage in this work were so much in demand as farm hands and railroad laborers1 which paid them far better than the digging of ,seneca ,snakeroot4 ,collectors receive from about #ee to #gj cents a pound for this root4 ,this drug1 first brought into prominence as a cure for snake bite among the ,indians1 is now employed as an expectorant1 emetic and diuretic4 ,it is official in the ,pharmacopoeia of the ,united ,states4 ,,chapter ,,xxvi4 ,,lady',s-,,slipper4 7#a7 ,cypripedium hirsutum ,mill and 7#b7 ,cypripedium parviflorum ,salisb4 ,synonym--7#a7 ,cypripedium ,pubescens ,wild4 ,pharmacopoeial ,name--,cypripedium4 ,other ,common ,names--7#a7 ,large yellow lady's-slipper1 yellow lady's-slipper1 yellow moccasin-flower1 ,venus'-shoe1 ,venus'-cup1 yellow ,indian-shoe1 ,american valerian1 nerve-root1 male nervine1 yellow ,noah's-ark1 yellows1 monkey-flower1 umbil-root1 yellow umbil2 7#b7 small yellow lady's-slipper4 ,habitat and ,range--,both of these native species frequent bogs and wet places in deep shady woods and thickets4 ,the large yellow lady's-slipper may be found from ,nova ,scotia south to ,alabama and west to ,nebraska and ,missouri4 ,the range for the small yellow lady's-slipper extends from ,newfoundland south along the mountains to ,georgia and west to ,missouri1 ,washington and ,british ,columbia4 ,description of ,plants--,the orchid family 7,orchicaceae71 to which the lady's-slipper belong1 boasts of many beautiful1 showy and curious species and the lady's-slipper is no exception4 ,there are several other plants to which the name lady's-slipper has been applied1 but one glance at the peculiar structure of the flowers in the species under consideration1 as shown in the illustration will enable any one to recognize them as soon as seen4 ,the particular species of lady's-slipper under consideration in this article do not differ very materially from each other4 ,both are perennials1 growing from #a to about #b feet in height1 with rather large leaves and with yellow flowers more or less marked with purple1 the main difference being that in hirsutum the flower is larger and pale yellow1 while in parviflorum the flower is small1 bright yellow1 and perhaps more prominently striped and spotted with purple4 ,the stem1 leaves and inside of corolla or lip are somewhat hairy in the large yellow lady's-slipper1 but not in the small yellow lady's-slipper4 ,these hairs are said to be irritating to some people in whom they cause an eruption of the skin4 ,illustration3 ,large ,yellow ,lady's ,slipper 7,cyrpripedium ,hirsutum74 ,the leaves of the ,lady's-,slipper vary in size from #b to #f inches in length and from #a to #c inches in width1 and are broadly oval or elliptic1 sharp pointed1 with numerous parallel veins1 and sheathing at the base1 somewhat hairy in the large ,lady's-,slipper4 ,the solitary terminal flower1 which appears from ,may to ,june1 is very showy and curiously formed1 the lip being the most prominent part4 ,this lip looks like a large inflated bay 7#a to #b inches long in the large ,lady's-,slipper71 pale yellow or bright yellow in color1 variously striped and blotched with purple4 ,the other parts of the flower are greenish or yellowish1 with purple stripes1 and the petals are usually twisted4 ,description of ,rootstock--,the ,rootstock is of horizontal growth1 crooked1 fleshy and with numerous wavy1 fibrous roots4 ,as found in commerce1 the rootstocks are from #a to #d inches in length1 about an eighth of an inch in thickness1 dark brown1 the upper surface showing numerous round cup-shaped scars1 the remains of former annual stems1 and the lower surface thickly covered with wavy1 wiry1 and brittle roots1 the latter breaking off with a short1 white fracture4 ,the odor is rather heavy and disagreeable and the taste is described as sweetish1 bitter and somewhat pungent4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,both rootstock and roots are used and these should be collected in autumn1 freed from dirt and carefully dried in the shade4 ,these beautiful plants are becoming rare in many localities4 ,sometimes such high priced drugs as golden seal and senega are found mixed with the lady's-slipper1 but as these are more expensive than the lady's-slipper it is not likely that they are included with fraudulent intent and they can be readily distinguished4 ,the prices paid to collectors of this root range from #cb to #ce cents a pound4 ,the principal use of ,lady's-,slipper1 which is official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia1 is as an antispasmodic and nerve tonic1 and it has been used for the same purposes as valerian4 ,,chapter ,,xxvii4 ,,forest ,,roots4 ,the facts set forth in the following pages are from ,american ,root ,drugs1 a valuable pamphlet issued in #aijg by ,u4 ,s4 ,department of ,agriculture--,bureau of ,plant ,industry--and written by ,alice ,henkel4 ,bethroot4 ,trillium ,erectum ,l4 ,other ,common ,names3 ,trillium1 red trillium1 purple trillium1 ill-scented trillium1 birthroot1 birthwort1 bathwort1 bathflower1 red wake-robin1 purple wake-robin1 ill-scented wake-robin1 red-benjamin1 bumblebee-root1 daffydown-dilly1 dishcloth1 ,indian balm1 ,indian shamrock1 nosebleed1 squawflower1 squawroot1 wood-lily1 true-love1 orange-blossom4 ,many of these names are applied also to other species of ,trillium4 ,habitat and ,range--,bethroot is a native plant growing in rich soil in damp1 shady woods from ,canada south to ,tennessee and ,missouri4 ,description of ,plant--,this plant is a perennial belonging to the lily-of-the-valley family 7,convallariaceae74 ,it is a low growing plant1 from about #h to #af inches in height1 with a rather stout stem1 having three leaves arranged in a whorl near the top4 ,these leaves are broadly ovate1 almost circular in outline1 sharp pointed at the apex and narrowed at the base1 #c to #g inches long and about as wide1 and practically stemless4 ,not only the leaves of this plant1 but the flowers and parts of the flowers are arranged in threes1 and this feature will serve to identify the plant4 ,the solitary terminal flower of ,bethroot has three sepals and three petals1 both more or less lance shaped and spreading1 the former greenish1 and the petals1 which are #a #a_/d inches long and one-half inch wide1 are sometimes dark purple1 pink1 greenish1 or white4 ,the flower has an unpleasant odor4 ,it appears from ,april to ,june and is followed later in the season by an oval1 reddish berry4 ,illustration3 ,bethroot 7,trillium ,erectum74 ,various other species of ,trillium are used in medicine1 possessing properties similar to those of the species under consideration4 ,these are also very similar in appearance to ,trillium ,erectum4 ,description of ,root--,bethroot1 as found in the stores1 is short and thick1 of a light-brown color externally1 whitish or yellowish inside1 somewhat globular or oblong in shape1 and covered all around with numerous pale brown1 shriveled rootlets4 ,the top of the root generally shows a succession of fine circles or rings1 and usually bears the remains of stem bases4 ,the root has a slight odor1 and is at first sweetish and astringent1 followed by a bitter and acrid taste4 ,when chewed it causes a flow of saliva4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,bethroot is generally collected toward the close of summer4 ,the price ranges from #g to #aj cents a pound4 ,it was much esteemed as a remedy among the ,indians and early settlers4 ,its present use is that of an astringent1 tonic1 and alterative1 and also that of an expectorant4 ,culver's-,root4 ,veronica ,virginia ,l4 7a7 ,synonym--,leptandra ,virginica 7,l7 ,nutt4 7a7 ,other ,common ,names--,culver's physic1 blackroot1 bowman's-root1 ,beaumont-root1 ,brinton-root1 tall speedwell1 tall veronica1 physic-root1 wholywort4 ,habitat and ,range--,this common indigenous herb is found abundantly in moist1 rich woods1 mountain valleys1 meadows and thickets from ,british ,columbia south to ,alabama1 ,missouri and ,nebraska4 ,description of ,plant--,culver's-,root is a tall1 slender stemmed perennial belonging to the figwort family 7,scrophulariaceae74 ,it is from #c to #g feet in height1 with the leaves arranged around the simple stems in whorls of three to nine4 ,the leaves are borne on very short stems1 are lance shaped1 long pointed at the apex1 narrowed at the base1 and sharply toothed1 #c to #f inches in length and #a inch or less in width4 ,the white tube-shaped flowers1 with two long protruding stamens1 are produced from ,june to ,september and are borne in several terminal1 densely crowded1 slender1 spikelike heads from #c to #h inches long4 7a7 ,some authors hold that this plant belongs to the genus ,leptandra and that its name should be ,leptandra virginica 7,l47 ,nutt4 ,the ,pharmacopoeia is here followed4 ,illustration3 ,culver's ,root 7,veronica ,virginica71 ,flowering ,top and ,rootstock4 ,the flowers1 as stated1 are usually white1 tho the color may vary from a pink to a bluish or purple and on account of its graceful spikes of pretty flowers it is often cultivated in gardens as an ornamental plant4 ,the fruits are small1 oblong1 compressed1 many-seeded capsules4 ,description of ,rootstock--,after they are dried the rootstocks have a grayish brown appearance on the outside1 and the inside is hard and yellowish1 either with a hollow center or a brownish or purplish pith4 ,when broken the fracture is tough and woody4 ,the rootstock measures from #d to #f inches in length1 is rather thick and bent1 with branches resembling the main rootstock4 ,the upper surface has a few stem scars1 and from the sides and underneath numerous coarse1 brittle roots are produced which have the appearance of having been artificially inserted into the rootstock4 ,culver's-root has a bitter and acrid taste1 but no odor4 ,collection1 ,price and ,uses--,the rootstock and roots should be collected in the fall of the second year4 ,when fresh these have a faint odor resembling somewhat that of almonds1 which is lost in the drying4 ,the bitter1 acrid taste of ,culver's-root also becomes less the longer it is kept1 and it is said that it should be kept at least a year before being used4 ,the price paid to collectors ranges from #f to #aj cents a pound4 ,culver's-root1 which is official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia1 is used as an alterative1 cathartic and in disorders of the liver4 ,stone-,root4 ,collinsonia ,canadensis ,l4 ,other ,common ,names--,collinsonia1 knob-root1 knobgrass1 knobweed1 knotroot1 horse-balm1 horseweed1 richweed1 richleaf1 ox-balm1 citronella4 ,habitat and ,range--,stoneroot is found in moist1 shady woods from ,maine to ,wisconsin1 south to ,florida and ,kansas4 ,description of ,plant--,like most of the other members of the mint family 7,menthaceae71 ,stoneroot is aromatic also1 the fresh flowering plant possessing a very pleasant1 lemon-like odor4 ,it is a tall perennial herb1 growing as high as #e feet4 ,the stem is stout1 erect1 branched1 smooth1 or the upper part hairy4 ,illustration3 ,stoneroot 7,collinsonia ,canadensis74 ,the leaves are opposite1 about #c to #h inches long1 thin1 ovate1 pointed at the apex1 narrowed or sometimes heart-shaped at the base1 and coarsely toothed2 the lower leaves are largest and are borne on slender stems1 while the upper ones are smaller and almost stemless4 ,stoneroot is in flower from ,july to ,october1 producing large1 loose1 open terminal panicles or heads of small1 pale-yellow lemon-scented flowers4 ,the flowers have a funnel-shaped #b-lipped corolla1 the lower lip1 larger1 pendant and fringed1 with two very much protruding stamens4 ,description of ,root--,even the fresh root of this plant is very hard4 ,it is horizontal1 large1 thick1 and woody1 and the upper side is rough and knotty and branched irregularly4 ,the odor of the root is rather disagreeable1 and the taste pungent and spicy4 ,in the fresh state1 as well as when dry1 the root is extremely hard1 whence the common name stoneroot4 ,the dried root is grayish brown externally1 irregularly knotty on the upper surface from the remains of branches and the scars left by former stems and the lower surface showing a few thin roots4 ,the inside of the root is hard and whitish4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,stoneroot1 which is collected in autumn1 is employed for its tonic1 astringent1 diuretic and diaphoretic effects4 ,the price of the root ranges from #b to #c #a_/b cents a pound4 ,the leaves are used by country people as an application to bruises4 ,crawley-,root4 ,corallorhiza ,odontorhiza 7,wild7 ,nutt4 ,other ,common ,names--,corallorhiza1 crawley1 coralroot1 small coralroot1 small-flowered coralroot1 late coralroot1 dragon's-claw1 chickentoe1 turkey-claw1 feverroot4 ,habitat and ,range--,rich1 shady woods having an abundance of leaf mold produce this curious little plant4 ,it may be found in such situations from ,maine to ,florida1 westward to ,michigan and ,missouri4 ,description of ,plant--,this peculiar native perennial1 belonging to the orchid family 7,orchidaceae7 is unlike most other plants1 being leafless1 and instead of a green stem it has a purplish brown1 sheathed scape1 somewhat swollen or bulbous at the base and bearing a clustered head of purplish flowers #b to #d inches long4 ,it does not grow much taller than about a foot in height4 ,the flowers1 #f to #bj in a head1 appear from ,july to ,september1 and consist of lance-shaped sepals and petals1 striped with purple and a broad1 whitish1 oval lip1 generally marked with purple and narrowed at the base4 ,the seed capsule is large oblong1 or some what globular4 ,illustration3 ,crawley-root 7,corallorhiza ,odontorhiza74 ,description of ,rootstock--,the rootstock of this plant is also curious1 resembling in its formation a piece of coral on account of which it is known by the name of coralroot4 ,the other common names1 such as chickentoe1 turkey-claw1 etc41 all have reference to the form of the rootstock4 ,as found in commerce1 ,crawley-root consists of small1 dark-brown wrinkled pieces1 the larger ones branched like coral4 ,the taste at first is sweetish1 becoming afterwards slightly bitter4 ,it has a peculiar odor when fresh1 but when dry it is without odor4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,crawley-root should be collected in ,july or ,august ,the price ranges from #bj to #ej cents a pound4 ,other species of ,corallorhiza are sometimes collected and are said to probably possess similar properties4 ,this root is aid to be very effective for promoting perspiration and it is also used as a sedative and in fever4 ,,chapter ,,xxviii4 ,,forest ,,plants4 ,male ,fern4 ,pharmacopoeial ,name--,aspidium4 ,other ,common ,names3 7#a7 ,male shield-fern1 sweet brake1 knotty brake1 basket-fern1 bear's-paw root2 7#b7 marginal-fruited shield-fern1 evergreen wood-fern4 ,habitat and ,range--,these ferns are found in rocky woods1 the male shield-fern inhabiting the region from ,canada westward to the ,rocky ,mountains and ,arizona4 ,it is widely distributed also through ,europe1 northern ,asia1 northern ,africa1 and ,south ,america4 ,the marginal-fruited shield-fern1 one of our most common ferns1 occurs from ,canada southward to ,alabama and ,arkansas4 ,description of ,plants--,both of these species are tall1 handsome ferns1 the long1 erect fronds1 or leaves1 arising from a chaffy1 scaly base1 and consisting of numerous crowded stemless leaflets1 which are variously divided and notched4 ,there is but little difference between these two species4 ,the male shield-fern is perhaps a trifle stouter1 the leaves growing about #c feet in length and having a bright-green color1 whereas the marginal-fruited shield-fern has lighter green leaves1 about #b #a_/b feet in length1 and is of more slender appearance4 ,the principal difference1 however1 is found in