The American Ginseng Manual Page 3

CHAPTER 14
GINSENG HOW TO FIND IT
Half a century ago, on account of the plant being more bountiful than it is today. ginseng was not hard to find. Little ground was cultivated by the farmer. Great, extensive woodlands stretched out for miles in all directions, broken only occasionally, with here and there a farm house, with cleared ground consisting of a number of fields of a few acres each. Today it is different.
Much of the land has been cleared away, giving the farmer more room for his crops and gardens, leaving less for thicket or woodland. This is one of the basic reasons why the plant has taken a "back seat" in abundance. What few woodland tracts that remain unaffected by the farmer still has a few stalks of ginseng, but it's easier to scour these and keep the supply low, than formerly it was to look over a much larger area. It used to be only a matter of knowing the plant, to find it growing in patches, but today it is different. When found in patches it's in some hidden ravine, or out-of-the-way place, which has for years been overlooked. The majority of plants now found grow single or only a few together.
Years ago, though the price paid per pound was low, ginsengers scoured the woods far and wide, rarely bothering to dig single plants, unless of immense size, as all that could be carried could be dug from large patches. Perhaps it 'was a lack of foresight in the "old timers," in their failure to plant back the ripened seeds, leave small plants, gather only when mature (namely, August, September, and October), which caused a fast diminishing of the wild supply, from the woodland tracts. This is to be regretted, though it would possibly happen today among many. Perhaps we should not blame those old pioneers, who dug roots as a part-time occupation for a living, as modes of making a living in the country those days was limited. However, a greater supply would have been growing wild if conservation had been practiced more widely.
However, as a general rule, the root digger has not been wholly to blame. As mentioned before, the clearing away of vast sections to give way from forest-land to crop-land, was much the cause. The land cleared up for crops made less land suitable for its growth. How then could it grow? In some parts of the country, where ginseng formerly grew, the trees have been cut away until not enough cover exists to shade the plants for miles. This would indicate there are more parties to be blamed than a certain few. Naturalists, 'who look down their long nose from a pedestal of a self-lifted life, will smirk and say ''poor ginseng, the digger got it all!" Perhaps it is like the man who doesn't trap that condemns trapping; the man that doesn't like to hunt condemns hunting, and so forth. All activities of man is laden to the brim with faults. Laws cannot obviate a fault..
Ginseng is a beautiful plant. Its leaf-form is symmetrical and a pattern lovely to behold. In the wild it even appears delicate, though when grown under cultivation it may appear robust.
The "art" of finding ginseng in the wild is embodied in more than merely being able to identify the plant. Experience alone will assist you in knowing what is not ginseng as well as what is. To spot it quickly among the variety of other woods plants requires skill which can only be born of experience. In other words, to say hunters advocate you climb upon all the high objects you come across, while hunting the plant, in order that you might see it :further away. The pattern of ginseng has its imitations but never a duplicate. After some little practice, the hunter is not mistaken very often. While it is good advice to climb onto objects, whether you can see "farther, it's also true you must get down on your knees or stoop low, to look "under" low growing bushes or see beneath the foliage of young growth that has sprung up among the forest giants. Far above you, you may be able to identify it by its fork, seed head, or leaf pattern. Once you learn it, there is no mistaking it. On each prong here are three large and two small leaflets, which comprise the leaf. The finding of ginseng must be studied.

