PREFACE 



Most occidentals resident in South China have joined the 

 Chinese in their zealous enthusiasm for the lychee. It has been the 

 writer's- privilege to have lived for twelve years in the very heart of 

 one of the two famous lychee producing regions of China. Shortly 

 after arrival upon the South China field, as representative of the? 

 Pennsylvania State College Horticultural Mission at the Canton 

 Christian College, I was asked to make a thorough study of the 

 lychee and lungan in their native region. The present work is the 

 result of these investigations. 



The western horticulturist should naturally find in this work 

 something of interest with regard to fruits of a family with which he 

 has doubtless had little acquaintance. Interesting theories and 

 practices of Chinese fruit growers should be of some value to fruit 

 growers of the West. And to those interested in the introduction. of 

 the lychee and lungan into other lands these investigations should 

 lead to a more adequate understanding of the peculiar characteristics 

 of these fruits, without which there is little hope of successful culture. 



It is hoped that this work will be of interest not only to 

 horticulturists but also to those of East and West who are interested 

 in the past, present and future of China. The historical setting of 

 the lychee and lungan as revealed in Chinese literary works should be 

 of some value to students of Chinese literature and Chinese history. 

 An acquaintance with these works should arouse the western world 

 to a realization of the importance of Chinese literature as a possible 

 source of knowledge for present-day progress in scientific develop- 

 ment. To the student of geography and world affairs, South China, 

 and its industrious, self-sacrificing people, should occupy a more 

 prominent position because of knowledge with regard to this people 

 in this one special phase of their endeavor; and because of the interest 

 of South China's widely travelled emigrants in carrying the gospel of 

 their favorite fruit to the ends of the earth. 



