About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

"American Ginseng, Green Gold, a growers guide, including ginseng's history and use" is the most comprehensive book on North American ginseng ever written. "American ginseng" contains the most comprehensive grower's farming guide I've found, has a fascinating weaving of the history of human use of ginseng through each section and is an exhaustive report on 'sang's life cycle and hunting the wild plant for profit.


In addition to hunting and farming ginseng, the book describes the legal issues surrounding harvesting, the medicinal properties of the plant, root harvesting and stratifying seed in the nursery or in the wild and the economics of ginseng farming. It includes interviews with 3 successful growers; Dr. D.B. Settles, Tom Condon and Oscar Wood.

This 203 page book of small print contains 4 sections including general information, a grower's manual, successful growers tell their story and related topics and resources. There are 36 illustrations, an 8 page photo gallery of the plant, its roots and typical habitat and 8 tables.



Pros

• This book is possibly the most complete book on American ginseng ever written. I can't think of a thing it excludes on the subject.
• "American Ginseng" is the only resource I know of that has an exhaustive grower's manual to include both artificial cultivation and methods to continue new woods regeneration by planting seeds.
• The book is loaded with hard to find illustrations and photographs specifically associated with American ginseng. These images are in black and white but does not take away from their information value.

• This book is a ginseng marketing necessity for any one going into the business. It is designed by a grower to assist you with the establishment of a ginseng-growing operation.

Cons

• It is my understanding that the book is out of print. It is a relatively rare used book and often expensive (but I picked up a copy for less than $30). Be persistent.
• Although easy to read, American Ginseng may be a bit technical and business-centric for anyone not interested in a detailed growing operation and methods used to harvest and prepare ginseng.

 

Persons' Quotes in Book

• On ginseng economics: "a prudent, patient person who likes to grow things can find (growing ginseng) interesting and profitable...it requires hard work...a small capital investment, and it is certainly not a sure thing. "
• On growing methods: "there are three basic ways to grow ginseng...cast seeds on the forest floor...construct artificial shade over fields...or prepare tilled beds in the woods"
• On hunting vs.growing : "I've found that there is more money to be made by growing ginseng instead of hunting it wild."

 

The Author - American Ginseng, Green Gold

"American Ginseng, Green Gold, Revised Edition; a growers guide, including ginseng's history and use", published by Bright Mountain Books Inc., Asheville North Carolina is a second edition book by W. Scott Persons. ISBN 9780914875239

Scott Persons was born in Durham, North Carolina. Persons received his doctoral degree from Emory University in Atlanta in educational psychology. Dr. Persons married a N.C. girl who had a home and property in the western part of the state and they later moved there where he established a profitable ginseng farm.

Dr. Persons developed a scientific approach to ginseng farming and uses his writing skills to create many articles and two editions of this book for publication