WHERE TO LOOK
The place to look for ginseng is an important factor in finding it. It is a plant that loves the well-drained slopes of wooded terrain for its natural home. As a rule, you will not find it out in the sun, except where trees have been cleared away from over its bed, then it will not last many years, as the sun withers and slowly kills it. Therefore, to look for it out in the sun could be virtually a loss of time.
Ginseng does not "stand out" among the other forest plants. It is neither noticeable by its smallness, nor conspicuous by it's giant size. In fact, it is smaller than some woods plants and larger than others. it's color is a delicate green that sets it lightly apart from the other plants.
When the territory, over which you hunt, is rather steep, you will find it best on the lower areas. From the bottom of cliffs and bluffs up to half way is the best (normally) on the north cliffs, while on the south cliffs, it peters out after going a third of the way up. Of course, the deeper and more shaded the ravine, the south slope will run farther up as good hunting. A bluff say only fifty to one hundred feet high may have good prospects all the way to the top. On high cliffs, look for benches, for good finds. In the places where the cliff or bluff ceases to drop away so rapidly but levels off in a bench makes some of the most ideal hunting ground. Oft times, when hunters have been searching pretty thoroughly, you may locate quite a few stalks up next to the rim, among vines and tangles.
In the fall when the branches and rocky creeks are dry, you may find much ginseng by walking along here, looking for it on other side. You must walk slow, as all you have to go by is the red berries, which you'll be able to see among the false Solomon's Seal and touch-me-nots. They grow profusely here, and you must watch close to see the ginseng. One warning, though, the creeks must be where they rush and not tarry, because ginseng must be well-drained and any water that stands will present a stagnant situation, where the plant will not grow. Along cliffs -where streams rush down the declivity, short ravines that begin a short way back, run violently, ending abruptly, down a short runway, these are good places to look. Walking along the rim of cliffs, note if a "flat" of land runs out from the cliff, down below somewhere. If so, you may find ginseng there. The downward pull of gravity is not so strong here. Jack-in-the-pulpit may, its crimson seeds, catch your eye and lead you to believe you've discovered a stalk of ginseng, but with a little practice, you'll be able to instantly tell the difference. The way the seed stem falls to the ground, the absence of leaves above seeds, makes it unlike ginseng.
By taking your time over likely woodlands, you should find it. A method of covering the ground slowly, zig-zagging up and down-hill, will enable you to find the spots which would otherwise be missed. The normal range of vision is limited, by woods growth and natural obstacles. It is a good idea to travel over every fifty feet of ground if you can.
Good spots to look is where you notice patches of bloodroot, mayapple (mandrake), and wild ginger grows. This is the type soil and condition of shade, where you find these plants in abundance. Possibly "ginseng pointers" will also be present, not "pointing toward a stalk" as old timers thought, but growing in the type of soil which ginseng favors, and a "pointer" when you know this characteristic of ginseng. Where ginseng pointers grow is in the forest where the shade, soil, and mulch is ideal for the growth of ginseng.
All wooded slopes may contain ginseng. This of course refers to slopes with natural cover, within the ginseng belt range. Because conditions were the most suitable on the north slopes, some hunters even concluded it would not be found growing on any other slope. This, of course, was a fallacy. Any slope affording the necessary requirements, where ginseng was not exterminated, would be found to contain the plant. Hunters have made some of their best "finds" in late years along the foot of south cliffs of deep ravines. This might have been due to other diggers overlooking the spot.
It is good to search along stream banks only if the plant can be well-drained. If the banks are steep enough to allow perfect drainage, then the locality may contain quite a bit of ginseng. Also other good places to look is around old dead tree tops, in over-grown fence corners, along fence rows (especially rail fences), in sinkholes, large or small thickets and second-growth hardwoods, around stumps, in briar tangles, where vines grow thick, in open woodland, and other places. While it does grow, to a limited extent in evergreen forests, and where oaks predominate, it will not be found plentifully there. Avoid swamp land. The drainage is poor here and it will not grow.

