NORTH-WESTERN SZECHUAN 127 



have a rough humus collecting bark. Maples in variety, 

 Micromeles laden with fruit, and many other interesting 

 trees were striking constituents of these woods. Tall growing 

 herbs made a grand display, especially the apetalous Astilbe 

 rivularis, Spircea Ar uncus, Anemone vitifolia with white and 

 pink flowers like the Japanese Anemone, Artemisia lactiflora 

 with large panicles of milk-white, fragrant flowers, Balsams 

 [Impatiens) with yellow, pink, and purple flowers ; mixed with 

 them also were Meadow Rue [Thalictrum), Aconites, many 

 Senecios, and Meconopsis chelidonifolia growing about 3 feet 

 tall with clear yellow flowers, saucer-shaped and 2-^ inches across. 

 Acres of the country-side are covered by these various herbs. 



There was indeed plenty to interest one ; the flora of this 

 region is undoubtedly rich, and it was most unfortunate that 

 the rain prevented an exhaustive investigation. 



Hsueh-po, alt. 6000 feet, consists of a few houses sun'ounded 

 by high mountains with a good-sized torrent, which rises near the 

 head of the pass, and flows through the narrow valley. Maize 

 is cultivated as the staple crop. The Hydrangea and Buddleia 

 previously noted ascend to this altitude, and were a wealth of 

 blossoms. Alder also extends to this point ; Poplar likewise. 

 This latter tree has a very graceful port and the leaves have 

 red petioles and veins when young. 



Our lodgings were good and weather-proof, which was for- 

 tunate, since it rained heavily the night through, and until 

 eleven o'clock in the forenoon of the next day. Afterwards it 

 was fair, but threatening, heavy clouds and mists obscured the 

 country-side from our view. Around the inn are several trees 

 of a handsome, flat-leaved Spruce {Picea asccndcns) with 

 pendulous branchlets. This tree, known locally as " Me-tiao 

 sha or sung," is the most esteemed timber tree in these parts. 

 The trees are felled, hewn into planks about 25 feet long, 

 5 inches thick, and 12 inches broad, and carried on men's 

 backs to a point on the river whence it is possible to float down 

 rafts. Lumbering is a very considerable industry in these 

 mountains, the timber finding its way to Chungpa. This fine 

 Spruce w^as fruiting freely. (Later I secured plenty of seed, 

 and successfully introduced it into Western gardens.) 



On leaving Hsueh-po, we crossed the torrent and descended 



