Ginseng and Other Medicinal Plants. A. R. Harding
many instances beyond a proportionate advance in the cost of labor, and they bid fair to maintain such a position permanently. It is safe to estimate the average enhancement of values to be at least 100% over this period; those not reaching such an increased price fully made up for by others which have many times doubled in value.
It is beyond the bounds of possibility to pursue in detail all of the facts which might prove interesting regarding this business, but it is important that, to an extent at least, the matter of fluctuations in values be explained before this subject can be ever in a measure complete.
All items embraced in the list of readily marketable items are at times very high in price and other times very low; this is brought about principally by the supply. It is usually the case that an article gradually declines in price, when it has once started, until the price ceases to make its production profitable.
It is then neglected by those formerly gathering it, leaving the natural demand nothing to draw upon except stocks which have accumulated in the hands of dealers. 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 time, and that nowhere can any be found ready for the market.
Dealers then begin to make inquiry, they urge its collection by those who formerly did it, insisting still upon paying only the old price. The situation becomes acute; the small lots held are not released until a fabulous price may be realized, thus establishing a very much higher market. Very soon the advanced prices reach the collector, offers are rapidly made him at higher and higher prices, until finally every one in the district is attracted by the high and profitable figures being offered. It is right here that every careful person concerned needs to be doubly careful else, in the inevitable drop in prices caused by the over-production which as a matter of course follows, he will lose money. It will probably take two to five years then for this operation to repeat itself with these items, which have after this declined even to lower figures than before.
In the meantime attention is directed to others undergoing the same experience. A thorough understanding of these circumstances and proper heed given to them, will save much for the collector and make him win in the majority of cases.
Books and other information can be had by writing to the manufacturers and dealers whose advertisements may be found in this and other papers.
CHAPTER II.
LIST OF PLANTS HAVING MEDICINAL VALUE.
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 beginner, whether as a grower, collector or dealer.
The supply and demand of medicinal plants changes, but the following have been in constant demand for years. The name or names in parenthesis are also applied to the root, bark, berry, plant, vines, etc., as mentioned:
Balm Gilead (Balsam Poplar)—The Buds.
Bayberry (Wax-Myrtle)—The Bark of Root.
Black Cohosh (Black Snake Root)—The Root with Rootlets.
Black Haw (Viburnum. Sloe.)—The Bark of Root. The Bark of Tree.
Black Indian Hemp (Canadian Hemp)—The Root.
Blood Root—The Root with Fibre. The Root with no Fibre.
Blue Cohosh (Papoose Root. Squaw Root)—The Root.
Blue Flag (Larger Blue Flag)—The Root.
Burdock—The Root. The Seed.
Cascara Sagrada (Chittem Bark)—Bark of Tree.
Clover, Red—The Blossoms.
Corn Silk
Cotton Root—The Bark of Root.
Cramp Root (Cranberry Tree. High Bush Cranberry)—The Bark of Tree.
Culver's Root (Black Root)—The Root.
Dandelion—The Root.
Deer Tongue—The Leaves.
Elder—The Dried Ripe Berries. The Flowers.
Elecampane—The Root, cut into slices.
Elm (Slippery Elm)—The Bark, deprived of the brown, outside layer.
Fringe Tree—The Bark of Root.
Gelsemium (Yellow Jasmine) (Carolina Jasmine)—The Root.
Ginseng—The Root.
Golden Seal (Yellow Root. Yellow Puccoon. Orange Root. Indian Dye. Indian Turmeric)—The Root.
Gold Thread (Three-leaved Gold Thread)—The Herb.
Hops—These should be collected and packed in such a manner as to retain all of the yellow powder (lupulin.)
Hydrangea—The Root.
Indian Hemp, Black (See Black Indian Hemp)
Lady Slipper (Moccasin-Flower. Large Yellow Lady Slipper. American Valerian)—The Root, with Rootlets.
Lobelia (Indian Tobacco)—The Herb. The Seed.
Mandrake (May-apple)—The Root.
Nettle—The Herb.
Passion Flower—The Herb.
Pipsissewa (Prince's Pine)—The Vine.
Poke—The Berries. The Root.
Prickly Ash (Toothache Tree. Angelica Tree. Suterberry. Pepper Wood. Tea Ash)—The Bark. The Berry.
Sassafras—The Bark of the Root. The Pith.
Saw Palmetto—The Berries.
Scullcap—The Herb.
Snake Root, Virginia (Birthwort-Serpentaria)—The Root.
Snake Root, Canada (Asarabacca. Wild Ginger. So-called Coltfoot Root)—The Root.
Spruce Gum—Clean Gum only.
Squaw Vine (Partridge Berry)—The Herb.
Star Root (See Unicorn False)
Star Grass (See Unicorn True)
Stillingia (Queen's Delight)—The Root.
Stramonium (Jamestown-weed. Jimson-weed. Thorn-apple)—The Leaves. The Seed.
Unicorn True (Star Grass. Blazing Star. Mealy Starwort. Colic Root)—The Root.
Unicorn False (Star Root. Starwort)—The Root.
Wahoo (Strawberry Tree. Indian Arrow. Burning Bush. Spindle Tree. Pegwood. Bitter Ash)—The Bark of Root. The Bark of Tree.
White Pine (Deal Pine. Soft Deal Pine)—The Bark of Tree, Rossed.
Wild Cherry—The thin Green Bark, and thick Bark Rossed. The dried Cherries.
Wild Indigo (Horsefly Weed. Rattle-bush. Indigo Weed. Yellow Indigo. Clover Broom)—The Root.
Wormseed, American (Stinking Weed. Jesuit Tea. Jerusalem Tea. Jerusalem Oak)—The Seed.
Wild Yam (Colic Root. China Root. Devil's Bones)—The Root.
Yellow