the arrangement of the sori1 or fruit dots1 ,these are the very small1 round1 tawny dots that are found on the backs of fern leaves1 and in the male shield-fern these will be found arranged in short rows near the midrib1 while in the marginal-fruited shield-fern1 as this name indicates1 the fruit dots are placed on the margins of the fronds4 ,both plants are perennials and members of the fern family 7,polypodiaceae74 ,illustration3 ,marginal-,fruited ,shield-,fern 7,dryopteris ,marginalis74 ,description of the ,rootstock--,these ferns have stout ascending or erect chaffy rootstocks1 or rhizomes as they are technically known4 ,as taken from the ground the rootstock is from #f to #ab inches in length and #a to #b inches thick1 covered with closely overlapping1 brown1 slightly curved stipe bases or leaf bases and soft1 brown1 chaffy scales4 ,the inside of the rootstock is pale green4 ,as found in the stores1 however1 male-fern with the stipe bases and roots removed measure about #c to #f inches in length and about one-half to #a inch in thickness1 rough where the stipe bases have been removed1 brown outside1 pale green and rather spongy inside4 ,the stipe bases remain green for a very long period1 and these small1 claw-shaped furrowed portions1 or fingers as they are called1 form a large proportion of the drug found on the ,american market and1 in fact1 are said to have largely superseded the rootstock4 ,male-fern has a disagreeable odor1 and the taste is described as bitter-sweet1 astringent1 acrid1 and nauseous4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the best time for collecting ,male-fern root is from ,july to ,september4 ,the root should be carefully cleaned1 but not washed1 dried out of doors in the shade as quickly as possible1 and shipped to druggists at once4 ,the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia directs that the chaff1 together with the dead portions of the rhizome and stipes1 should be removed1 and only such portions used as have retained their internal green color4 ,great care is necessary in the preservation of this drug in order to prevent it from deteriorating4 ,if kept too long its activity will be impaired1 and it is said that it will retain its qualities much longer if it is not peeled until required for use4 ,the unreliability sometimes attributed to this drug can in most instances be traced to the presence of the rootstocks of other ferns with which it is often adulterated1 or it will be found to be due to improper storing or to the length of time that it has been kept4 ,the prices paid for ,male-fern root range from #e to #aj cents a pound4 ,male-fern1 official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia1 has been used since the remotest times as a remedy for worms4 ,grave results are sometimes caused by overdoses4 ,goldthread4 ,coptis ,trifolia 7,l47 ,salisb4 ,other ,common ,names--,coptis1 cankerroot1 mouthroot1 yellowroot4 ,habitat and ,range--,this pretty little perennial is native in damp1 mossy woods and bogs from ,canada and ,alaska south of ,maryland and ,minnesota4 ,it is most common in the ,new ,england ,states1 northern ,new ,york and ,michigan1 and in ,canada1 where it frequents the dark sphagnum swamps1 cold bogs and in the shade of dense forests of cedars1 pines and other evergreens4 ,illustration3 ,goldthread 7,coptis ,trifolia74 ,description of ,plant--,any one familiar with this attractive little plant will agree that it is well named4 ,the roots of ,goldthread1 running not far beneath the surface of the ground1 are indeed like so many tangled threads of gold4 ,the plant in the general appearance of its leaves and flowers very closely resembles the strawberry plant4 ,it is of low growth1 only #c to #f inches in height1 and belongs to the crowfoot family 7,ranunculaceae74 ,the leaves are all basal1 and are borne on long1 slender stems2 they are evergreen1 dark green and shining on the upper surface and lighter green beneath1 divided into three parts1 which are prominently veined and toothed4 ,a single small1 white1 star-shaped flower is borne at the ends of the flowering stalks1 appearing from ,may to ,august4 ,the #e to #g sepals or lobes of the calyx are white and like petals1 and the petals of the corolla1 #e to #g in number1 are smaller1 club shaped1 and yellow at the base4 ,the seed pods are stalked1 oblong1 compressed1 spreading1 tipped with persistent style and containing small black seeds4 ,description of ,root--,goldthread has a long1 slender1 creeping root1 which is much branched and frequently matted4 ,the color of these roots is a bright golden yellow4 ,as found in the stores1 ,goldthread consists usually of tangled masses of these golden-yellow roots1 mixed with the leaves and stems of the plant1 but the root is the part prescribed for use4 ,the root is bitter and has no odor4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the time for collecting ,goldthread is in autumn4 ,after removing the covering of dead leaves and moss1 the creeping yellow roots of ,goldthread will be seen very close to the surface of the ground1 from which they can be easily pulled4 ,they should1 of course1 be carefully dried4 ,as already stated1 altho the roots and rootlets are the parts to be used1 the commercial article is freely mixed with the leaves and stems of the plant4 ,evidences of the pine-woods home of this plant1 in the form of pine needles and bits of moss1 are often seen in the ,goldthread received for market4 ,goldthread brings from #fj to #gj cents a pound4 ,the ,indians and early white settlers used this little root as a remedy for various forms of ulcerated and sore mouth1 and it is still used as a wash or gargle for affections of this sort4 ,it is also employed as a bitter tonic4 ,goldthread was official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia from #ahbj to #ahhj4 ,twinleaf4 ,jeffersonia ,diphylla 7,l47 ,pers4 ,other ,common ,names--,jeffersonia1 rheumatism-root1 helmetpod1 ground-squirrel pea1 yellowroot4 ,habitat and ,range--,twinleaf inhabits rich1 shady woods from ,new ,york to ,virginia and westward to ,wisconsin4 ,description of ,plant--,this native herbaceous perennial is only about #f to #h inches in height when in flower4 ,at the fruiting stage it is frequently #ah inches in height4 ,it is one of our early spring plants1 and its white flower1 resembling that of bloodroot1 is produced as early as ,april4 ,illustration3 ,twinleaf 7,jeffersonia diphylla71 ,plant and ,seed ,capsule4 ,the long-stemmed1 smooth leaves1 produced in pairs and arising from the base of the plant1 are rather oddly formed4 ,they are about #c to #f inches long1 #b to #d inches wide1 heart shaped or kidney shaped1 but parted lengthwise into two lobes or divisions1 really giving the appearance of two leaves2 hence the common name ,twinleaf4 ,the flower with its eight oblong1 spreading white petals measures about #a inch across1 and is borne at the summit of a slender stalk arising from the root4 ,the many-seeded capsule is about #a inch long1 leathery1 somewhat pear shaped1 and opening half way around near the top1 the upper part forming a sort of lid4 ,twinleaf belongs to the barberry family4 7,berberidaceae47 ,description of ,rootstock--,twinleaf has a horizontal rootstock1 with many fibrous1 much-matted roots1 and is very similar to that of blue cohosh1 but not so long4 ,it is thick1 knotty1 yellowish brown externally1 with a resinous bark1 and internally yellowish4 ,the inner portion is nearly tasteless1 but the bark has a bitter and acrid taste4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the rootstock is collected in autumn and is used as a diuretic1 alterative1 antispasmodic and a stimulating diaphoretic4 ,large doses are said to be emetic and smaller doses tonic and expectorant4 ,the price paid for ,twinleaf root ranges from about #e to #g cents a pound4 ,canada ,moonseed4 ,menispermum ,canadense ,l4 ,other ,common ,names--,menispermum1 yellow parilla1 ,texas sarsaparilla1 yellow sarsarparilla1 vine-maple4 ,habitat and ,range--,canada ,moonseed is usually found along streams in woods1 climbing over bushes1 its range extending from ,canada to ,georgia and ,arkansas4 ,illustration3 ,canada ,moonseed 7,menispermum ,canadense74 ,description of ,plant--,this native perennial woody climber reaches a length of from #f to #ab feet1 the round1 rather slender stem bearing very broad1 slender-stalked leaves4 ,these leaves are from #d to #h inches wide1 smooth and green on the upper surface and paler beneath1 roundish in outline and entire1 or sometimes lobed and resembling the leaves of some of our maples1 whence the common name vine-maple is probably derived4 ,the bases of the leaves are generally heart shaped and the apex pointed or blunt4 ,in ,july the loose clusters of small1 yellowish or greenish white flowers are produced1 followed in ,september by bunches of black one-seeded fruit1 covered with a bloom and very much resembling grapes4 ,canada ,moonseed belongs to the moonseed family 7,menispermaceae47 ,description of ,rootstock--,the rootstock and roots are employed in medicine4 ,in the stores it will be found in long1 straight pieces1 sometimes #c feet in length1 only about one-fourth of an inch in thickness1 yellowish brown or grayish brown1 finely wrinkled lengthwise1 and giving off fine1 hairlike1 branched1 brownish roots from joints which occur every inch or so4 ,the inside shows a distinct white pith of variable thickness and a yellowish white wood with broad1 porous wood rays1 the whole breaking with a tough1 woody fracture4 ,it has practically no odor1 but a bitter taste4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,canada ,moonseed is collected in autumn and brings from #d to #h cents a pound4 ,it is used as a tonic1 alterative1 and diuretic and was official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia for #ahij4 ,wild ,turnip4 ,synonym--,arum ,triphyllum ,l4 ,other ,common ,names--,arum1 three-leaved arum1 ,indian turnip1 jack-in-the-pulpit1 wake robin1 wild pepper1 dragon-turnip1 brown dragon1 devil's-ear1 marsh-turnip1 swamp-turnip1 meadow-turnip1 pepper-turnip1 starch-wort1 bog-onion1 priest's-pintle and lords-and-ladies4 ,habitat and ,range--,wild ,turnip inhabits moist woods from ,canada to ,florida and westward to ,kansas and ,minnesota4 ,description of ,plant--,early in ,april the quaint green and brownish purple hooded flowers of the wild turnip may be seen in the shady depths of the woods4 ,illustration3 ,wild ,turnip 7,arisaema ,triphyllum74 ,it is a perennial plant belonging to the arum family 7,araceae71 and reaches a height of from #aj inches to #c feet4 ,the leaves1 of which there are only one or two1 unfold with the flowers2 they are borne on long1 erect1 sheathing stalks1 and consist of three smooth1 oval leaflets1 the latter are #c to #f inches long1 and from #a #a_/b to #c #a_/b inches wide1 net veined1 and with one vein running parallel with the margins4 ,the flower is curiously formed1 somewhat like the calla lily1 consisting of what is known botanically as a spathe1 within which is inclosed the spadix4 ,the spathe is an oval1 leaflike part1 the lower portion of which1 in the flower under consideration1 is rolled together so as to form a tube1 while the upper1 pointed part is usually bent forward1 thus forming a flap of hood over the tube shaped part which contains the spadix4 ,in fact it is very similar to the familiar flower of the calla lily of the gardens1 except that1 instead of being white1 the wild turnip is either all green or striped with very dark purple1 sometimes seeming almost black1 and in the calla lily the flap is turned back1 whereas in the wild turnip it is bent forward over the tube4 ,inside of the spathe is the spadix1 also green or purple1 which is club shaped1 rounded at the summit1 and narrowly contracted at the base1 where it is surrounded by either the male or female flowers or both1 in the latter case 7the most infrequent7 the male flowers being placed below the female flowers4 ,in autumn the fruit ripens in the form of a bunch of bright scarlet1 shining berries4 ,the entire plant is acrid1 but the root more especially so4 ,description of the ,root--,the underground portion of this plant is known botanically as a corm1 and is somewhat globular and shaped like a turnip4 ,the lower part of the corm is flat and wrinkled1 while the upper part is surrounded by coarse1 wavy rootlets4 ,the outside is brownish gray and the inside white and mealy4 ,it has no odor1 but an intensely acrid1 burning taste1 and to those who may have been induced in their school days to taste of this root wild turnip will be familiar chiefly on account of its never-to-be-forgotten acrid1 indeed1 caustic1 properties4 ,the dried article of commerce consists of round1 white slices1 with brown edges1 only slightly shrunken1 and breaking with a starchy fracture4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the partially dried corm is used in medicine4 ,it is dug in summer1 transversely sliced1 and dried4 ,when first dug it is intensely acrid1 but drying and heat diminish the acridity4 ,it loses its acridity rapidly with age4 ,wild ,turnip brings from #g to #aj cents a pound4 ,the corm of ,wild turnip1 which was official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia from #ahbj to #ahgj1 is used as a stimulant1 diaphoretic1 expectorant1 and irritant4 ,,chapter ,,xxix4 ,,thicket ,,plants4 ,black ,indian ,hemp4 ,apocynum ,cannabinum ,l4 ,pharmacopoeial ,name--,apocynum4 ,other ,common ,names--,canadian hemp1 ,american hemp1 amy-root1 bowman's-root1 bitterroot1 ,indian-physic1 rheumatism-weed1 milkweed1 wild cotton1 ,choctaw-root4 ,the name ,indian hemp is often applied to this plant1 but it should never be used without the adjective black4 ,indian hemp is a name that properly belongs to ,canabis indica1 a true hemp plant1 from which the narcotic drug hashish is obtained4 ,habitat and ,range--,black ,indian hemp is a native of this country and may be found in thickets and along the borders of old fields thruout the ,united ,states4 ,description of ,plant--,this is a common herbaceous perennial about #b to #d feet high1 with erect or ascending branches1 and1 like most of the plants belonging to the dogbane family 7,apocynaceae71 contains a milky juice4 ,the short-stemmed opposite leaves are oblong1 lance shaped oblong or ovate-oblong1 about #b to #f inches long1 usually sharp pointed1 the upper surface smooth and the lower sometimes hairy4 ,the plant is in flower from ,june to ,august and the small greenish white flowers are borne in dense heads1 followed later by the slender pods1 which are about #d inches in length and pointed at the apex4 ,other ,species--,considerable confusion seems to exist in regard to which species yields the root which has proved of greatest value medicinally4 ,the ,pharmacopoeia directs that the dried rhizome and roots of ,apocynum cannabinum or of closely allied species of ,apocynum be used4 ,illustration3 ,black ,indian ,hemp 7,apocynum ,cannabinum71 ,flowering ,portion1 ,pods1 and ,rootstock4 ,in the older botanical works and medical herbals only two species of ,apocynum were recognized1 namely1 ,a4 cannabinum ,l4 and ,a4 androsaemifolium ,l41 altho it was known that both of these were very variable4 ,in the newer botanical manuals both of these species still hold good1 but the different forms and variations are now recognized as distinct species1 those formerly referred to cannabium being distinguished by the erect or nearly erect lobes of the corolla1 and those of the androsaemifolium group being distinguished by the spreading or recurved lobes of the corolla4 ,among the plants that were formerly collected as ,apocynum or varietal forms of it1 and which are now considered as distinct species1 may be mentioned in the following3 ,riverbank-dogbane 7,a4 ,album ,greene71 which frequents the banks of rivers and similar moist locations from ,maine to ,wisconsin1 ,virginia and ,missouri4 ,this plant is perfectly smooth and has white flowers and relatively smaller leaves than ,a4 cannabinum4 ,velvet dogbane 7,a4 pubescens ,r4 ,br471 which is common from ,virginia to ,illinois1 ,iowa and ,missouri4 ,the entire plant has a soft1 hairy or velvety appearance1 which renders identification easy4 ,according to the latest edition of the ,national ,standard ,dispensatory it is not unlikely that this is the plant that furnishes the drug that has been so favorably reported upon4 ,apocynum androsaemifolium is also gathered by drug collectors for ,apocynum cannabinum4 ,its root is likewise employed in medicine1 but its action is not the same as that of cannabinum and it should therefore not be substituted for it4 ,it closely resembles cannabinum4 ,description of ,rootstock--,the following description of the drug as found in commerce is taken from the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia3 ,of varying length1 #c to #h mm4 thick1 cylindrical or with a few angles produced by drying1 lightly wrinkled1 longitudinally and usually more or less fissured transversely2 orange-brown1 becoming gray-brown on keeping2 brittle2 fracture sharply transverse1 exhibiting a thin brown layer of cork1 the remainder of the bark nearly as thick as the radius of the wood1 white or sometimes pinkish1 starchy1 containing laticiferous ducts2 the wood yellowish1 having several rings1 finely radiate and very coarsely porous2 almost inodorous1 the taste starchy1 afterwards becoming bitter and somewhat acrid4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the root of black ,indian hemp is collected in autumn and brings from #h to #aj cents a pound4 ,it is official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia and has emetic1 cathartic1 diaphoretic1 expectorant and diuretic properties1 and on account of the last-named action it is used in dropsical affections4 ,the tough1 fibrous bark of the stalks of ,black ,indian ,hemp was employed by the ,indians as a substitute for hemp in making twine1 fishing nets1 etc4 ,chamaelirium1 or ,helonias4 ,chamaelirium ,luteum 7,l47 ,a4 ,gray4 ,synonym--,helonias ,dioica ,pursh4 ,other ,common ,names--,unicorn root1 false unicorn-root1 blazing star1 drooping starwort1 starwort1 devil's-bit1 unicorn's-horn4 ,in order to avoid the existing confusion of common names of this plant1 it is most desirable to use the scientific names ,chamaelirium or ,helonias exclusively4 ,chamaelirium is the most recent botanical designation and will be used thruout this article1 but the synonym ,helonias is a name very frequently employed by the drug trade4 ,the plant with which it is so much confused1 ,aletris farinosa1 will also be designated thruout by its generic name1 ,aletris4 ,illustration3 ,chamaelirium 7,chamaelirium ,luteum74 ,habitat and ,range--,this native plant is found in open woods from ,massachusetts to ,michigan1 south to ,florida and ,arkansas4 ,description of ,plant--,chamaelirium and ,aletris 7,aletris farinosa7 have long been confused by drug collectors and others1 owing undoubtedly to the transposition of some of their similar common names1 such as starwort and stargrass4 ,the plants can scarcely be said to resemble each other1 however1 except perhaps in their general habit of growth4 ,the male and female flowers of ,chamaelirium are borne on separate plants1 and in this respect are entirely different from ,aletris2 neither do the flowers resemble those of ,aletris4 ,chamaelirium is an erect1 somewhat fleshy herb1 perennial1 and belongs to the bunchflower family 7,melanthiaceae47 ,the male plant grows to a height of from #a #a_/b to #b #a_/b feet1 and the female plant is sometimes #d feet tall and is also more leafy4 ,the plants have both basal and stem leaves1 where as ,aletris has only the basal leaves4 ,the basal leaves of ,chamaelirium are broad and blunt at the top1 narrowing toward the base into a long stem2 they are sometimes so much broadened at the top that they may be characterized as spoon shaped1 and are from #b to #h inches long and from one-half to #a #a_/b inches wide4 ,the stem leaves are lance shaped and sharp pointed1 on short stems or stemless4 ,the white starry flowers of ,chamaelirium are produced from ,june to ,july1 those of the male plant being borne in nodding1 graceful1 plume-like spikes #c to #i inches long1 and those of the female plant in erect spikes4 ,the many seeded capsule is oblong1 opening by three valves at the apex4 ,another species is now recognized1 ,chamaelirium obovale ,small1 which seems to differ chiefly in having larger flowers and obovoid capsules4 ,description of ,rootstock--,the rootstock of ,chamaelirium does not in the least resemble that of ,aletris1 with which it is so generally confused4 ,it is from one-half to #b inches in length1 generally curved upward at one end in the form of a horn 7whence the common name1 unicorn7 and having the appearance of having been bitten off4 ,it is of a dark brown color with fine transverse wrinkles1 rough1 on the upper surface showing a few stem scars1 and giving off from all sides numerous brown fibrous rootlets4 ,the more recent rootlets have a soft outer covering1 which in the older rootlets has worn away1 leaving the fine but tough and woody whitish center4 ,the rootlets penetrate to the central part of the rootstock1 and this serves as a distinguishing character from ,aletris1 as a transverse section of ,chamaelirium very plainly shows these fibers extending some distance within the rootstock4 ,furthermore1 the rootstock of ,chamaelirium exhibits a number of small holes wherever these rootlets have broken off1 giving it the appearance of having become wormy4 ,it is hard and horny within and has a peculiar odor and a very bitter1 disagreeable taste1 whereas ,aletris is not at all bitter4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,chamaelirium should be collected in autumn4 ,the prices paid to collectors may be said to range from about #cj to #de cents a pound4 ,in the fall of #aijf a scarcity of this root was reported4 ,as already indicated1 ,chamaelirium and ,aletris are often gathered and mistaken for each other by collectors1 but1 as will be seen from the preceding description1 there is really no excuse for such error4 ,from the confusion that has existed properties peculiar to the one plant have also been attributed to the other1 but it seems now generally agreed that ,chamaelirium is of use especially in derangements of women4 ,wild ,yam4 ,dioscorea ,villosa ,l4 ,other ,common ,names--,dioscorea1 colicroot1 rheumatism-root1 devil's bones4 ,habitat and ,range--,wild yam grows in moist thickets1 trailing over adjacent shrubs and bushes1 its range extending from ,rhode ,island to ,minnesota1 south to ,florida and ,texas4 ,it is most common in the central and southern portions of the ,united ,states4 ,description of ,plant--,this native perennial vine is similar to and belongs to the same family as the well-known cinnamon vine of the gardens--namely1 the yam family 7,dioscoreaceae47 ,it attains a length of about #ae feet1 the stem smooth1 the leaves heart shaped and #b to #f inches long by #a to #d inches wide4 ,illustration3 ,wild ,yam 7,dioscorea ,villosa74 ,the leaves1 which are borne on long1 slender stems1 are thin1 green1 and smooth on the upper surface1 paler and rather thickly hairy on the under surface4 ,the small greenish yellow flowers are produced from ,june to ,july1 the male flowers borne in drooping clusters about #c to #f inches long1 and the female flowers in drooping spikelike heads4 ,the fruit1 which is in the form of a dry1 membranous1 #c-winged1 yellowish green capsule1 ripens about ,september and remains on the vine for some time during the winter4 ,growing farther south than the species above mentioned is a variety for which the name ,glabra has been suggested4 ,according to ,c4 ,g4 ,lloyd1 there is a variety of ,dioscorea ,villosa1 the root of which first made its appearance among the true yam roots of commerce1 and which was so different in form that it was rejected as an adulteration4 ,the plant1 however1 from which the false root was derived was found upon investigation to be almost identical with the true yam1 except that the leaves were perfectly smooth1 lacking the hairiness on the under surface of the leaf which is characteristic of the true wild yam4 ,the false variety also differs in its habit of growth1 not growing in dense clumps like the true wild yam1 but generally isolated4 ,the root of the variety1 however1 is quite distinct from that of the true wild yam1 being much more knotty4 ,lloyd states further that the hairiness or lack of hairiness on the under side of the leaf is a certain indication as to the form of the root4 ,lloyd1 recognizing the necessity of classifying these two yam roots of commerce1 has designated the smooth-leaved variety as ,dioscorea ,villosa var4 ,glabra4 ,description of ,rootstocks--,the rootstock of the true wild yam runs horizontally underneath the surface of the ground4 ,as found in commerce1 it consists of very hard pieces1 #f inches and sometimes #b feet in length1 but only about one-fourth or one-half of an inch in diameter1 twisted1 covered with a thin1 brown bark1 whitish within and showing stem scars almost an inch apart on the upper surface1 small protuberances on the sides1 and numerous rather wiry rootlets on the lower surface4 ,the false wild yam1 on the other hand1 has a much heavier1 rough1 knotty rootstock1 with thick branches from #a inch to #c inches long1 the upper surface covered with crowded stem scars and the lower side furnished with stout1 wiry rootlets4 ,within it is similar to the true yam root4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the roots are generally collected in autumn1 and bring from #b #a_/b to #d cents a pound4 ,wild ,yam is said to possess expectorant properties and to promote perspiration1 and in large doses providing emetic4 ,it has been employed in bilious colic1 and by the negroes in the ,south in the treatment of muscular rheumatism4 ,,chapter ,,xxx4 ,,swamp ,,plants4 ,skunk-,cabbage4 ,synonyms--,dracontium ,foetidum ,l4 ,other ,common ,names--,dracontium1 skunk-weed1 polecat-weed1 swamp-cabbage1 meadow-cabbage1 collard1 fetid1 hellebone1 stinking poke1 pockweed4 ,habitat and ,range--,swamps and other wet places from ,canada to ,florida1 ,iowa and ,minnesota abound with this ill-smelling herb4 ,description of ,plant--,most of the common names applied to this plant1 as well as the scientific names1 are indicative of the most striking characteristic of this early spring visitor1 namely1 the rank1 offensive1 carrion odor that emanates from it4 ,skunk-,cabbage is one of the very earliest of our spring flowers1 appearing in ,february or ,march1 but it is safe to say that it is not likely to suffer extermination at the hand of the enthusiastic gatherer of spring flowers4 ,in the latitude of ,washington ,skunk-,cabbage has been known to be in flower in ,december4 ,it is a curious plant1 with its hood shaped1 purplish striped flowers appearing before the leaves4 ,it belongs to the arum family 7,araceae7 and is a perennial4 ,the flower is in the form of a thick1 ovate1 swollen spathe1 about #c to #f inches in height1 the top pointed and curved inward1 spotted and striped with purple and yellowish green4 ,the spathe is not like that of the wild turnip or calla lily1 to which family this plant also belongs1 but the edges are rolled inward1 completely hiding the spadix4 ,in this plant the spadix is not spike-like1 as in the wild turnip1 but is generally somewhat globular1 entirely covered with numerous1 dull-purple flowers4 ,after the fruit has ripened the spadix will be found to have grown considerably1 the spathe meantime having decayed4 ,the leaves1 which appear after the flower1 are numerous and very large1 about #a to #c feet in length and about #a foot in width2 they are thin in texture1 but prominently nerved with fleshy nerves1 and are borne on deeply channeled stems4 ,illustration3 ,skunk ,cabbage 7,spathyema ,foetida74 ,description of ,rootstock--,skunk-,cabbage has a thick1 straight1 reddish brown rootstock1 from #c to #e inches long1 and about #b inches in diameter1 and having a whorl of crowded fleshy roots which penetrate the soil to considerable depth4 ,the dried article of commerce consists of either the entire rootstock and roots1 which are dark brown and wrinkled within1 or of very much compressed1 wrinkled1 transverse slices4 ,when bruised1 the root has the characteristic fetid odor of the plant and possesses a sharp acrid taste1 both of which become less the longer the root is kept4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the rootstock of ,skunk-,cabbage are collected early in spring1 soon after the appearance of the flower1 or after the seeds have ripened1 in ,august or ,september4 ,it should be carefully dried1 either in its entire state or deprived of the roots and cut into transverse slices4 ,skunk-,cabbage loses its odor and acridity with age1 and should therefore not be kept longer than one season4 ,the range of prices is from #d to #g cents a pound4 ,skunk-,cabbage1 official from #ahbj to #ahhj1 is used in affections of the respiratory organs1 in nervous disorders1 rheumatism1 and dropsical complaints4 ,american ,hellebore4 ,veratrum ,viride ,ait4 ,pharmacopoeial ,name--,veratrum4 ,other ,common ,names--,true veratrum1 green veratrum1 ,american veratrum1 green hellebore1 swamp-hellebore1 big hellebore1 false hellebore1 bear-corn1 bugbane1 bugwort1 devil's-bite1 earth-gall1 ,indian poke1 itchweed1 tickleweed1 duckretter4 ,habitat and ,range--,american ,hellebore is native in rich1 wet woods1 swamps and wet meadows4 ,its range extending from ,canada1 ,alaska1 and ,minnesota south to ,georgia4 ,description of ,plant--,early in spring1 usually in company with the ,skunk-,cabbage1 the large bright green leaves of ,american ,hellebore make their way thru the soil1 their straight1 erect leaf spears forming a conspicuous feature of the yet scanty spring vegetation4 ,later in the season a stout and erect leafy stem is sent up1 sometimes growing as tall as #f feet4 ,it is solid and round1 pale green1 very leafy1 and closely surrounded by the sheathing bases of the leaves1 unbranched except in the flowering head4 ,the leaves are hairy1 prominently nerved1 folded or pleated like a fan4 ,they have no stems1 but their bases encircle or sheathe the main stalk1 and are very large1 especially the lower ones1 which are from #f to #ab inches in length1 from #c to #f inches in width1 and broadly oval4 ,as they approach the top of the plant the leaves become narrower4 ,the flowers1 which appear from ,may to ,july1 are greenish yellow and numerous1 and are borne in rather open clusters4 ,american ,hellebore belongs to the bunchflower family 7,melanthiaceae7 and is a perennial4 ,this species is a very near relative of the ,european white hellebore 7,veratrum album ,l471 and in fact has by some been regarded as identical with it1 or at least as a variety of it4 ,it is taller than ,v4 album and has narrower leaves and greener flowers4 ,both species are official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia4 ,illustration3 ,american ,hellebore 7,veratrum ,viride74 ,description of ,rootstock--,the fresh rootstock of ,american ,hellebore is ovoid or obconical1 upright1 thick1 and fleshy1 the upper part of it arranged in layers1 the lower part of it more solid1 and producing numerous whitish roots from all sides4 ,in the fresh state it has a rather strong1 disagreeable odor4 ,as found in commerce1 ,american ,hellebore rootstock is sometimes entire1 but more generally sliced1 and is of a light