34 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



37069 to 37083— Continued. (Quoted notes by Dr. Yamei Kin.) 



37073. "White apricot, round late variety, from Chihli Province." 



37074. " Yiieh ya tou, literally ' moon-tooth ' bean, so called from the 

 edge of the green peeping outside of the black thick skin like the 

 crescent moon in the sky. Is largely used for making bean sprouts, 

 which they say requires a bean that is not mealy or farinaceous, 

 as that kind becomes mushy in the process of germination and 

 has no taste left. Also is good for feeding animals, requiring to 

 be lightly steamed before feeding, not boiled, for then the oil 

 escapes and the flavor is lost. This kind is valued for its oil, 

 which it contains in a great amount, and for making bean curd. 

 This must be grown in a well-drained clay soil; black or moist 

 earth will not do." 



37075. " CUa tou. Specially used for making bean curd and bean 

 sprouts." 



37076. ViGNA SINENSIS (Tomer) Savi. Cowpea. 

 " P'a tou. A mealy, farinaceous bean just to Gook in the ordinary way." 



37077. SoJA MAX (L.) Piper. Soybean. 

 " Huang tou. Used for making bean curd as well as starch and vermi- 

 celli." 



37078. Phaseolus aureus Roxb. Mung- bean. 



" Lii tou. This makes a better quality of starch than anything else. It 

 is curious that in China starch for laundry purposes obtained from maize 

 or wheat is not valued so highly as that made from this bean. Vermicelli 

 is also made from the starch of this bean, and one can at once distinguish 

 it from that made from ordinary starch by the fact that it keeps its 

 clearness and shape much better, no matter how much it is boiled. It 

 also has a better flavor and good keeping qualities. Perhaps it might be 

 an addition to the laundry starches of America, as I fancy it would take 

 a much better gloss, as it is harder than the ordinary starch and would 

 not need so much paraffin added to make a gloss. I doubt if the Ameri- 

 can palate would care for the vermicelli ; it is clear, like glass, and the 

 long strings are surpassingly slippery to eat, worse than the round 

 Italian spaghetti." 



37079. Phaseolus vulgaris L. Bean. 



" Hung ymi tou. Though the bean itself can be eaten, it is usually used 

 with the pod and all, like a string bean, and it is prized generally for 

 its long bearing qualities, producing, once it begins, for three months 

 at least." 



37080. SojA max (L.) Piper. Soybean. 

 {Glycine hispida Maxim.) 



** Ching tou. Used only for the oil expressed and fodder purposes." 



37081. DoLiCHOS LABLAB L. * Bonavist bean. 



"Kuan tung ching, (The Manchurian peninsula is often spoken of as 

 the Kuan tung district.) The common name is * old-woman's-ear,' and it 

 is a specialty at the north. The ripe beans can be used like any other 



37074 and 37075. Soja max (L.) Piper. 



(Glycine hispida Maxim.) 



Soy bean. 



