The South China varieties of peach, aside from a few 
introductions from Canton, have received no study by the 
Department, notwithstanding the fact that there are known 
to be good sorts in cultivation in the subtropical regions 
of South China which would probably fruit successfully in 
Florida. 
Bearing upon the chestnut bark disease investigations, 
it will be desirable for Mr, Meyer to study the dwarf chest- 
J^^t ( Gas tanea se^uinjj, ) , which is reported to be quite re- 
sistant to this disease. 
The ever-green oak ( Pasania cornea ) produces a com- 
mercial, hard-shelled nut in the Kwantung province, and we 
already have a few young trees of it growing in our south- 
ern states. Its sweet kernel makes it eligible as a table 
nut, and since orchards of it are said to occur north of 
Canton, it seems eminently worthy of our investigation. 
Special attention should be paid by Mr, Meyer to the 
subject of Chinese species of Pyrus and as large collections 
as possible made of the numerous Chinese forms, since the 
experiments of Mr, Reimer of the Oregon Experiment Station 
indicate that certain forms of Pyrus sinensis and Pyrus 
calleryana show a most unusual resistance to the pear blight 
organism. So much interest has been aroused by 
Mr, Reimer' s experiments that the attached telegram and 
letter have been received regarding them. 
July 25, 1916. 