brown or dark brown color externally and internally yellowish white4 ,the roots1 which are from #d to #h inches long1 have a shriveled appearance1 and are brown or yellowish4 ,there is no odor to the dried rootstock1 but when powdered it causes violent sneezing4 ,the rootstock1 which has a bitter and very acrid taste1 is poisonous4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,american ,hellebore should be dug in autumn after the leaves have died and washed and carefully dried1 either in the whole state or sliced in various ways4 ,it deteriorates with age1 and should therefore not be kept longer than a year4 ,the adulterations sometimes met with are the rootstocks of related plants1 and the skunk-cabbage is also occasionally found mixed with it1 but this is probably unintentional1 as the two plants usually grow close together4 ,collectors of ,american ,hellebore root receive from about #c to #aj cents a pound4 ,american ,hellebore1 official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia1 is an acrid1 narcotic poison1 and has emetic1 diaphoretic1 and sedative properties4 ,water-,eryngo4 ,eryngium ,yuccifolium ,michx4 ,synonym--,eryngium aquaticum4 ,l4 ,other ,common ,names--,eryngium1 eryngo1 button-snakeroot1 corn-snakeroot1 rattlesnake-master1 rattlesnake-weed1 rattlesnake-flag4 ,illustration3 ,water-,eryngo 7,eryngium ,yuccifolium74 ,habitat and ,range--,altho sometimes occurring on dry land1 ,water-,eryngo usually inhabits swamps and low1 wet ground1 from the pine barrens of ,new ,jersey westward to ,minnesota and south to ,texas and ,florida4 ,description of ,plant--,the leaves of this plant are grasslike in form1 rigid1 #a to #b feet long and about one-half inch or a trifle more in width2 they are linear1 with parallel veins1 pointed1 generally clasping at the base1 and the margins briskly soft1 slender spines4 ,the stout1 furrowed stem reaches a height of from #b to #f feet and is generally unbranched except near the top4 ,the insignificant whitish flowers are borne in dense1 ovate-globular1 stout-stemmed heads1 appearing from ,june to ,september1 and the seed heads that follow are ovate and scaly4 ,water-,eryngo belongs to the parsley family 7,apiaceae7 and is native in this country4 ,description of ,rootstock--,the stout rootstock is very knotty1 with numerous short branches1 and produces many thick1 rather straight roots1 both rootstock and roots of a dark brown color1 the latter wrinkled lengthwise4 ,the inside of the rootstock is yellowish white4 ,water-,eryngo has a somewhat peculiar1 slightly aromatic odor1 and a sweetish mucilaginous taste at first1 followed by some bitterness and pungency4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the root of this plant is collected in autumn and brings from #e to #aj cents a pound4 ,water-,eryngo is an old remedy and one of its early uses1 as the several common names indicate1 was for the treatment of snake bites4 ,it was official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia from #ahbj to #ahfj1 and is employed now as a diuretic and expectorant and for promoting perspiration4 ,in large doses it acts as an emetic and the root1 when chewed1 excites a flow of saliva4 ,it is said to resemble ,seneca snakeroot in action4 ,yellow ,jasmine or ,jessamine4 ,gelsemium ,sempervirens 7,l47 ,ait4 f4 ,pharmacopoeial ,name--,gelsemium4 ,other ,common ,names--,carolina jasmine or jessamine1 ,carolina wild woodbine1 evening trumpet-flower4 ,habitat and ,range--,yellow jasmine is a plant native to the ,south1 found along the banks of streams1 in woods1 lowlands1 and thickets1 generally near the coast1 from the eastern part of ,virginia to ,florida and ,texas1 south to ,mexico and ,guatemala4 ,description of ,plant--,this highly ornamental climbing or trailing plant is abundantly met with in the woods of the ,southern states1 its slender stems festooned over trees and fences and making its presence known by the delightful perfume exhaled by its flowers1 filling the air with fragrance that is almost overpowering wherever the yellow jasmine is very abundant4 ,illustration3 ,yellow ,jasmine 7,gelsensium ,sempervirens74 ,the smooth1 shining stems of this beautiful vine sometimes reach a length of #bj feet4 ,the leaves are evergreen1 lance shaped1 entire1 #a #a_/b to #c inches long1 rather narrow1 borne on short stems1 and generally remaining on the vine during the winter4 ,the flowers1 which appear from ,january to ,april1 are bright yellow1 about #a to #a #a_/b inches long1 the corolla funnel shaped4 ,they are very fragrant but poisonous1 and it is stated the eating of honey derived from jasmine flowers has brought about fatal results4 ,yellow ,jasmine is a perennial and belongs to a family that is noted for its poisonous properties1 namely1 the ,logania family 7,loganiaceae71 which numbers among its members such powerful poisonous agents as the strychnine-producing tree4 ,description of ,rootstock--,the rootstock of the ,yellow ,jasmine is horizontal and runs near the surface of the ground1 attaining great length1 #ae feet or more2 it is branched1 and here and there produces fibrous rootlets4 ,when freshly removed from the ground it is very yellow1 with a peculiar odor and bitter taste4 ,for the drug trade it is generally cut into pieces varying from #a inch to #f inches in length1 and when dried consists of cylindrical sections about #a inch in thickness1 the roots1 of course1 thinner4 ,the bark is thin1 yellowish brown1 with fine silky bast fibers and the wood is tough and pale yellow1 breaking with a splintery fracture and showing numerous fine rays radiating from a small central pith4 ,yellow ,jasmine has a bitter taste and a pronounced heavy odor4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the root of ,yellow ,jasmine is usually collected just after the plant has come into flower and is cut into pieces from #a to #f inches long4 ,it is often adulterated with portions of the stems1 but these can be distinguished by their thinness and dark purplish color4 ,the prices range from #c to #e cents a pound4 ,yellow ,jasmine1 which is official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia1 is used for its powerful effect on the nervous system4 ,sweet-,flag4 ,acorus ,calamus ,l4 ,pharmacopoeial ,name--,calamus4 ,other ,common ,names--,sweet cane1 sweet grass1 sweet myrtle1 sweet rush1 sweet sedge1 sweet segg1 sweetroot1 cinnamon-sedge1 myrtle-flag1 myrtle-grass1 myrtle-sedge1 beewort4 ,habitat and ,range--,this plant frequents wet and muddy places and borders on streams from ,nova ,scotia to ,minnesota1 southward to ,florida and ,texas1 also occurring in ,europe and ,asia4 ,it is usually partly immersed in water1 and is generally found in company with the cat-tail and other water-loving species of flag4 ,illustration3 ,sweet ,flag 7,acorus ,calamus74 ,description of ,plant--,the sword like leaves of the ,sweet-,flag resemble those of other flags so much that before the plant is in flower it is difficult to recognize simply by the appearance of its leaves4 ,the leaves of the blue flag or poison-flag1 as it has been called1 are very similar to those of the ,sweet-,flag1 and this resemblance often leads to cases of poisoning among children who thus mistake one for the other4 ,however1 as the leaves of the ,sweet-,flag are fragrant1 the odor will be a means of recognizing it4 ,of course when the ,sweet-,flag is in flower the identification of the plant is easy4 ,the sheathing leaves of this native perennial1 which belongs to the arum family 7,araceae71 are from #b to #f feet in height and about #a inch in width2 they are sharp pointed and have a ridged midrib running their entire length4 ,the flowering head1 produced from the side of the stalk1 consists of a fleshy spike sometimes #c #a_/b inches long and about one-half inch in thickness1 closely covered with very small1 greenish yellow flowers1 which appear from ,may to ,july4 ,description of ,rootstock--,the long1 creeping rootstock of the ,sweet-,flag is thick and fleshy1 somewhat spongy1 and producing numerous rootlets4 ,the odor is aromatic and agreeable1 and taste pungent and bitter4 ,the dried article1 as found in the stores1 consists of entire or split pieces of various lengths from #c to #f inches1 light brown on the outside with blackish spots1 sharply wrinkled lengthwise1 the upper surface marked obliquely with dark leaf scars1 and the lower surface showing many small circular scars1 which1 at first glance1 give one the impression that the root is worm-eaten1 but which are the remains of rootlets that have been removed from the rootstock4 ,internally the rootstock is whitish and of a spongy texture4 ,the aromatic odor and pungent1 bitter taste are retained in the dried article4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia directs that the unpeeled rhizome1 or rootstock1 be used4 ,it is collected either in early spring or late in autumn4 ,it is pulled or grubbed from the soft earth1 freed from adhering dirt1 and the rootlets removed1 as these are not so aromatic and more bitter4 ,the rootstock is then carefully dried1 sometimes by means of moderate heat4 ,sweet-,flag deteriorates with age and is subject to the attacks of worms4 ,it loses about three-fourths of its weight in drying4 ,some of the ,sweet-,flag found in commerce consists of handsome white pieces4 ,these usually come from ,germany1 and have been peeled before drying1 but they are not so strong and aromatic as the unpeeled roots4 ,unpeeled ,sweet-,flag brings from #c to #f cents a pound4 ,sweet-,flag is employed as an aromatic stimulant and tonic in feeble digestion4 ,the dried root is frequently chewed for the relief of dyspepsia4 ,blue ,flag4 ,iris ,versicolor ,l4 ,other ,common ,names--,iris1 flag-lily1 liver-lily1 snake-lily1 poison-flag1 water-flag1 ,american fleur-de-lis or flower-deluce4 ,habitat and ,range--,blue ,flag delights in wet1 swampy localities1 making its home in marshes1 thickets1 and wet meadows from ,newfoundland to ,manitoba1 south to ,florida and ,arkansas4 ,description of ,plant--,the flowers of all of the species belonging to this genus are similar1 and are readily recognized by their rather peculiar form1 the three outer segments or parts reflexed or turned back and the three inner segments standing erect4 ,blue ,flag is about #b to #c feet in height1 with an erect stem sometimes branched near the top1 and sword shaped leaves which are shorter than the stem1 from one-half to #a inch in width1 showing a slight grayish bloom and sheathing at the base4 ,this plant is a perennial belonging to the iris family 7,iridaceae71 and is a native of this country4 ,june is generally regarded as the month for the flowering of the ,blue ,flag1 altho it may be said to be in flower from ,may to ,july1 depending on the locality4 ,the flowers are large and very handsome1 each stem bearing from two to six or more4 ,they consist of six segments or parts1 the three outer ones turned back and the three inner ones erect and much smaller4 ,the flowers are usually purplish blue1 the claw or narrow base of the segments1 variegated with yellow1 green1 or white and marked with purple veins4 ,all of the species belonging to this genus are more or less variegated in color2 hence the name iris1 meaning rainbow1 and the specific name versicolor1 meaning various colors4 ,the name poison-flag has been applied to it on account of the poisonous effect it has produced in children1 who1 owing to the close resemblance of the plants before reaching the flowering stage1 sometimes mistake it for sweet flag4 ,the seed capsule is oblong1 about #a #a_/b inches and contains numerous seeds4 ,illustration3 ,blue ,flag 7,iris ,versicolor74 ,description of ,rootstock--,blue ,flag has a thick1 fleshy1 horizontal rootstock1 branched1 and producing long1 fibrous roots4 ,it resembles sweet-flag 7,calamus7 and has been mistaken for it4 ,the sections of the rootstock of ,blue ,flag1 however1 are flattened above and rounded below2 the scars of the leaf sheaths are in the form of rings1 whereas in sweet-flag the rootstock is cylindrical and the scars left by the leaf sheaths are obliquely transverse4 ,furthermore1 there is a difference in the arrangement of the roots on the rootstock1 the scars left by the roots in ,blue ,flag being close together generally nearer the larger end1 while in sweet-flag the disposition of the roots along the rootstock is quite regular4 ,blue ,flag is grayish brown on the outside when dried1 and sweet-flag is light brown or fawn colored4 ,blue ,flag has no well-marked odor and the taste is acrid and nauseous1 and in sweet-flag there is a pleasant odor and bitter1 pungent taste4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,blue ,flag is collected in autumn and usually brings from about #g to #aj cents a pound4 ,great scarcity of ,blue ,flag root was reported from the producing districts in the autumn of #aijf4 ,it is an old remedy1 the ,indians esteeming it highly for stomach troubles1 and it is said that it was sometimes cultivated by them in near-by ponds on account of its medicinal value4 ,it has also been used as a domestic remedy and is regarded as an alterative1 diuretic and purgative4 ,it was official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia of #ahij4 ,crane's-,bill4 ,geranium ,maculatum ,l4 ,pharmacopoeial ,name--,geranium4 ,other ,common ,names--,spotted crane's-bill1 wild crane's-bill1 stork's-bill1 spotted geranium1 wild geranium1 alum-root1 alumbloom1 chocolate-flower1 crowfoot1 dovefoot1 old-maid's-nightcap1 shameface4 ,habitat and ,range--,crane's-,bill flourishes in low grounds and open woods from ,newfoundland to ,manitoba1 south to ,georgia and ,missouri4 ,description of ,plant--,this pretty perennial plant belongs to the geranium family 7,geraniaceae7 and will grow sometimes to a height of #b feet1 but more generally it is only about a foot in height4 ,the entire plant is more or less covered with hairs1 and is erect and usually unbranched4 ,the leaves are nearly circular or somewhat heart shaped in outline1 #c to #f inches wide1 deeply parted into three or five parts1 each division again cleft and toothed4 ,the basal leaves are borne on long stems1 while those above have short stems4 ,the flowers1 which appear from ,april to ,june1 are borne in a loose cluster2 they are rose purple1 pale or violet in color1 about #a inch or #a #a_/b inches wide1 the petals delicately veined and woolly at the base and the sepals or calyx lobes with a bristle-shaped point1 soft-hairy1 the margins having a fringe of more bristly hairs4 ,the fruit consists of a beaked capsule1 springing open elastically1 and dividing into five cells1 each cell containing one seed4 ,illustration3 ,crane's-bill 7,geranium ,maculatum71 ,flowering ,plant1 ,showing also ,seed ,pods and ,rootstock4 ,description of ,rootstock--,when removed from the earth the rootstock of ,crane's-bill is about #b to #d inches long1 thick1 with numerous branches bearing the young buds for next season's growth and scars showing the remains of stems of previous years1 brown outside1 white and fleshy internally1 and with several stout roots4 ,when dry1 the rootstock turns a darker brown1 is finely wrinkled externally1 and has a rough spiny appearance1 caused by the shrinking of the buds and branches and the numerous stem scars with which the root is studded4 ,internally it is of a somewhat purplish color4 ,crane's-bill root is without odor and the taste is very astringent4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,crane's-bill root depends for its medicinal value on its astringent properties and as its astringency is due to the tannin content1 the root should1 of course1 be collected at that season of the year when it is richest in that constituent4 ,experiments have proved that the yield of tannin in ,crane's-bill