668 



The leaves are perhaps as long as those of New Zealand 

 flax and yield a fibre from which the Indians make a very 

 strong rope. I saw them use this rope in ways that would 

 severely test its strength and there can be no doubt on 

 that point. If any one will take this matter up and grow 

 the plants it would be worth while to spend some money to 

 secure it. There was no seed and young plants would have 

 to be sent. These would have to be taken up with some 

 earth and carried in sacks on horseback over a terrible 

 trail for some distance, then across a lake and again by 

 cart or on horseback to Castro, from which point they can 

 be shipped. Dr. Christie can attend to this if you want 

 it done. I suspect this plant is entirely unknown outside 

 Chiloe and there are only two men who really know the way 

 south into this region. By the way, I have a plant some- 

 thing like celery with edible stems and leaves. Dr. 

 Christie thinks it the wild form of celery but that is 

 old-world, and I found this where there is no definite 

 knowledge of anyone's having lived for an unknown length 

 of time, though there was once an ancient people for I 

 found bits of pottery within 20 miles. The present 

 Indians do not make pottery, neither have they ever been 

 known to do so, while what I found was in the earth and 

 was being exposed by the wind uncovering it in the hills 

 200 feet above the sea." 



CHINA. Shantung. Tsi-nan-fu. Mr. Prank N. Meyer 

 writes April 5, 1913. "I hope that the shipment which I 

 am sending by post today will reach Chico O.K. and that 

 the stocks there are not too far advanced, for there are 

 among this lot the interesting seedless jujubes and a 

 large fruited variety, the size of the fruit being like 

 small hen's eggs. I have also been getting some interest- 

 ing varieties of vegetables. A variety of the egg plant 

 with large reddish white fruit, a great rarity apparently. 

 Also some muskmelons and cucumbers. The weather all of a 

 sudden has become very warm here and poplars and willows 

 have already good sized leaves. The lilac, ornamental 

 crab apple, apricot and plum are in full bloom. I am 

 afraid that scions cannot be sent any more over that long 

 distance to America and several things will have to be 

 gotten this coming winter. With my present interpreter 

 and assistant I am getting on the track of several things 

 of which I have heard nothing before and as I probably 

 have another two years before me here in China I suppose I 

 will be able to bag the major part as time advances. A 

 week or so from now I hope to return to Peking, and after 

 having finished accounts and reports, prepare myself for 



