54 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPOETED. 



36107 to 36121— Continued. 



36109 to 36111. Prunus tomentosa Thimb. Bush cherry. 



36109. "(No. 1875a. Tientsin, China. June 18, 1913.) A variety of 

 the Chinese bush cherry bearing fruits of a pale-red color. For further 

 remarks, see No. 1872a [S. P. I. No. 36086]." 



36110. "(No. 1876a. Tientsin, China. June 18, 1913.) A variety of the 

 Chinese bush cherry bearing white fruit. Chinese name pai ying tau'r. 

 See remarks under No. 1872a [S. P. I. No. 36086]." 



36111. "(No. 1877a. Peking, China. June 25, 1913.) About 15,000 

 stones of the Chinese bush cherry. The size of the fruit of this lot was 

 somewhat smaller and the taste slightly sourer than those of which the 

 stones were sent under No. 1872a, probably on account of its coming from 

 a less favorable locality; otherwise the same remarks apply to it. Local 

 name suan ying tau'r, meaning soiu- cherry." 



36112. Prunus triloba Lindley. Plum. 

 " (No. 1878a. Peking, China. July 18, 1913.) A flowering plum much culti- 

 vated in the gardens in North China and existing in a great many varieties. The 

 color of its flowers ranges from pale pink to a dark violet-rose, while as regards 

 size, degrees of doubleness, profusion, difference in time of opening, and lasting 

 qualities a very great variation exists. The Cliinese in the north always graft 

 or bud this flowering plum on the wild peach (Amygdalus davidiana). This is 

 mostly down in the ground, but one also finds specimens budded high up and 

 trained as standard trees. In this way a specimen looks fine when planted in a 

 formal courtj^ard. This flowering plum is also a great favorite with the Chinese 

 for forcing. Thousands of dollars' worth of them are disposed of every winter. 

 The few fruits that these bushes bear possess no value, being the size of a cherry 

 covered with an inedible hairy skin of a yellowish red color when ripe and hav- 

 ing a large stone. This shrub is much recommended for ornamental purposes all 

 over the temperate parts of the United States, and especially for the drier sec- 

 tions when grafted on Amygdalus davidiana. For forcing purposes when budded 

 on the last-named stock it may give surprising results for earliness. Chinese 

 name yu ye mei hua, which means elm-leaved flowering plum." 



For an illustration of the elm-leaved flowering plum, as found growing in 

 China, see Plate IV. 



36113. Brassica pekinensis (Lour.) Skeels. Pai ts'ai. 

 "(No. 1879a. Peking, China. July 18, 1913.) A large variety of Chinese 



winter cabbage coming from near Tientsin, called ta pai ts'ai. Chinese winter 

 cabbage is a vegetable of fii-st-class quality, liaAdng a rich flavor all of its 

 own. It is said to be very much more easily digested than the ordinary cab- 

 bage and to emit no offensive odors when being boiled. It can be served in 

 many different ways and may be eaten boiled or stewed, raw, pickled, or salted. 

 To obtain the best results a rich well-worked soil is needed. The plants should 

 have a space about 2 feet in all directions and should be regularly cultivated, 

 and they must never suffer for lack of soil moisture. The best time for sowing 

 the seed is about the end of July or early in August; for regions with a very long 

 summer even later will suffice . To keep them during the winter the Chinese pro- 

 ceed in this way: After the first heavy night frost the cabbages are pulled out by 

 a twist of the hand, the earth roughly shaken off the roots, and the plants left 

 lying in the field for a day or so to dry them off ; then the outer leaves are pulled 

 off, the dry soil beaten from the roots, and the cabbage brought to dry dug-out 

 cellars, where they are neatly stored, layer on layer, with the heads facing the 

 entrance. Dry straw is now put over them and the whole covered with a heavy 