is greatest just before flowering1 which is in ,april or ,may1 according to locality4 ,it should1 therefore1 be collected just before the flowering periods1 and not1 as is commonly the case1 in autumn4 ,the price of this root ranges from #d to #h cents a pound4 ,crane's-bill root1 which is official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia1 is used as a tonic and astringent4 ,,chapter ,,xxxi4 ,,field ,,plants4 ,dandelion4 ,taraxacum ,officinale ,weber1 7a74 ,synonyms--,taraxacum taraxacum 7,l47 ,karst3 7a7 ,taraxacum densleonis ,desf4 ,pharmacopoeial ,names--,taraxacum4 ,other ,common ,names--,blow-ball1 cankerwort1 doon-head1 clock1 fortune-teller1 horse gowan1 ,irish daisy1 yellow gowan1 one-o'clock4 ,habitat and ,range--,with the exception1 possibly1 of a few localities in the ,south1 the dandelion is at home almost everywhere in the ,united ,states1 being a familiar weed in meadows and waste places1 and especially in lawns4 ,it has been naturalized in this country from ,europe and is distributed as a weed in all civilized parts of the world4 ,description of ,plant--,it is hardly necessary to give a description of the dandelion1 as almost every one is familiar with the coarsely toothed1 smooth1 shining green leaves1 the golden-yellow flowers which open in the morning and only in fair weather1 and the round fluffy seed heads of this only too plentiful weed of the lawns4 ,in spring the young1 tender leaves are much sought after by the colored market women about ,washington1 who collect them by the basketful and sell them for greens and salad4 ,dandelion is a perennial belonging to the chicory family 7,cichoriaceae7 and is in flower practically throughout the year4 ,the entire plant contains a white milky juice4 ,description of ,root--,the dandelion has a large1 thick and fleshy taproot1 sometimes measuring #bj inches in length4 ,in commerce1 dandelion root is usually found in pieces #c to #f inches long1 dark brown on the outside and strongly wrinkled lengthwise4 ,it breaks with a short fracture and shows the thick whitish bark marked with circles of milk ducts and a thin woody center1 which is yellow and porous4 ,it is practically without odor and has a bitter taste4 ,illustration3 ,dandelion 7,taraxacum ,officinale74 ,collections and ,uses--,late in summer and in fall the milky juice becomes thicker and the bitterness increases and this is the time to collect dandelion root4 ,it should be carefully washed and thoroughly dried4 ,dandelion roots lose considerably in drying1 weighing less than half as much as the fresh roots4 ,the dried root should not be kept too long1 as drying diminishes its medicinal activity4 ,it is official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopeia4 ,dandelion is used as a tonic in diseases of the liver and in dyspepsia4 ,imports and ,prices--,most of the dandelion root found on the market is collected in central ,europe4 ,there has been an unusually large demand for dandelion root during the season of #aijg and according to the weekly records contained in the ,oil1 ,paint and ,drug ,reporter the imports entered at the port of ,new ,york from ,january #a1 #aijg1 to the end of ,may amounted to about #dg1jjj pounds4 ,the price ranges from #d to #aj cents a pound4 ,soapwort4 ,saponaria ,officinalis ,l4 ,other ,common ,names--,saponaria1 saponary1 common soapwort1 bouncing-bet1 soaproot1 bruisewort1 ,boston pink1 chimney-pink1 crow-soap1 hedge-pink1 old maid's pink1 fuller's-herb1 lady-by-the-gate1 ,london-pride1 latherwort1 mock-gilliflower1 scourwort1 sheepweed1 sweet-betty1 wild sweet-william1 woods-phlox1 world's wonder4 ,habitat and ,range--,by one or another of its many common names this plant1 naturalized from ,europe1 is known almost everywhere1 occurring along roadsides and in waste places4 ,description of ,plant--,soapwort is a rather pretty herbaceous perennial1 #a to #b feet high1 and belonging to the pink family 7,silenaceae74 ,its smooth1 stout and erect stem is leafy and sparingly branched1 the leaves ovate1 #b to #c inches long1 smooth1 prominently ribbed1 and pointed at the apex4 ,the bright looking1 crowded clusters of pink 7or in shady localities whitish7 flowers appear from about ,june until far along in ,september4 ,the five petals of the corolla are furnished with long claws or1 in other words1 they are narrowly lengthened toward the base and inserted within the tubular and pale green calyx4 ,the seed capsule is oblong and one-celled4 ,description of ,root--,soapwort spreads by means of its stolons1 or underground runners4 ,but the roots1 which are rather long are the parts employed in medicine4 ,these are cylindrical1 tapering toward the apex1 more or less branched1 and wrinkled lengthwise4 ,the whitish wood is covered with a brownish red1 rather thick bark and the roots break with a short1 smooth fracture4 ,it is at first sweetish1 bitter1 and mucilaginous1 followed by a persistently acrid taste1 but it has no odor4 ,illustration3 ,soapwort 7,saponaria ,officinalis74 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,as already indicated1 the roots without the runners1 should be collected either in spring or autumn4 ,with water they form a lather1 like soap1 whence the common names soapwort1 soaproot1 latherwort1 etc41 are derived4 ,the price ranges from #e to #aj cents a pound4 ,the roots are employed in medicine for their tonic1 alterative and diaphoretic properties4 ,the leaves are also used4 ,burdock4 ,arctium ,lappa ,l4 ,synonym--,lappa major ,gaertn4 ,pharmacopoeial ,name--,lappa4 ,other ,common ,names--,cockle-button1 cuckold-dock1 beggar's-buttons1 hurrbur1 stick-buttons1 hardock1 bardane4 ,habitat and ,range--,burdock1 one of our most common weeds1 was introduced from the ,old ,world4 ,it grows along road sides1 in fields1 pastures and waste places1 being very abundant in the ,eastern and ,central ,states and in some scattered localities in the ,west4 ,description of ,plant--,farmers are only too well acquainted with this coarse1 unsightly weed4 ,during the first year of its growth this plant1 which is a biennial belonging to the aster family 7,asteraceae71 produces only a rosette of large1 thin leaves from a long1 tapering root4 ,in the second year a round1 fleshy1 and branched stem is produced1 the plant when full grown measuring from #c to #g feet in height4 ,this stem is branched1 grooved1 and hairy1 bearing very large leaves1 the lower ones often measuring #ah inches in length4 ,the leaves are placed alternately on the stem1 on long1 solid1 deeply furrowed leafstalks2 they are thin in texture1 smooth on the upper surface1 pale and woolly underneath2 usually heart shaped1 but sometimes roundish or oval1 with even1 wavy1 or toothed margins4 ,the flowers are not produced until the second year1 appearing from ,july until frost4 ,burdock flowers are purple1 in small1 clustered heads armed with hooked tips1 and the spiny burs thus formed are a great pest1 attaching themselves to clothing and to the wool and hair of animals4 ,burdock is a prolific seed producer1 one plant bearing as many as #djj1jjj seeds4 ,illustration3 ,burdock 7,arctium ,lappa71 ,flowering ,branch and ,root4 ,description of ,rootstock--,burdock has a large1 fleshy taproot1 which when dry becomes scaly and wrinkled lengthwise and has a blackish brown or grayish brown color on the outside1 hard1 breaking with a short1 somewhat fleshy fracture1 and showing the yellowish wood with a whitish spongy center4 ,sometimes there is a small1 white1 silky tuft at the top of the root1 which is formed by the remains of the bases of the leafstalks4 ,the odor of the root is weak and unpleasant1 the taste mucilaginous1 sweetish and somewhat bitter4 ,while the root is met with in commerce in its entire state1 it is more frequently in broken pieces or in lengthwise slices1 the edges of which are turned inward4 ,the roots of other species of ,arctium are also employed4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,burdock root is official1 and the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia directs that it be collected from plants of the first year's growth1 either of ,arctium lappa or of other species of ,arctium4 ,as ,burdock has a rather large1 fleshy root1 it is difficult to dry and is apt to become moldy1 and for this reason it is better to slice the root lengthwise1 which will facilitate the drying process4 ,the price ranges from #e to #aj cents a pound4 ,the best root is said to come from ,belgium1 where great care is exercised in its collection and curing4 ,burdock root is used as an alterative in blood and skin diseases4 ,the seeds and fresh leaves are also used medicinally to a limited extent4 ,yellow ,dock4 ,rumex ,crispus ,l4 ,other ,common ,names--,rumex1 curled dock1 narrow dock1 sour dock4 ,habitat and ,range--,this troublesome weed1 introduced from ,europe1 is now found thruout the ,united ,states1 occurring in cultivated as well as in waste ground1 among rubbish heaps and along the road side4 ,description of ,plant--,yellow ,dock is a perennial plant belonging to the buckwheat family 7,polygonaceae71 and has a deep1 spindle shaped root1 from which arises an erect1 angular and furrowed stem1 attaining a height of from #b to #d feet4 ,the stem is branched near the top and leafy1 bearing numerous long dense clusters formed by drooping groups of inconspicuous green flowers placed in circles around the stem4 ,the flowers are produced from ,june to ,august1 and the fruits which follow are in the form of small triangular nuts1 like the grain of buckwheat1 to which family the dock belongs4 ,so long as the fruits are green and immature they can scarcely be distinguished from the flowers1 but as they ripen the clusters take on a rusty brown color4 ,the leaves of the yellow dock are lance shaped1 acute1 with the margins strongly waved and crisped1 the lower long-stalked leaves being blunt or heart shaped at the base from #f to #h inches in length1 while those nearer the top are narrower and shorter1 only #c to #f inches in length1 short stemmed or stemless4 ,illustration3 ,yellow ,dock 7,rumex ,crispus71 ,first ,year's ,growth4 ,the broad-leaved dock 7,rumex obtusifolius ,l471 is known also as bitter dock1 common dock1 blunt-leaved dock1 and butter-dock1 is a very common weed found in waste places from the ,new ,england ,states to ,oregon and south to ,florida and ,texas4 ,it grows to about the same height as the yellow dock1 to which it bears a close resemblance1 differing principally in its more robust habit of growth4 ,the stem is stouter than in yellow dock and the leaves1 which likewise are wavy along the margin1 are much broader and longer4 ,the green flowers appear from ,june to ,august and are in rather long1 open clusters1 the groups rather loose and far apart4 ,illustration3 ,broad-,leaved ,dock 7,rumex ,obtusifolius71 ,leaf1 ,fruiting ,spike and ,root4 ,description of ,roots--,yellow ,dock root is large and fleshy1 usually from #h to #ab inches long1 tapering or spindle shaped1 with few or no rootlets4 ,when dry it is usually twisted and prominently wrinkled1 the rather thick1 dark1 reddish brown bark marked with small scars4 ,the inside of the root is whitish at first1 becoming yellowish4 ,the fracture is short1 but shows some splintery fibers4 ,the root1 as it occurs in commerce1 is either entire or occasionally split lengthwise4 ,the darker colored root of the broad-leaved dock has a number of smaller branches near the crown and more rootlets4 ,dock roots have but a very faint odor and a bitter1 astringent taste4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the roots should be collected in late summer or autumn1 after the fruiting tops have turned brown1 then washed1 either left entire or split lengthwise into halves or quarters and carefully dried4 ,yellow ,dock root ranges from #d to #f cents a pound4 ,in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia of #ahij the roots of ,rumex crispus and of some other species of ,rumex were official and both of the above-named species are used1 but the ,yellow ,dock 7,rumex crispus7 is the species most commonly employed in medicine4 ,the docks are largely used for purifying the blood and in the treatment of skin diseases4 ,the young root leaves of both of the species mentioned are sometimes used in spring as pot herbs4 ,,chapter ,,xxxii4 ,,dry ,,soil ,,plants4 ,stillingia4 ,stillingia ,sylvatica ,l4 ,pharmacopoeial ,name--,stillingia4 ,other ,common ,names--,queen's-delight1 queen's-root1 silverleaf1 nettle-potato4 ,habitat and ,range--,this plant is found in dry1 sandy soil and in pine barrens from ,maryland to ,florida west to ,kansas and ,texas4 ,description of ,plant--,like most of the other members of the spurge family 7,euphorbiaceae71 stillingia also contains a milky juice4 ,this indigenous1 herbaceous perennial is about #a to #c feet in height1 bright green and somewhat fleshy1 with crowded leaves of a somewhat leathery texture4 ,the leaves are practically stemless and vary greatly in form1 from lance shaped1 oblong1 to oval and elliptical1 round toothed or saw toothed4 ,the pale yellow flowers1 which appear from ,april to ,october1 are borne in a dense terminal spike and consist of two kinds1 male and female1 the male flowers arranged in dense clusters around the upper part of the stalk and the female flowers occurring at the base of the spike4 ,the seeds are contained in a roundish #c-lobed capsule4 ,description of ,root--,stillingia consists of somewhat cylindrical or slenderly spindle shaped roots from #f inches to a foot in length1 slightly branched1 the yellowish white1 porous wood covered with a rather thick1 reddish brown1 wrinkled bark1 the whole breaking with a fibrous fracture4 ,as found in commerce1 stillingia is usually in short transverse sections1 the ends of the sections pinkish and fuzzy with numerous fine1 silky bast fibres1 and the bark showing scattered yellowish brown resin cells and milk ducts4 ,it has a peculiar unpleasant odor1 and a bitter1 acrid and pungent taste4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,stillingia root is collected in late autumn or early in spring1 usually cut into short1 transverse sections and dried4 ,the price ranges from #c to #e cents a pound4 ,this root1 which is official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia1 has been a popular drug in the ,south for more than a century and is employed principally as an alterative4 ,american ,colombo4 ,frasera ,carolinensis ,walt4 ,synonym--,frasera walteri ,michx4 ,other ,common ,names--,frasera1 meadowpride1 pyramid-flower1 pyramid-plant1 ,indian lettuce1 yellow gentian1 ground-century4 ,habit and ,range ,american ,colombo occurs in dry soil from the western part of ,new ,york to ,wisconsin1 south to ,georgia and ,kentucky4 ,description of ,plant--,during the first and second year of the growth of this plant only the root leaves are produced ,these are generally somewhat rounded at the summit1 narrowed toward the base1 and larger than the stem leaves1 which develop in the third year4 ,the leaves are deep green and produced mostly in whorls of four1 the stem leaves being #c to #f inches in length and oblong or lance shaped4 ,in the third year the stem is developed and the flowers are produced from ,june to ,august4 ,the stem is stout1 erect1 cylindrical1 and #c to #h feet in height4 ,the flowers of ,american ,colombo are borne in large terminal1 handsome pyramidal clusters1 sometimes #b feet in length1 and are greenish yellow or yellowish white1 dotted with brown purple4 ,they are slender stemmed1 about #a inch across1 with a wheel shaped1 #d-parted corolla ,the seeds are contained in a much compressed capsule4 ,american ,colombo is an indigenous perennial and belongs to the gentian family 7,gentianaceae47 ,description of ,root--,the root is long1 