160 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



of plant, new or interesting, was also part of the program. By- 

 special arrangement with the Arnold Arboretum, lily bulbs in 

 quantity were to be collected for Messrs. R. & J. Farquhar of this 

 city. (In the exhibition hall adjoining this room, this firm has 

 amongst its magnificent exhibit a number of the lilies grown from 

 bulbs secured on this expedition. The beauty and value of these 

 new lilies need no comment and one need not be a prophet to 

 foreshadow for them an appreciative public. They are perfectly 

 hardy here in Massachusetts and thrive under cultivation). 



With the above objects in view I sailed from New York on 

 April 2d, 1910. Some little time was spent in England making 

 certain necessary arrangements, and then I traveled via the Trans- 

 Siberian Railway to Peking. From Peking I went by rail to 

 Hankow on the Yangtse River. At Hankow steamer accommoda- 

 tion was available to Ichang, a city situated in the heart of China 

 on the Yangtse River, one thousand geographical miles from its 

 mouth. Ichang having been my base on three previous occasions 

 was well known to me and no difficulty was experienced in secur- 

 ing carriers and outfit necessary for a long overland journey. 

 My former employes were notified and inside of two weeks from 

 date of arrival my arrangements were complete. 



Western China is most readily reached by jouiTieying up the 

 river in native boats, but with the object the expedition had in 

 view, an overland route was necessary. My object was to enter 

 Szechuan by way of northwestern Hupeh and then strike due 

 west to Chengtu, the capital of the Province. Much of this 

 proposed route was absolute terra-incognita, and no one had be- 

 fore attempted this journey in its entirety. The distance is 

 about seven hundred miles, but in rough mountainous country 

 mere mileage is no criterion. In all it took about eight weeks of 

 steady travel to cover the distance, but once we entered Szechuan 

 our task proved comparatively easy. 



Northwestern Hupeh is today one of the wildest, most sparsely 

 inhabited and least known parts of China. It is simply one vast 

 sea of mountains; range upon range of razor-backed ridges, sepa- 

 rated by narrow chasms down which mountain torrents rage in 

 mad impetus. This inaccessible country supports a rich flora 

 and is one of the most interesting parts of China. The following 