HOW TO FIND IT
Search out the deepest shades first. It is most likely to be there. Walk slow. Little ginseng is found while progressing through the woods at a fast walk. It requires time to find ginseng. Patience is needed to make a success of it.
Look in all directions. Pause often. Sit down on a stump or log and look the near vicinity over for its presence. Bend low to look beneath branches that may be present to obscure the vision. Watch beneath your feet. Sometimes it grows "under" the spread of a larger plant. Other times a rock may have slid down the declivity and pressed it almost to the ground. It may be found erect and beautiful, it may be marred by some forest catastrophe. One never knows. Things happen in the woods, same as it does on the city streets. Second-growth woods often contains quite a sprinkling so look in all spots where there is any possibility other ginseng diggers may have passed by.
An attempt at examining the forest plants by inches instead of taking in a large area at a time, produces results in more ginseng found. In the late fall the color of the ginseng plant will be different. The gold will be unlike any other plant of the forest. In summer the delicate green will not be the same as any other with which you may compare it. It often happens that plants with a long stem, like ginseng, will be forced over, and will lay low to the ground, to be passed by if the hunter is not very careful. The process of "sifting down" of all cliff and bluff debris, will in time force the plant over. Plants have been found lying flat, their stems under loose rock and dirt, the leaves a few inches above the ground where, when straightened up, the plants stem would stretch the leaves up above the forest floor a full twenty-four inches. Because of this sifting down, caused by the pull of gravity of everything loose creeping toward lower resting places, root have been found that did not run straight into the ground, as is natural, but extend back, lying flat beneath the surface. This of course was on steep slopes.
It is important practice to, as you hunt, turn and look behind you for the stalk may have been walked over. No matter how hard you look, if not highly skilled at hunting, you will walk over at least a few. It is easy to walk over them without noting them, while looking far ahead or to one side. It frequently happens the plant cannot be seen except from one direction. Maybe you were looking somewhere else at the moment you passed the spot where it -would have been possible to see the plant. Stoop and peep under the brush and vines and briars.
If it's fall, the bright red seed cluster, attract the eye, immediately you get where a clear vision is presented, from the eye-to-plant. Among the smaller growth, inside big tree woods, is a fine place to locate it. This has been proven on several occasions.
If you were panning gold and you found a few traces of "color," you wouldn't quit, would you? No, I suppose not. If a real prospector who knew what he was about, you'd concentrate your complete interest to following these traces to their source, where you might find the "mother lode."
Why would it be any different with ginseng or any other outdoor activity? When a nice plant is found, you ought not dig it and rush away without searching the vicinity where further exploration may reveal worthwhile digging. No, sir, like the prospector, you will use your head. When ginseng drops its seed, if the plant is on a steep slope, they are bound to "roll" for a days, at least. Then our place is to look below the plant, to see if other plants have sprung from the reproductive activities of the "mother" plant. But wait, not only below, the one you found might be from' some mother plant even above here. You might find a zig-zagging "row" of plants, a good ways up and down the cliff. Instead of rushing on to look elsewhere, by using your head, you "hit it rich" here at this very spot, working out from a "trace of color" just as the prospector would have done with the gold pan.

WHERE GINSENG DOESN'T GROW
The evergreen areas are low producers of ginseng, so let us not waste our time there. Also the regions where the white oak predominates is a poor section to look over for' possible lucrative digging. The tough leaves of this oak too frequently choke the plants out when striving to come up in the spring time, therefore this type, mulching is unsuitable for ginseng growth. The evergreen tree does not afford enough mulching, therefore the plant freezes out in evergreen regions.
The swampy localities will produce little ginseng. Ginseng must be well-drained, as dealt with in the preceding pages of this manual, therefore, it is a fruitless hunt. It is also futile to look for profitable digging in sunny places. Too much sun withers the plant away. As mentioned before the author found a 32 year old stalk, the root of which measured 13 1/2 inches tip to tip, growing in the sun. Wood-cutters had cleared away the trees, leaving this old "gentleman" growing up through the brushpiles that were laying about. The top was yellowed badly and it was doubtful if the plant would have survived many more years. However, the top had a bunch of berries in its top an inch through, and probably it was the shading of the roots by the brush that kept the plant from dying before it was found. Too, it was in a ravine that run north-south, and the sun did not stay on it so long, in the run of a day.