horizontal1 spindle shaped1 yellow1 and wrinkled4 ,in the fresh state it is fleshy and quite heavy4 ,the ,american ,colombo root of commerce1 formerly in transverse slices1 now generally occurs in lengthwise slices4 ,the outside is yellowish or pale orange and the inside spongy and pale yellow4 ,the taste is bitter4 ,american ,colombo root resembles the official gentian root in taste and odor1 and the uses are also similar4 ,illustration3 ,american ,colombo 7,frasera ,carolinensis71 ,leaves1 ,flowers and ,seed ,pods4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the proper time for collecting ,american ,colombo root is in the autumn of the second year or in ,march or ,april of the third year4 ,it is generally cut into lengthwise slices before drying4 ,the price of ,american ,colombo root ranges from #c to #e cents a pound4 ,the dried root1 which was official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia from #ahbj to #ahhj1 is used as a simple tonic4 ,in the fresh state the root possesses emetic and cathartic properties4 ,couch-,grass4 ,agropyron repens 7,l47 ,beauv4 ,synonym--,triticum repens ,l4 ,pharmacopoeial ,name--,triticum4 ,other ,common ,names--,dog-grass1 quick-grass1 quack-grass1 quitch-grass1 quake-grass1 scutch-grass1 twitch-grass1 witch-grass1 wheat-grass1 creeping wheat-grass1 devil's grass1 durfa-grass1 ,durfee-grass1 ,dutch-grass1 ,fin's-grass1 ,chandler's-grass4 ,habitat and ,range--,like many of our weeds1 couch-grass was introduced from ,europe1 and is now one of the worst pests the farmer has to contend with1 taking possession of the cultivated ground and crowding out valuable crops4 ,it occurs most abundantly from ,maine to ,maryland1 westward to ,minnesota and ,minnesota1 and is spreading on farms on the ,pacific slope1 but is rather sparingly distributed in the ,south4 ,illustration3 ,couch-,grass 7,agrophyron ,repens74 ,description of ,plant--,couch-grass is rather coarse1 #a to #c feet high1 and when in flower very much resemble rye or beardless wheat4 ,several round1 smooth1 hollow stems1 thickened at the joints1 are produced from the long1 creeping1 jointed rootstock4 ,the stems bear #e to #g leaves from #c to #ab inches long1 rough on the upper surface and smooth beneath1 while the long1 cleft leaf sheaths are smooth4 ,the solitary terminal flowering heads or spikes are compressed1 and consist of two rows of spikelets on a wavy and flattened axis4 ,these heads are produced from ,july to ,september4 ,couch ,grass belongs to the grass family 7,poaceae47 ,description of ,rootstock--,the pale yellow1 smooth rootstock is long1 tough and jointed1 creeping along underneath the ground1 and pushing in every direction4 ,as found in the stores1 it consists of short1 angular pieces1 from one eighth to one-fourth of an inch long1 of a shining straw color1 and hollow4 ,these pieces are odorless1 but have a somewhat sweetish taste4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,couch-,grass1 which is official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia1 should be collected in spring1 carefully cleaned1 and the rootlets removed4 ,the rootstock 7not rootlets7 is then cut into short pieces about two-fifths of an inch in length1 for which purpose an ordinary feed-cutting machine may be used1 and thoroughly dried4 ,couch-,grass is usually destroyed by plowing up and burn ing1 for if any of the joints are permitted to remain in the soil new plants will be produced4 ,but1 instead of burning1 the rootstocks may be saved and prepared for the drug market in the manner above stated4 ,the prices range from #c to #e cents a pound4 ,at present ,couch-,grass is collected chiefly in ,europe4 ,a fluid extract is prepared from ,couch-,grass1 which is used in affections of the kidney and bladder4 ,echinacea4 ,brauneria ,angustifolia 7,,dc7 ,heller4 ,synonym--,echinacea angustifolia ,,dc4 ,other ,common ,names--,pale-purple coneflower1 ,sampson-root1 niggerhead 7in ,kansas47 ,habitat and ,range--,echinacea is found in scattered patches in rich prairie soil or sandy soil from ,alabama to ,texas and northwestward1 being most abundant in ,kansas and ,nebraska4 ,tho not growing wild in the ,eastern ,states1 ,it has succeeded well under cultivation in the testing gardens of the ,department of ,agriculture at ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,illustration3 ,echinacea 7,brauneria ,angustifolia74 ,description of ,plant--,this native herbaceous perennial1 belonging to the aster family 7,asteraceae71 grows to a height of from #b to #c feet4 ,it sends up a rather stout bristly-hairy stem1 bearing thick rough-hairy leaves1 which are broadly lance shaped or linear lance shaped1 entire1 #c to #h inches long1 narrowed at each end1 and strongly three nerved4 ,the lower leaves have slender stems1 but as they approach the top of the plant the stems become shorter and some of the upper leaves are stemless4 ,the flower heads appearing from ,july to ,october1 are very pretty1 and the plant would do well as an ornamental in gardens4 ,the flowers remain on the plant for a long time1 and the color varies from whitish rose to pale purple4 ,the head consists of ray flowers and disk flowers1 the former constituting the petals surrounding the disk1 and the disk itself being composed of small1 tubular1 greenish yellow flowers4 ,when the flowers first appear the disk is flattened or really concave1 but as the flowering progresses it becomes conical in shape4 ,the brown fruiting heads are conical1 chaffy1 stiff and wiry4 ,description of ,root--,echinacea has a thick1 blackish root1 which in commerce occurs in cylindrical pieces of varying length and thickness4 ,the dried root is grayish brown on the outside1 the bark wrinkled lengthwise and sometimes spirally twisted4 ,it breaks with a short1 weak fracture1 showing yellow or greenish yellow wood edges1 which give the impression that the wood is decayed4 ,the odor is scarcely perceptible and the taste is mildly aromatic1 afterwards becoming acrid and inducing a flow of saliva4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the root of ,echinacea is collected in autumn and brings from #bj to #cj cents a pound4 ,it is said that ,echinacea varies greatly in quality due chiefly to the locality in which it grows4 ,according to ,j4 ,u4 ,lloyd1 the best quality comes from the prairie lands of ,nebraska and that from marshy places is inferior4 ,echinacea is said to be an alterative and to promote perspiration and induce a flow of saliva4 ,the ,indians used the freshly scraped roots for the cure of snake bites4 ,aletris4 ,aletris ,farinosa ,l4 ,other ,common ,names--,stargrass1 blazingstar1 mealy starwort1 starwort1 unicorn-root1 true unicorn-root1 unicorn-plant1 unicorn's-horn1 colic-root1 devil's-bit1 ague-grass1 ague-root1 aloe-root1 crow-corn1 huskwort4 ,a glance at these common names will show many that have been applied to other plants1 especially to ,chamaelirium1 with which ,aletris is so much confused4 ,in order to guard against this confusion as much as possible1 it is best not to use the common names of this plant at all1 referring to it only by its generic name1 ,aletris4 ,illustration3 ,aletris 7,aletris ,farinosa74 ,habitat and ,range--,aletris occurs in dry1 generally sandy soil1 from ,maine to ,minnesota1 ,florida and ,tennessee4 ,description of ,plant--,as stated under ,chamaelirium1 this plant is often confused with the former by collectors and others1 although there seems to be no good reason why this should be so4 ,the plants do not resemble each other except in habit of growth1 and the trouble undoubtedly arose from a confusion of the somewhat similar common names of the plants1 as1 for instance1 stargrass and starwort4 ,aletris may be at once distinguished by the grasslike leaves1 which spread out on the ground in the form of a star1 and by the slender spikes of rough1 mealy flowers4 ,this native perennial1 belonging to the lily family 7,liliaceae71 is an erect1 slender herb1 #a #a_/b to #c feet tall1 with basal leaves only4 ,these leaves are grasslike1 from #b to #f inches long1 and have a yellowish green or willow-green color4 ,as already stated1 they surround the base of the stem in the form of a star4 ,instead of stem leaves1 there are very small1 leaflike bracts placed at some distance apart on the stem4 ,from ,may to ,july the erect flowering spike1 from #d to #ab inches long1 is produced1 bearing white1 urn-shaped flowers1 sometimes tinged with yellow at the apex1 and having a rough1 wrinkled and mealy appearance4 ,the seed capsule is ovoid1 opening by three halves1 and containing many seeds4 ,when the flowers in the spike are still in bud1 there is a suggestion of resemblance to the female spike of ,chamaelirium with its fruit half formed4 ,several other species are recognized by botanists1 namely1 ,aletris ,aurea ,walt41 ,a4 lutea ,small1 and ,a4 obovata ,nash1 but aside from the flowers1 which in aurea and lutea are yellow1 and slight variations in form1 such as a more contracted perianth1 the differences are not so pronounced that the plants would require a detailed description here4 ,they have undoubtedly been collected with ,aletris farinosa for years1 and are sufficiently like it to be readily recognized4 ,description of ,rootstock--,not only have the plants of ,aletris and ,chamaelirium been confused1 but the rootstocks as well4 ,there is1 however1 no resemblance between them4 ,aletris has a horizontal rootstock from one-half to #a #a_/b inches in length1 rough and scaly1 and almost completely hidden by the fibrous roots and remains of the basal leaves4 ,upon close examination the scars of former leaf stems may be seen along the upper surface4 ,the rootlets are from #b to #aj inches in length1 those of recent growth whitish and covered with several layers of epidermis which gradually peel off1 and the older rootlets of the rootstock showing this epidermis already scaled off1 leaving only the hard1 brown1 woody center4 ,the rootstock in commerce almost invariably shows at one end a tuft of the remains of the basal leaves1 which do not lose their green color4 ,it is grayish brown outside1 whitish within1 and breaks with a mealy fracture4 ,it has no odor1 and a starchy taste1 followed by some acridity1 but no bitterness4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,aletris should be collected in autumn1 and there is no reason why collectors should make the common mistake of confusing ,aletris with ,chamaelirium4 ,by comparing the description of ,aletris with that of ,chamaelirium1 it will be seen that there is scarcely any resemblance4 ,aletris ranges from #cj to #dj cents a pound4 ,as indicated under ,chamaelirium1 the medicinal properties have also been considered the same in both plants1 but ,aletris is now regarded of value chiefly in digestive troubles4 ,aletris was official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia from #ahbj to #ahgj4 ,wild ,indigo4 ,baptisia ,tinctoria 7,l47 ,r4 ,br4 ,other ,common ,names--,baptisia1 indigo-weed1 yellow indigo1 ,american indigo1 yellow broom1 indigo-broom1 clover-broom1 broom-clover1 horsefly-weed1 shoofly1 rattlebush4 ,habitat and ,range--,this native herb grows on dry1 poor land1 and is found from ,maine to ,minnesota1 south to ,florida and ,louisiana4 ,description of ,plant--,many who have been brought up in the country will recognize in the wild indigo the plant so frequently used by farmers1 especially in ,virginia and ,maryland1 to keep flies away from horses1 bunches of it being fastened to the harness for this purpose4 ,illustration3 ,wild ,indigo 7,baptisia ,tinctoris7 ,branch ,showing ,flowers and ,seed ,pods4 ,wild ,indigo grows about #b to #c feet in height and the clover-like blossoms and leaves will show at once that it belongs to the same family as the common clover1 namely1 the pea family 7,fabaceae74 ,it is an erect1 much-branched1 very leafy plant of compact growth1 the #c-leaved1 bluish green foliage somewhat resembling clover leaves4 ,the flowers1 as already stated1 are like common clover flowers--that is1 not like clover heads1 but the single flowers composing these2 they are bright yellow1 about one-half inch in length and are produced in numerous clusters which appear from ,june to ,september4 ,the seed pods1 on stalks longer than the calyx1 are nearly globular or ovoid and are tipped with an awl shaped style4 ,another species1 said to possess properties similar to those of baptisia tinctoria and substituted for it1 is ,b4 alba ,r4 ,br41 called the white wild indigo4 ,this plant has white flowers and is found in the ,southern ,states and on the plains of the ,western ,states4 ,description of ,root--,wild ,indigo has a thick1 knotty crown or head1 with several stem scars1 and a round1 fleshy root1 sending out cylindrical branches and rootlets almost #b feet in length4 ,the white woody interior is covered with a thick1 dark brown bark1 rather scaly or dotted with small1 wart-like excrescences4 ,the root breaks with a tough1 fibrous fracture4 ,there is a scarcely perceptible odor and the taste1 which resides chiefly in the bark1 is nauseous1 bitter and acrid4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the root of ,wild ,indigo is collected in autumn1 and brings from #d to #h cents a pound4 ,large doses of ,wild ,indigo are emetic and cathartic and may prove dangerous4 ,it also has stimulant1 astringent and antiseptic properties1 and is used as a local application to sores1 ulcers1 etc4 ,the herb is sometimes employed like the root and the entire plant was official from #ahcj to #ahdj4 ,in some sections the young1 tender shoots are used for greens1 like those of pokeweed1 but great care must be exercised to gather them before they are too far advanced in growth1 as otherwise bad results will follow4 ,a blue coloring matter has been prepared from the plant and used as a substitute for indigo1 to which1 however1 it is very much inferior4 ,pleurisy-,root4 ,asclepias ,tuberosa ,l4 ,pharmacopoeial ,name--,asclepias4 ,other ,common ,names--,butterfly weed1 ,canada-root1 ,indian-posy1 orange-root1 orange swallowwort1 tuberroot1 whiteroot1 windroot1 yellow or orange milkweed4 ,habitat and ,range--,pleurisy-,root flourishes in the open or in the pine woods1 in dry1 sandy or gravelly soil1 usually along the banks of streams4 ,its range extends from ,ontario and ,maine to ,minnesota1 south to ,florida1 ,texas and ,arizona1 but it is found in greatest abundance in the ,south4 ,description of ,plant--,this is a very showy and ornamental perennial plant1 indigenous to this country1 and belonging to the milkweed family 7,asclepiadaceae72 it is erect and rather stiff in habit1 but with brilliant heads of bright orange-colored flowers that attract attention from afar4 ,the stems are rather stout1 erect1 hairy1 about #a to #b feet in height1 sometimes branched near the top1 and bearing a thick growth of leaves4 ,these are either stemless or borne on short stems1 are somewhat rough to the touch1 #b to #f inches long1 lance shaped or oblong1 the apex either sharp pointed or blunt1 with a narrow1 rounded or heart shaped base4 ,the flower heads1 borne at the ends of the stem and branches1 consist of numerous1 oddly shaped orange colored flowers4 ,the corolla is composed of five segments1 which are reflexed or turned back and the crown has five erect or spreading hoods1 within each of which is a slender incurved horn4 ,the plant is in flower for some time1 usually from ,june to ,september1 followed late in the fall by pods1 which are from #d to #e inches long1 green1 tinged with red1 finely hairy on the outside1 and containing the seeds with their long1 silky hairs4 ,unlike the other milkweeds1 the ,pleurisy ,root contains little or no milky juice4 ,description of ,root--,the root of this plant is large1 white and fleshy1 spindle shaped1 