1244 



Viciafaba (Pabaceae), 45305. Broad bean. Prom China. 

 Collected by Mr. Frank N.Meyer, Agricultural Explorer 

 for this Department. "(No. 2438a. Ichang, Hupeh, 

 China. March 24, 1917.) A medium large variety of 

 broad bean, much grown as a winter crop on rice lands 

 which have been drained for the cool season. The 

 beans are much eaten, when fresh, like green peas and 

 they form a very tasteful and nutritious dish. After 

 soaking in water over night, the dry beans are often 

 fried in oil, and salt sprinkled over them. They are 

 then eaten as a delicacy, like salted peanuts. Chi- 

 nese name Ts'an tou (Tchan doh) , meaning 'Silk worm 

 bean' , possibly on account of the silky hairs cover- 

 ing the outside and the inside of the pods. To be 

 tested as a winter crop in the southern parts of the 

 Atlantic and Gulf States and on the Pacific coast. As 

 a summer crop in the inter-mountain regions and along 

 the north Pacific coast." (Meyer.) 



Vigna sinensis 

 Collected by Mr, 

 plorer for this 

 China. March 7, 

 eaten as a human 



(Fabaceae), 45301. Cowpea. From China. 

 Frank N. Meyer, Agricultural Ex- 

 Department. "(No. 2434a. Hanchow, 

 1917.) A black-eyed, white cowpea 

 food; boiled with dry rice general- 

 ly, but also much used in stews and soups. The young 

 pods are much consumed slightly boiled as a vege- 

 table; they are also dried for winter use and in some 

 localities pickled in brine. Chinese name Pai chiang 

 tou (Pai chiang doh), meaning 'White precious bean'." 

 (Meyer. ) 



Notes from Correspondents abroad. 



Mr. S. lida writes from Yokohama, Japan, in a 

 recent letter: 



The Plum Blossom 

 the province of Yamato 

 orchard in Japan, but 

 has been curtailed in 

 the rouge industry in 



(Prunus mume) , at Tsukigase in 



is the most famous and largest 



I gather that the cultivation 



sympathy with the decline of 



Kyoto, where there were formerly 



ten principal factories of the color but a single one 

 survives at present. The burnt kernel of P. mumc is 

 said to be used in the manufacture. From this it 

 seems that the demand as fruit alone is not suffi- 

 cient for the orchard. 



