LIVES OF TRAVELLERS 



Wilson returned to England in April 1902, spent the 

 summer at Coombe Wood, and left for the second journey 

 to the extreme west of China, to the border of Tibet, 

 a thousand miles further west beyond the former field of 

 exploration, in January 1903. 



On arrival at Shanghai he followed the former route as far 

 as Ichang, reaching Kiating, which was to be his base, on 

 June 19th 1903. 



The mountainous country west of the Min river to the 

 Yalung river, about 100 miles west of the border town ol 

 Tatien-lu, was explored, as was Mount Omi, a sacred moun- 

 tain of the Chinese. Specimens of the flora were obtained 

 and some few seeds. 



In the neighbourhood of Tatien-lu was discovered the prin- 

 cipal object of the search the magnificent yellow Poppy, 

 Meconopsis integrifolia, and Wilson was successful in securing 

 seeds from which plants were raised and flowered at Langley 

 in September 1904. 



In July 1904 Wilson left Kiating for Sungpan in the 

 extreme north-west corner of Szechuan, a trip which occupied 

 some fifty-two days. The experience was arduous, owing to 

 the severity of the weather, the bad roads and the scarcity of 

 food, but on the whole, from the plant- collector's standpoint, 

 a brilliant success. The country is very mountainous and 

 possesses a rich flora. Ranking next to the truly magnifi- 

 cent Rhododendrons, are several species of Primula, one 

 of the most beautiful, P. vittata, growing in enormous 

 quantities in moist Alpine meadows, and by the sides of 

 streams. 



Besides securing a further supply of seeds of Meconopsis 

 integrifolia, Wilson discovered the scarlet-flowered species, 

 M. punicea, and, from seed successfully introduced, plants 



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