CHAPTER 15
GINSENG DIGGING
Some readers may consider the digging of ginseng a trite business. However, when the stalk has been found, its value should not be impaired by improper methods of digging, as the way it is taken from its natural bed may mean profit or loss.
As a rule, the digger carries the tool that suits his own notion as to what comprises the modern ginsengers version of what is necessary equipment. Personally, I find that a garden trowel, a strong one, about answers the bill, where I do my digging. The addition of a lathing hatchet, with narrow blade, about fills the bill, which cuts roots that may hold the root so it cannot be taken out whole otherwise. Some diggers make a tool from a buggy spring, but guess they are rather scarce most everywhere now-a-days, seeing buggies are few and far between. Others use a hoe that is cut down to the dimensions found best suited to their locality. There are diggers who use the Army pick, with hoe on one side and pick on the other. The use of a light sprouting hoe is fine. Many the author has dug with the use of his rock hammer pick. There is a lot of fun getting down on the knees to dig perhaps it's because we are made more humble, and to know Him, when we get on our knees. Indeed, it is needful we pay. tribute to the Creator, for finding this altogether lovely and attractive plant.
If you've never dug ginseng before, you should exercise extreme care in digging. Broken roots, split roots, marred, etc., do not bring the prices of first quality roots. The stem extends several inches below the surface of the ground, to the bud. From here the root extends downward, often a foot or more. The best way to dig it is to make an excavation about 12 inches across and go down until you reach the bud. Here, with the fingers, brush off the dirt, so you can see which way the root runs. Try to avoid striking the root with the digger while keeping the dirt away so the roots will be in view by brushing with the other hand. Farther down the root may branch off into other directions that will be hard to see unless careful.
The branching of the roots, the different directions the root may take, if it grows in the wild (where the roots are not trimmed), cannot be determined, though the root may at times be found to lay on its side, if the slope falls away steeply.
The ground should be loosened around the base of the plant and pulled away. The root may extend down like a finger pointing below, or it may separate into several branches from the bud.
There were two roots a young nephew of the author found, that each had five roots branching in as many directions. Each root was of large size. This was on a bluff over-looking a hundred yard wide river. As this was his first find of ginseng, was he a proud boy! I shall never forget that day! Before, nor since, never has the author duplicated that find!
Work rather tenderly around the roots, to keep from pulling or cutting them in two. The narrow-bladed lath hatchet is ideal for cutting roots. After the roots come free of the soil, pinch off the top. If the seeds are ripe, place these back into the excavation and cover with an inch or so of rich loam, spreading a leaf mulch over the top. All small seedlings dug up while unearthing the main ginseng root should be set back out while damp, to eliminate the likelihood of its perishing. When doing so, you may break off the top. If the top wilts, much moisture will be taken from this root to restore the life to the plant top.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
On cloudy days, you can see ginseng plants the best. Never become discouraged, when hunting ginseng and you cannot find it. If you are a beginner, remember it is rather hard to see, until you get used to it. Then you will be able to "pick it out" like the skilled hunters can. Take courage in the fact there always had to be a "first time" for everyone. No one can learn any better than you can. If you are a good hunter, you will know where to look, when and how.Be patient and you eventually will be successful.
If there is no one to show you the plant, go out and keep looking until you find it. Spend every opportunity in the woods. The sun and air are health builders. The author found both ginseng and golden seal unaided. He referred many times to pictures in books and from memory, after many discouragement's, found them both growing in the section where he lived. It is a difficult process, but it can be done, if you are patient enough. That is the basic requirement. Descriptions that are infallible and good photos help a lot.
On the ginseng plant, there may be from two to five or more prongs, stretching out from the fork of the stem. Only in unusual cases is five or more prongs found on wild plants. Perhaps it was found rather readily by the old timers, who found old plants. But ginseng does not get so old today before being dug. Ginseng forks into separate prongs from the stem at the SAME PLACE. Remember that. No other plant that has a fleshy stem, to our knowledge, does this. The flower, which later is the seed-head, comes directly out of this fork. Each prong has THREE LARGE and TWO SMALL leaflets. The small leaflets are toward the center of the plant. All prongs, do not forget this, BEGIN at the same place, jutting out in any direction from there. The stem of a two pronged stalk of ginseng will look like a big "Y" where it separates at the fork; Follow those directions and you can't help but know ginseng. If the plant you have found fails to come up to any of the mentioned specifications, then it ISN'T GINSENG!
Sometimes from April to May, depending on where and in what locality the plant is situated, it makes its appearance. The blooms appear in late May and on into June, and they are in a cluster, from 5 to 20 small, greenish yellow in color, to the plant. These are followed later, near summer's end, by bright, scarlet berries. Each berry contains from 2 to 3 seeds. The seed pod ripens and drops when nature says so, which is like all other plants, when mature. Nature prepares for ginseng in the wild. The seeds fall to the ground before or during the time when the leaves fall which nicely covers the seeds over.
Virginia creeper, having five leaves, is often mistaken for ginseng, but it has all five leaves the SAME SIZE. Also the stem is "woody."
Ginseng grows wild from a few inches above the forest floor, in its early years, to 20 or more inches high for mature plants. The stem is "fleshy" and not woody. Imitations to ginseng can be mostly identified because most have wood stems. Buck-eye, too, while young, resembles ginseng. But the stem is woody. If hunting where buckeye is plentiful, and you are having a hard time finding your first stalk, go elsewhere to hunt. Poison ivy has three leaves, and while it fools very few, some amateurs ought to know it and beware of it. It can cause a lot of trouble, and may be mistaken and dug for ginseng.
Frequently ginseng can be spotted because of the fact it appears thinner-leafed and more delicate than the other forest plants.
If in doubt as to whether the plant you have found is ginseng or not, dig up the root. If the top looks like ginseng has been described, if the stem is fleshy and not woody and you still do not know, dig up the root. If it is corky and odd shaped with wrinkles in it, then it's a good bet you've found your first stalk of ginseng.