branching4 ,as found in commerce it consists of lengthwise or crosswise pieces from #a to #f inches in length and about three-fourths of an inch in thickness4 ,it is wrinkled lengthwise and also transversely and has a knotty head4 ,the thin bark is orange brown and the wood yellowish1 with white rays4 ,it has no odor and a somewhat bitter1 acrid taste4 ,illustration3 ,pleurisy-,root 7,asclepias ,tuberosa74 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the root1 which is usually found rather deep in the soil1 is collected in autumn1 cut into transverse or lengthwise slices and dried4 ,the price ranges from #f to #aj cents a pound4 ,pleurisy-,root was much esteemed by the ,indians1 has long been used in domestic practice1 and is official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia4 ,it is used in disordered digestion and in affections of the lungs1 in the last-named instance to promote expectoration1 relieve pains in the chest1 and induce easier breathing4 ,it is also useful in producing perspiration4 ,other ,species--,besides the official ,pleurisy-,root there are two other species of ,asclepias which are employed to some extent for the same purposes1 namely1 the common milkweed and the swamp-milkweed4 ,the common milkweed 7,asclepias syriaca ,l47 is a perennial1 native in fields and waste places from ,canada to ,north ,carolina and ,kansas4 ,it has a stout1 usually simple stem #c to #e feet in height and oblong or oval leaves1 smooth on the upper surface and densely hairy beneath4 ,the flowers1 similar in form to those of ,asclepias tuberosa1 are pinkish purple and appear from ,june to ,august1 followed by erect pods #c to #e inches long1 woolly with matted hair and covered with prickles and borne on recurved stems4 ,the plant contains an abundance of milky juice4 ,the root of the common milkweed is from #a to #f feet long1 cylindrical and finely wrinkled4 ,the short branches and scars left by former stems give the root a round1 knotty appearance4 ,the bark is thick1 grayish brown and the inside white1 the root breaking with a short1 splintery fracture4 ,common milkweed root has a very bitter taste1 but no odor4 ,it is collected in autumn and cut into transverse slices before drying4 ,common milkweed ranges from #f to #h cents a pound4 ,swamp-milkweed 7,asclepias incarnata ,l47 is a native perennial herb found in swamps from ,canada to ,tennessee and ,kansas4 ,the slender stem1 leafy to the top1 is #a to #b feet in height1 branched above1 the leaves lance shaped or oblong lance shaped4 ,the flowers1 also similar to those ,a tuberosa1 appear from ,july to ,september1 and are flesh colored or rose colored4 ,the pods are #b to #c #a_/b inches long1 erect1 and very sparingly hairy4 ,the root of the swamp-milkweed1 which is also collected in autumn1 is not quite an inch in length1 hard and knotty1 with several light brown rootlets4 ,the tough white wood1 which has a thick1 central pith1 is covered with a thin1 yellowish brown bark4 ,it is practically without odor1 and the taste1 sweetish at first1 finally becomes bitter4 ,this root brings about #c cents a pound4 ,,chapter ,,xxxiii4 ,,rich ,,soil ,,plants4 ,bloodroot4 ,sanguinaria ,canadensis ,l4 ,pharmacopoeial--,sanguinaria4 ,other ,common ,names--,redroot1 red puccoon1 red ,indian-paint1 puccoon-root1 coonroot1 white puccoon1 pauson1 snakebite1 sweet-slumber1 tetterwort1 tumeric4 ,habitat and ,range--,bloodroot is found in rich1 open woods from ,canada south to ,florida and west to ,arkansas and ,nebraska4 ,description of ,plant--,this indigenous plant is among the earliest of our spring flowers1 the waxy-white blossom1 enfolded by the grayish green leaf1 usually making its appearance early in ,april4 ,the stem and root contain a blood-red juice4 ,bloodroot is a perennial and belongs to the same family as the opium poppy1 the ,papaveraceae4 ,each bud on the thick1 horizontal rootstock produces but a single leaf and a flowering scape1 reaching about #f inches in height4 ,the plant is smooth and both stem and leaves1 especially when young1 present a grayish green appearance1 being covered with a bloom such as is found on some fruits4 ,the leaves are palmately #e to #i lobed1 the lobes either cleft at the apex or having a wavy margin1 and are borne on leaf stems about #f to #ad inches long4 ,after the plants have ceased flowering the leaves1 at first only #c inches long and #d to #e inches broad1 continue to expand until they are about #d to #g inches long and #f to #ab inches broad4 ,the under side of the leaf is paler than the upper side and shows prominent veins4 ,the flower measures about #a inch across1 is white1 rather waxlike in appearance1 with numerous golden-yellow stamens in the center4 ,the petals soon fall off1 and the oblong1 narrow seed pod develops1 attaining a length of about an inch4 ,illustration3 ,bloodroot 7,sanguinaria ,canadensis7 ,flowering ,plant with ,rootstock4 ,description of ,rootstock--,when dug out of the ground ,bloodroot is rather thick1 round and fleshy1 slightly curved at the ends1 and contains a quantity of blood-red juice4 ,it is from #a to #d inches in length1 from one-half to #a inch in thickness1 externally reddish brown1 internally a bright red blood color1 and produces many thick1 orange colored rootlets4 ,the rootstock shrinks considerably in drying1 the outside turning dark brown and the inside orange-red or yellowish with numerous small red dots1 and it breaks with a short1 sharp fracture4 ,it has but a slight odor and the taste is bitter and acrid and very persistent4 ,the powdered root causes sneezing4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,use--,the rootstock should be collected in autumn1 after the leaves have died1 and after curing1 it should be stored in a dry place1 as it rapidly deteriorates if allowed to become moist4 ,age also impairs its acridity4 ,the price paid to collectors for this root ranges from about #e to #aj cents per pound4 ,bloodroot was well known to the ,american ,indians1 who used the red juice as a dye for skins and baskets and for painting their faces and bodies4 ,it is official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia and is used as a tonic1 alterative1 stimulant and emetic4 ,pinkroot4 ,spigelia ,marilandica ,l4 ,pharmacopoeial ,name--,spigelia4 ,other ,common ,names--,carolina pinkroot1 pinkroot1 ,carolina pink1 ,maryland pink1 ,indian pink1 starbloom1 wormgrass1 wormweed1 ,american wormroot4 ,habitat and ,range--,this pretty little plant is found in rich woods from ,new ,jersey to ,florida1 west to ,texas and ,wisconsin1 but occurring principally in the ,southern ,states4 ,it is fast disappearing1 however from its native haunts4 ,illustration3 ,pinkroot 7,spigelia ,marilandica74 ,description of ,plant--,pinkroot belongs to the same family as the yellow jasmine1 namely1 the ,logania family 7,loganiaceae71 noted for its poisonous species4 ,it is a native perennial herb1 with simple1 erect stem #f inches to #a #a_/b feet high1 nearly smooth4 ,the leaves are stemless1 generally ovate1 pointed at the apex and rounded or narrowed at the base2 they are from #b to #d inches long1 one-half to #b inches wide1 smooth on the upper surface1 and only slightly hairy on the veins on the lower surface4 ,the rather showy flowers are produced from ,may to ,july in a terminal one-sided spike2 they are from #a to #b inches in length1 somewhat tube shaped1 narrowed below1 slightly inflated toward the center1 and again narrowed or contracted toward the top1 terminating in five lance shaped lobes2 the flowers are very showy1 with their brilliant coloring--bright scarlet on the outside1 and the inside of the tube1 and the lobes a bright yellow4 ,the seed capsule is double1 consisting of two globular portions more or less united1 and containing numerous seeds4 ,description of ,rootstock--,the rootstock is rather small1 from #a to #b inches in length and about one-sixteenth of an inch in thickness4 ,it is somewhat crooked or bent1 dark brown1 with a roughened appearance of the upper surface caused by cup shaped scars1 the remains of former annual stems4 ,the lower surface and the sides have numerous long1 finely branched1 lighter colored roots1 which are rather brittle4 ,pinkroot has a pleasant1 aromatic odor1 and the taste is described as sweetish1 bitter and pungent4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,pinkroot is collected after the flowering period4 ,it is said to be scarce1 and was reported as becoming scarce as long ago as #ahcj4 ,the price paid to collectors ranges from #be to #dj cents a pound4 ,the roots of other plants1 notably those of the ,east ,tennessee pinkroot 7,ruellia ciliosa ,pursh71 are often found mixed with the true ,pinkroot1 and the ,ruellia ciliosa is even substituted for it4 ,this adulteration or substitution probably accounts for the inertness which has sometimes been attributed to the true ,pinkroot and which has caused it to fall into more or less disuse4 ,it has long been known that the true ,pinkroot was adulterated1 but this adulteration was supposed to be caused by the admixture of ,carolina phlox 7,phlox ,carolina ,l41 now known as ,phlox ovata ,l471 but this is said now to be no part of the substitution4 ,the rootstock of ,ruellia ciliosa is larger and not as dark as that of the ,maryland pinkroot and has fewer and coarser roots1 from which the bark readily separates1 leaving the whitish wood exposed4 ,pinkroot was long known by the ,indians1 and its properties were made known to physicians by them4 ,it is official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia and is used principally as an anthelmintic4 ,indian-,physic4 ,porteranthus ,trifoliatus 7,l47 ,britton4 ,synonym--,gilenia ,trifoliata ,moench4 ,other ,common ,names--,gilenia1 bowman's-root1 false ipecac1 western dropwort1 ,indian-hippo4 ,habitat and ,range--,indian-,physic is native in rich woods from ,new ,york to ,michigan1 south to ,georgia and ,missouri4 ,description of ,plant--,the reddish stems of this slender1 graceful perennial of the rose family 7,rosaceae7 are about #b to #c feet high1 several erect and branched stems being produced from the same root4 ,the leaves are almost stemless and trifoliate2 that is1 composed of three leaflets4 ,they are ovate or lanceolate1 #b to #c inches long1 narrowed at the base1 smooth and toothed4 ,the nodding1 white pinkish flowers are few1 produced in loose terminal clusters from ,may to ,july4 ,the five petals are long1 narrowed or tapering toward the base1 white or pinkish1 and inserted in the tubular1 somewhat bell shaped1 red tinged calyx4 ,the seed pods are slightly hairy4 ,at the base of the leaf stems are small leaflike parts1 called stipules1 which in this species are very small1 linear and entire4 ,in the following species1 which is very similar to trifoliatus and collected with it1 the stipules1 however1 are so much larger that they form a prominent character1 which has given rise to its specific name1 stipulatus4 ,illustration3 ,indian ,physic 7,porteranthus ,trifoliatus74 ,porteranthus stipulatus 7,muhl47 ,britton 7,syn4 ,gillenia stipulacea ,nutt47 is found in similar situations as ,p4 trifoliatus1 but generally farther west1 its range extending from western ,new ,york to ,indiana and ,kansas1 south to ,alabama1 ,louisiana and ,indian ,territory4 ,the general appearance of this plant is very similar to that of ,p4 trifoliatus4 ,it grows to about the same height1 but is generally more hairy1 the leaflets narrower and more deeply toothed1 and the flowers perhaps a trifle smaller4 ,the stipules1 however1 will generally serve to distinguish it4 ,these are large1 broad1 ovate1 acute at the apex1 sharply and deeply notched and so much like leaves that but for their position at the base of the leaf stems they might easily be mistaken for them4 ,with the exception of the name ,american ipecac applied to this plant1 the common names of ,porteranthus trifoliatus are also used for ,p4 stipulatus4 ,the roots of both species are collected and used for the same purpose4 ,description of ,roots--,the root ,porteranthus trifoliatus is thick and knotty1 with many smoothish1 reddish brown rootlets1 the latter in drying becoming wrinkled lengthwise and showing a few transverse fissures or breaks in the bark1 and the interior white and woody4 ,there is practically no odor and the woody portion is tasteless1 but the bark1 which is readily separable1 is bitter1 increasing the flow of saliva4 ,porteranthus stipulatus has a larger1 more knotty root1 with rootlets that are more wavy1 constricted or marked with numerous transverse rings1 and the bark fissured or breaking from the white woody portion at frequent intervals4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the roots of both species are collected in autumn4 ,the prices range from #b to #d cents a pound4 ,indian-,physic or bowman's root1 as these names imply1 was a popular remedy with the ,indians1 who used it as an emetic4 ,from them the white settlers learned of its properties and it is still used for its emetic action4 ,this drug was at one time official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia1 from #ahbj to #ahhj4 ,its action is said to resemble that of ipecac4 ,wild ,sarsaparilla4 ,arala ,nudicaulis ,l4 ,other ,common ,names--,false sarsaparilla1 ,virginia sarsaparilla1 ,american sarsaparilla1 small spikenard1 rabbit's-root1 shotbush1 wild licorice4 ,habitat and ,range--,wild ,sarsaparilla grows in rich1 moist woods from ,newfoundland west to ,manitoba and south to ,north ,carolina and ,missouri4 ,description of ,plant--,this native herbaceous perennial1 belonging to the ginseng family 7,araliaceae71 produces a single1 long-stalked leaf and flowering stalk from a very short stem1 both surrounded or sheathed at the base by thin1 dry scales4 ,the leafstalk is about #ab inches long divided at the top into three parts1 each division bearing five oval1 toothed leaflets from #b to #e inches long1 the veins on the lower surface sometimes hairy4 ,the naked flowering stalk bears three spreading clusters of small1 greenish flowers1 each cluster consisting of from #ab to #cj flowers produced from ,may to ,june1 followed later in the season by purplish black roundish berries1 about the size of the common elderberries4 ,illustration3 ,wild ,sarsaparilla 7,aralia ,nudicaulis74 ,description of ,rootstock--,wild ,sarsaparilla rootstock has a very fragrant1 aromatic odor4 ,rabbits are said to be very fond of it1 whence one of the common names1 rabbit's-root1 is derived4 ,the rootstock is rather long1 horizontally creeping1 somewhat twisted1 and yellowish brown on the outside4 ,the taste is warm and aromatic4 ,the dried rootstock is brownish1 gray and wrinkled lengthwise on the outside1 about one-fourth of an inch in thickness1 the inside whitish with a spongy pith4 ,the taste is sweetish and somewhat aromatic4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the root of ,wild ,sarsaparilla is collected in autumn1 and brings from #e to #h cents a pound4 ,this has long been a popular remedy1 both among the ,indians and domestic practice1 and was official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia from #ahbj to #ahhj4 ,its use is that of an alterative1 stimulant and diaphoretic and in this it resembles the official sarsaparilla obtained from tropical ,america4 ,similar ,species--,the ,american spikehead 7,aralia racemosa ,l471 known also as spignet1 spiceberry1 ,indian-root1 petty-morrel1 life-of-man and old-man's-root1 is employed like ,aralia nudicaulis4 ,it is distinguished from this by its taller1 herbaceous habit1 its much-branched stem from #c to #f feet high and very large leaves consisting of thin1 oval1 heart shaped1 double saw-toothed leaflets4 ,the small1 greenish flowers are arranged in numerous clusters1 instead of only three