60 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPOKTED. 



17842 to 17954— Continued. 



17916. Oryza sativa. Rice. 



From Sachon. "(No. 29a,) Bought as an upland rice, but apparently is 

 a lowland variety. Should do well quite far north, as the place where it was 

 raised is about 50 miles north of Peking." (Meyer. ) 



17917. Oryza sativa. Rice. 



From Chang-li. "(No. 39a.) An upland rice cultivated around Chang-li. 

 Should be hardy pretty far north." (Meyer.) 



17918. Celastrus flagellaris. 



From Wei-tsan Mountains, near Peking. "(No. 68a.) A small, creeping 

 shrub, bearing red, edible berries." (Meyer.) 



17919. Sesamum indicum. Sesame. 



From Tientsin. "(No. 149a.) These seeds are universally used through- 

 out China in confectionery and baked on the surface of round cakes, and as 

 such they taste pretty good. The plants seem to like a rather rich soil, and 

 produce many seed pods on one stalk. The Chinese also make an oil out of 

 the seed, in which they fry nearly everything." (Meyer.) 



17920. Andropogon sorghum. Sorghum. 



From Pee-san. "(No. 21a.) This variety has white seeds and is used for 

 making bread; as such it is more highly esteemed than the brown-colored 

 varieties, which are generally only used as fodder for the domestic animals." 



{Meyer.) 



17921. Andropogon sorghum. Sorghum. 



From Pee-san. " (No. 22a.) A variety with dark brown seeds, universally 



■ used throughout north China as fodder for domestic animals. The stems of 



sorghum are used in building houses, the stalks being embedded in the mud 



walls; also for making fences, baskets, mats, tying and roofing material, and 



for fuel." (Meyer.) 



17922. Andropogon sorghum. Sorghum. 



From Pee-san. "(No. 23a.) A variety with light brown seeds, not very 

 much grown. It is used where found as a fodder plant and also for making 

 a brown-colored kind of bread." (Meyer.) 



17923. Andropogon sorghum. Sorghum. 



From Tientsin. "(No. 151a. ) A superior variety of sorghum which grows 

 from 15 to 20 feet in height. The grain is ground, and from the flour a good 

 kind of bread is made; is used also for the same purpose as the one described 

 under No. 22a (S. P. I. No. 17921 ). In addition to this the leaves are pulled 

 off before they have turned brown, when they make an excellent cattle food, 

 either fresh or dry. The roots are also dug and used as fuel." (Meyer.) 



17924. Spinacia oleracea. Spinach. 



From Tchang-ping-tcho. "(No. 55a.) An exceptionally good winter spin- 

 ach, which, with a little protection from cold, produces greens the greater 

 part of the winter. The seeds should be sown very thinly, as the plants 

 grow rather large." (Meyer.) 



17925. Helianthus annuus. Sunflower. 



From western hills, near Peking. "(No. 59a.) The ordinary, single-headed 

 sunflower, used in China in many ways. The leaves are pulled off and fed to 

 domestic animals; the seeds are eaten as delicatessen, and the stalks are used 

 for fuel." (Meyer.) 



17926. Thuya orientalis. Arborvitae. 



From Peking. "(No. 84a.) Seeds collected from old, weather-beaten trees 

 on the grounds of the Temple of Heaven in Peking. Can stand lots of cold 

 and drought. " * ( Meyer. ) 



106 



