PREFACE; 



secure valuable information regarding the culture of these fruits in 

 other sections of China and Judo China. The large collection of 

 Chinese provincial, prefectural and district gazetteers found in the 

 Library of Congress has led to a source of information of extreme 

 value. A careful study of the Chinese writings on the lychee, in- 

 cluding chese geographical works, has resulted in a strong conviction 

 that a knowledge of Chinese literature is not only essential in any 

 study of the varieties, culture and uses of cultivated plants in China, 

 but that such knowledge is of the greatest value in any attempt to 

 introduce these plants into successful culture in the West. The 

 enthusiasm for Chinese literature shown by men like Dr. Walter T. 

 Swingle should in the years to come awaken the western world to the 

 treasures stored within its pages. Dr. Swingle's inspiration and Dr. 

 Herbert Putnam's hearty co-operation has brought the Chinese 

 collection in the Library of Congress to its present good condition 

 and I believe this is destined to become the very best collection out-, 

 side of China itself. 



It is not always easy to be consistent in the romanization o 

 Chinese names. But except where indicated by the phrase "in 

 Cantonese", or otherwise, the spelling followed is always the 

 Mandarin according to Herbert A. Giles Chinese-English Dictionary ; 

 except in the names of places with post offices, "when the Postal 

 Guide, issued by the Ministry of Communications of China, is 

 followed. As the Mandarin romanization of the names of'Kwang- 

 tung men, places and fruits is hardly intelligible to those working in 

 the Canton district, the Cantonese romanization according to the 

 Eitel-Genahr Chinese-English Dictionary in the Cantonese Dialect 

 has in many cases been placed in parenthesis with- the Chinese 

 characters. 



In conclusion the writer wishes to express his gratitude to 

 Mr.- Kenneth Duncan of the Canton Christian College for valuable 

 suggestions in the preparation of the manuscript for the press and for 

 his willingness to supervise the publication of the work in the writer's 

 absence. 



G. WEIDMAN GROI-F 

 Ling 'Nam, Cancon, China, 



Ml 



