766 



now making the Experimental Station a center and a model 

 from which to develop afforestation in this province. The 

 Nanking people have suffered much in the late revolutions 

 but especially in the second, when Chong Hsun, a devil in- 

 carnate, let his armies loose and destroyed what they 

 could not loot. Though ordered to leave this city by 

 the President, he would not budge till the city gave him 

 $800,000 in cash. This was the last straw. Now notwith- 

 standing all this the city has contributed $20,000 to push 

 this work that I am in. It will be hard for some of the 

 subscribers to raise the money still they are keeping the 

 work going ahead. Under these circumstances it would be 

 of great encouragement to them if a substantial donation 

 of trees could be obtained in recognition of their public 

 spirit, by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. They 

 appreciate any recognition of their efforts and are really 

 trying to do their best. The difficulties can only be 

 appreciated by one who actually lives here. You were 

 generous enough to send me through the U. S. Consul here a 

 large quantity of yellow and white pine seed year before 

 last and last year. The seeds have done good work, though 

 we lost more than three-fourths of the young seedlings 

 through drought and by our men having been driven off by 

 bullets, still we have over 20 acres of nice young seed- 

 lings transplanted from those seed. Could a special 

 effort be made this year to help us? They want to do big 

 things this next year. The governor is one of the com- 

 mittee and most enthusiastic. You can see his picture in' 

 the bulletin. " 



