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NOTES ON THE AGRICULTURE, 



The water convolvulus (Ipomoea aquatica For.) (H8S). 

 See PL III, Fig. 2. The water Ipomoea is a plant of the 

 convolvulaccae family with twining or prostrate stem, white 

 flowers and with corniform or lanceolar leaves. This veget- 

 able is cultivated in many places in China. At Foochow one 

 variety grows in the dry soil and has lanceolar leaves ; another 

 grows in ponds, irrigated fields, and on marshy ground. The 

 water variety of Ipomoea is planted from the seeds in the 

 spring in rows, 2 feet wide, and the plants are placed about 

 £-1 feet apart, in rows. During the summer the young stalks 

 with the leaves are gathered 3-4 times and sent to the 

 market. In the end of October the Chinese collect the seeds 

 for the next spring. 



The water Ipomoea is often planted and cultivated on 

 floating rafts made of bamboo or reeds covered with rice 

 straw. The Ipomea thus grows directly from the water and 

 in time of inundations the raft with the plants rises with the 

 water. Being tied by a rope to the shore it is prevented 

 from floating away. The stalks and the leaves of this water 

 plant cooked with meat are much eaten by the Chinese 

 throughout the year. 



The water cress (Nesturtium officinale B. Br.) (rfc 7r 3S, 

 7jt ffl 3F). See figure in the text. Water cress belong to the 



The Water Cress (Nasturtium Officinale). 



-XXXIII. The Cultivation of Water Vegetables at Foochow. 

 By B. W. Skvortzow. 



