46 AGRICULTURAL EXPLORATIONS IN THE ORCHARDS OF CHINA. 



bushy and are very ornamental, especially in early summer, when 

 the masses of carmine fruit contrast beautifully with the glossy 

 light-green foliage. 



Several varieties are cultivated in China, varying in color from 

 dull white, yellowish red. rosy red, and carmine to black red; in 

 size, from a cherry up to a medium-sized plum; and in flavor, 

 from very acid to refreshingly sweet. The best varieties are grafted 

 upon wild or seedling stock, but it is no very easy undertaking to do 

 tliis. The trees can be transplanted only with the greatest difficulty, 

 and for that reason plantations extend but very slowly. Wherever the 

 Chinese nagi could be grown in the United States its fruit would be 

 a very pleasant addition indeed; for besides being very agreeable 

 when eaten fresh, it can be stewed, preserved, and used in a multitude 

 of ways. Very good pies are made from it, and as an ingredient in 

 fruit sirup it is very refreshing. (S. P. I. Xos. 22904 to 22906, and 

 22977.) 



POMEGRANATES. 



[Chinese name, ' c Shuh lu."] 



Pomegranates {Punica granatum) are not indigenous to China but 

 were introduced there' from central Asia in the beginning of our 

 present era. To-day they are still considered somewhat as exotics? 

 for the plants are mostly grown as ornamentals. The fruit is con- 

 sidered to be of more or less medicinal value. 



In the Shantung Province, however, one finds large specimens of 

 pomegranates growing in the gardens, and quite a number of different 

 varieties can be seen. There are dwarf varieties that grow only a 

 few feet tall and bear but a few small scarlet fruits, while others 

 grow from 15 to 20 feet tall and bear fruits one or more pounds in 

 weight. There are A~arieties that have a white rind and are red 

 inside and other kinds that are white both outside and inside. A 

 great part of all the pomegranates in China are double flowered and 

 are grown only for ornament. There are pygmy varieties with 

 double dark-red flowers, others with light-red ones; while among 

 the tall kinds one finds every degree of variation, ranging through 

 pure white, striped, and pale-red flowers to very dark red ones. 



LITCHIS. 



[Chinese name, "Lei tehee/'] 



The litchi (LitcM chinensis) is one of the most popular fruits in 

 China ; in fact, in the south it seems to occupy about the same place 

 that the strawberry does with us. as far as appreciation is concerned. 

 Xo good dinner, even in northern China, is really complete without 

 some of these delicious little fruits. They are eaten fresh, dried, or 



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