as in nudicaulis and also appear somewhat later1 namely1 from ,july to ,august4 ,the berries are roundish1 reddish brown1 or dark purple4 ,the rootstock is shorter than that of nudicaulis and much thicker1 with prominent stem scars1 and furnished with numerous1 very long1 rather thin roots4 ,the odor and taste are stronger than in nudicaulis4 ,it is also collected in autumn1 and brings from #d to #h cents a pound4 ,the ,american spikenard occurs in similar situations as nudicaulis1 but its range extends somewhat farther ,south1 ,georgia being given as the ,southern limit4 ,the ,california spikenard 7,aralia californica ,wats47 may be used for the same purpose as the other species4 ,the plant is larger than ,aralia racemosa1 but otherwise is very much like it4 ,the root is also larger than that of ,a4 racemosa4 ,,chapter ,,xxxiv4 ,,medicinal ,,herbs4 ,american ,angelica4 ,angelica ,atropurpurea ,l4 ,synonym--,archangelica atropurpurea ,hoffn4 ,other ,common ,names--,angelica1 purple-stemmed angelica1 great angelica1 high angelicam1 purple angelica1 masterwort4 ,habitat and ,range--,american ,angelica is a native herb1 common in swamps and damp places from ,labrador to ,delaware and west to ,minnesota4 ,description of ,plant--,this strong-scented1 tall1 stout perennial reaches a height of from #d to #f feet1 with a smooth1 dark purple1 hollow stem #a to #b inches in diameter4 ,the leaves are divided into three parts1 each of which is again divided into threes2 the rather thin segments are oval or ovate1 somewhat acute1 sharply toothed and sometimes deeply cut1 and about #b inches long4 ,the lower leaves sometimes measure #b feet in width1 while the upper ones are smaller1 but all have very broad1 expanded stalks4 ,the greenish white flowers are produced from ,june to ,july in somewhat roundish1 many-rayed umbels or heads1 which sometimes are #h to #aj inches in diameter4 ,the fruits are smooth1 compressed and broadly oval4 ,american ,angelica root is branched1 from #c to #f inches long1 and less than an inch in diameter4 ,the outside is light1 brownish gray1 with deep furrows1 and the inside nearly white1 the whole breaking with a short fracture and the thick bark showing fine resin dots4 ,it has an aromatic odor1 and the taste at first is sweetish and spicy1 afterwards bitter4 ,the fresh root is said to possess poisonous properties4 ,the root of the ,european or garden angelica 7,angelica officinalis ,moench7 supplies much of the angelica root of commerce4 ,this is native in northern ,europe and is very widely cultivated1 especially in ,germany1 for the root4 ,illustration3 ,american ,angelica 7,angelica ,atropurpurea74 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the root is dug in autumn and carefully dried4 ,care is also necessary in preserving the root1 as it is very liable to the attacks of insects4 ,american ,angelica root ranges from #f to #aj cents a pound4 ,american ,angelica root1 which was official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia from #ahbj to #ahfj is used as an aromatic1 tonic1 stimulant1 carminative1 diuretic and diaphoretic4 ,in large doses it acts as an emetic4 ,the seeds are also employed medicinally4 ,comfrey4 ,symphytum ,officinale ,l4 ,other ,common ,names--,symphytum1 healing herb1 knitback1 ass-ear1 backwort1 blackwort1 bruisewort1 gum-plant1 slippery-root4 ,habitat and ,range--,comfrey is naturalized from ,europe and occurs in waste places from ,newfoundland to ,minnesota1 south to ,maryland4 ,illustration3 ,comfrey 7,symphytum ,officinale74 ,description of ,plant--,this coarse1 rough1 hairy1 perennial herb is from #b to #c feet high1 erect and branched1 with thick1 rough leaves1 the lower ones ovate lance shaped1 #c to #aj inches long1 pointed at the apex1 and narrowed at the base into margined stems4 ,the uppermost leaves are lance shaped1 smaller and stemless4 ,comfrey is in flower from ,june to ,august1 the purplish or dirty white1 tubular1 bell shaped flowers numerous and borne in dense terminal clusters4 ,the nutlets which follow are brown1 shinning and somewhat wrinkled4 ,comfrey belongs to the borage family 7,boraginaceae47 ,description of ,root--,comfrey has a large1 deep1 spindle-shaped root1 thick and fleshy at the top1 white inside and covered with a thin1 blackish brown bark4 ,the dried root is hard1 black and very deeply and roughly wrinkled1 breaking with a smooth1 white1 waxy fracture4 ,as it occurs in commerce it is in pieces ranging from about an inch to several inches in length1 only about one-fourth of an inch in thickness1 and usually considerably bent4 ,it has a very mucilaginous1 somewhat sweetish and astringent taste1 but no odor4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the root is dug in autumn1 or sometimes in early spring4 ,comfrey root when first dug is very fleshy and juicy1 but about four-fifths of its weight is lost in drying4 ,the price ranges from #d to #h cents a pound4 ,the mucilaginous character of ,comfrey root renders it useful in coughs and diarrheal complaints4 ,its action is demulcent and slightly astringent4 ,the leaves are also used to some extent4 ,elecampane4 ,inula ,helenium ,l4 ,other ,common ,names--,inula1 inul1 horseheal1 elf-dock1 elfwort1 horse-elder1 scabwort1 yellow starwort1 velvet dock1 wild sunflower4 ,habitat and ,range--,this perennial herb has been naturalized from ,europe1 and is found along the roadsides and in fields and damp pastures from ,nova ,scotia to ,north ,carolina1 westward to ,missouri and ,minnesota4 ,it is a native also in ,asia4 ,description of ,plant--,when in flower elecampane resembles the sunflower on a small scale4 ,like the sunflower1 it is a member of the aster family 7,asteraceae74 ,it is a rough plant1 growing from #c to #f feet in height1 but producing during the first year only root leaves1 which attain considerable size4 ,in the following season the stout densely hairy stem develops1 attaining a height of from #c to #f feet4 ,illustration3 ,elecampane 7,inula ,helenium74 ,the leaves are broadly oblong in form1 toothed1 the upper surface rough and the under side densely soft-hairy4 ,the basal or root leaves are borne on long stems1 and are from #aj to #bj inches long and #d to #h inches wide1 while the upper leaves are smaller and stemless or clasping4 ,about ,july to ,september the terminal flower heads are produced1 either singly or a few together4 ,as already stated1 these flower heads look very much like small sunflowers1 #b to #d inches broad1 and consist of long1 narrow1 yellow rays1 #c toothed at the apex1 and the disk also is yellow4 ,description of ,root--,elecampane has a large1 long1 branching root1 pale yellow on the outside and whitish and fleshy within4 ,when dry the outside turns a grayish brown or dark brown1 and is generally finely wrinkled lengthwise4 ,as found in commerce1 elecampane is usually in transverse or lengthwise slices1 light yellow or grayish and fleshy internally1 dotted with numerous shining resin cells1 and with overlapping brown or wrinkled bark4 ,these slices become flexible in damp weather and tough1 but when they are dry they break with a short fracture4 ,the root has at first a strongly aromatic odor1 which has been described by some as resembling a violet odor1 but this diminished in drying4 ,the taste is aromatic1 bitterish and pungent4 ,collection1 ,prices1 and ,uses--,the best time for collecting elecampane is in the fall of the second year4 ,if collected later than that the roots are apt to be stringy and woody4 ,owing to the interlacing habit of the rootlets1 much dirt adheres to the root1 but it should be well cleaned1 cut into transverse or lengthwise slices1 and carefully dried in the shade4 ,collectors receive from #c to #e cents a pound for this root4 ,elecampane1 which was official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopeia of #ahij1 is much used in affections of the respiratory organs1 in digestive and liver disorders1 catarrhal discharges and skin diseases4 ,queen-of-the-,meadow4 ,eupatorium ,purpureum4 ,other ,common ,names--,gravelroot1 ,indian gravelroot1 joe-pye-weed1 purple boneset1 tall boneset1 kidney root1 king-of-the-meadow1 marsh-milkweed1 motherwort1 niggerweed1 quillwort1 slunkweed1 trumpetweed4 ,habitat and ,range--,this common native perennial herb occurs in low grounds and dry woods and meadows from ,canada to ,florida and ,texas4 ,description of ,plant--,the stout1 erect1 green or purple stem of this plant grows from #c to #aj feet in height and is usually smooth1 simple or branched at the top4 ,the thin1 veiny leaves are #d to #ab inches long1 #a to #c inches wide1 ovate or ovate lance shaped1 sharp pointed1 toothed and placed around the stem in whorls of three to six4 ,while the upper surface of the leaves is smooth1 there is usually a slight hairiness along the veins on the lower surface1 otherwise smooth4 ,toward the latter part of the summer and in early fall queen-of-the-meadow is in flower1 producing #e to #ae flowered pink or purplish heads1 all aggregated in large compound clusters which present a rather showy appearance4 ,this plant belongs to the aster family 7,asteraceae74 ,illustration3 ,queen-of-the-,meadow 7,eupatorium ,purpureum74 ,another species which is collected with this and for similar purposes1 and by some regarded as only a variety1 is the spotted boneset or spotted joe-pye-weed 7,eupatorium maculatum ,l47 ,this is very similar to ,e4 purpureum1 but it does not grow so tall1 is rough-hairy and has the stem spotted with purple4 ,the thicker leaves are coarsely toothed and in whorls of three to five and the flower clusters are flattened at the top rather than elongated as in ,e4 purpureum4 ,it is found in moist soil from ,new ,york to ,kentucky1 westward to ,kansas1 ,new ,mexico1 ,minnesota1 and as far up as ,british ,columbia4 ,description of ,root--,queen-of-meadow root1 as it occurs in commerce1 is blackish and woody1 furnished with numerous long dark-brown fibers1 which are furrowed or wrinkled lengthwise and whitish within4 ,it has a bitter1 aromatic and astringent taste4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,the root is collected in autumn and is used for its astringent and diuretic properties4 ,it was official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopeia from #ahbj to #ahdj4 ,the price ranges from #b #a_/b to #d cents a pound4 ,,chapter ,,xxxv4 ,,medicinal ,,shrubs4 ,hydrangea4 ,hydrangea ,arborescens ,l4 ,other ,common ,names--,wild hydrangea1 seven-barks4 ,habitat and ,range--,hydrangea frequents rocky river banks and ravines from the southern part of ,new ,york to ,florida1 and westward to ,iowa and ,missouri1 being especially abundant in the valley of the ,delaware and southward4 ,description of ,plant--,hydrangea is an indigenous shrub1 #e to #f feet or more in height1 with weak twigs1 slender leaf stems and thin leaves4 ,it belongs to the hydrangea family 7,hydrangeaceae74 ,the leaves are oval or sometimes heart shaped1 #c to #f inches long1 sharply toothed1 green on both sides1 the upper smooth and the lower sometimes hairy4 ,the shrub is in flower from ,june to ,july1 producing loose1 branching terminal heads of small1 greenish white flowers1 followed by membranous1 usually #b-;celled capsules1 which contain numerous seeds4 ,sometimes hydrangea will flower a second time early in fall4 ,a peculiar characteristic of this shrub and one that has given rise to the common name seven-barks1 is the peeling off of the stem bark1 which comes off in several successive layers of thin1 different colored bark4 ,description of ,root--,the root is roughly branched and when first taken from the ground is very juicy1 but after drying it becomes hard4 ,the smooth white and tough wood is covered with a thin1 pale-yellow or light-brown bark1 which readily scales off4 ,the wood is tasteless1 but the bark has a pleasant aromatic taste1 becoming somewhat pungent4 ,illustration3 ,hydrangea 7,hydrangea ,arborescens74 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,hydrangea root is collected in autumn and as it becomes very tough after drying and difficult to bruise it is best to cut the root in short transverse pieces while it is fresh and still juicy and dry it in this way4 ,the price ranges from #b to #g cents a pound4 ,hydrangea has diuretic properties and is said to have been much used by the ,cherokees and early settlers in calculous complaints4 ,oregon ,grape4 ,berberis ,aquifolium ,pursi ,pharmacopeial ,name--,berberis4 ,other ,common ,names--,rocky ,mountain grape1 holly-leaved barberry1 ,california barberry1 trailing ,mahonia4 ,habitat and ,range--,this shrub is native in woods in rich soil among rocks from ,colorado to the ,pacific ,ocean1 but is especially abundant in ,oregon and northern ,california4 ,illustration3 ,oregon ,grape 7,berberis ,aquifolium74 ,description of ,plant--,oregon grape is a low-growing shrub1 resembling somewhat the familiar ,christmas holly of the ,eastern states1 and1 in fact1 was first designated as mountain-holly by members of the ,lewis and ,clark expedition on their way through the western country4 ,it belongs to the barberry family 7,berberidaceae71 and grows about #b to #f feet in height1 the branches sometimes trailing4 ,the leaves consist of from #e to #i leaflets1 borne in pairs1 with an odd leaflet at the summit4 ,they are from #b to #c inches long and about #a inch wide1 evergreen1 thick1 leathery1 oblong or oblong ovate in outline1 smooth and shining above1 the margins provided with thorny spines or teeth4 ,the numerous small yellow flowers appear in ,april or ,may and are borne in erect1 clustered heads4 ,the fruit consists of a cluster of blue or bluish purple berries1 having a pleasant taste1 and each containing from three to nine seeds4 ,other ,species--,while ,berberis aquifolium is generally designated as the source of ,oregon grape root1 other species of ,berberis are met with in the market under the name grape root1 and their use is sanctioned by the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia4 ,the species most commonly collected with ,berberis aquifolium is ,b4 nervosa ,pursh1 which is also found in woods from ,california northward to ,oregon and ,washington4 ,this is #i to #ag inches in height1 with a conspicuously jointed stem and #aa to #ag bright-green leaflets4 ,another species of ,berberis1 ,b4 pinnata ,lag41 attains a height of from a few inches to #e feet1 with from #e to #i1 but sometimes more1 leaflets1 which are shining above and paler beneath4 ,this resembles aquifolium very closely and is often mistaken for it1 but it is said that it has not been used by the medical profession1 unless in local practice4 ,the root also is about the same size as that of aquifolium1 while the root of nervosa is smaller4 ,some works speak of ,berberis repens ,lindl4 as another species often collected with aquifolium1 but in the latest botanical manuals no such species is recognized1 ,b4 repens being given simply as a synonym for ,b4 aquifolium4 ,description of ,rootstock--,the rootstock and roots of ,oregon grape are more or less knotty1 in irregular pieces of varying lengths1 and about an inch or less in diameter1 with brownish bark and hard and tough yellow wood1 showing a small pith and narrow rays4 ,oregon grape root has a very bitter taste and very slight odor4 ,collection1 ,prices and ,uses--,oregon grape root is collected in autumn and brings from #aj to #ab cents a pound4 ,the bark should not be removed from the rootstocks1 as the ,pharmacopoeia directs that such roots be rejected4 ,this root has long been used in domestic practice thruout the ,west as a tonic and blood purifier and is now official in the ,united ,states ,pharmacopoeia4 ,the berries are used in making preserves and cooling drinks4 ,,end ,,of ,,ginseng ,,and ,,other ,,medicinal ,,plants