A MINIATURE GINSENG GARDEN
Ginseng can be grown in boxes in the house. Just like flowers. The box should be six or more inches deep and of any convenient size. Get rich loam from the woods, preferably that which grows around
old decayed trees. Set the young plants in the box in the fall, or sow germinated seeds. Place in a cellar through the cold months.
When spring comes, remove from the cellar to a shaded place, near a north window. Give plenty of ventilation, keep the ground covered with leaf mold, and after the dangers of frost is gone, can be placed in a cool place outside.

TO MAKE GINSENG TEA
To make a tea of ginseng, grate 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoonful dry roots in a grater. Add 1/2 pint of boiling water. Take a teaspoonful at meal times. Good for colds on the lungs. Ginseng regulates digestion.
The old pioneers used to pluck the leaves of ginseng and chew them or dig the root and after washing to eat the root while green, this they did to a certain extent. The flavor of the dried root is slightly bitter, but not unpleasant to chew. It is a suggestion that the grower or hunter, who has stomach troubles try chewing a few leaves several times a day. A piece of root an inch or so long, and the size of a lead pencil can be chewed, and the results noted.
The Chinese use much root, carried in the pocket dry, making a piece the size of a corn grain, to chew about every 3 hours.
Ginseng tea is made thus: select bright, clean leaves. Tie in thick bunches and dry near the stove until thoroughly cured. Steep the leaves as much as is required, like ordinary tea. Use sugar and cream if you like. For nervous indigestion, it is excellent. Store dry leaves in paper bags to exclude dust and light, until needed.

IN CONCLUSION
In the mountain forest lands of eastern Asia, wild ginseng is found. The cheapest grade of ginseng comes from Japan. Possibly the most valuable from Manchuria. Those from Korea follow Manchuria in quality.
It has been stated it would require many centuries to shake the Chinaman's faith in ginseng as a cure-all." It would prove a "spring-back" on the Americans, if they should discover what the Chinese people already had known for scores of years, since the American people consider the Chinese as superstitious in this belief.
Ginseng found wild in Manchuria is rare and commands exorbitant prices per pound.
It is possible to bring the grade of ginseng up by selective breeding. It would require a number of years, keeping seeds only from the most healthy, mature plants, again selecting the best seeds from each seed-head, and up-grading. The fact ginseng is cultivated in China and the roots are of the finest grade speaks the possibility the plant can be raised in quality as it is grown in America. There would be a heavy demand for such roots, and prices would be high. All that's needed is a few experimenting gardeners who are willing to spend their time, expense and thought in its care. It would require attention to the seemingly insignificant details that would change ginseng course into a more profitable industry.
More patience on the part of all growers would mean better quality. Three important things to avoid in the production of finest quality roots is manuring (artificial fertilizer), heavy seed-bearing results and quick drying. The potential growers of ginseng. must realize the financial returns from the ginseng gardening enterprise is not immediately. Several years are necessary before you can expect to sell the roots, and the seeds you sell may turn out to be of minor importance. Still, it is an industry that is worthwhile, for him who will learn the proper gardening technique.

THE END-

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