22 
to Mr. Chambliss on April I9, 1917. Mr. Meyer wrote re- 
garding them: 
Por interesting information please call 
Mr. Chambliss' attention to Dr. Hance's article 
in the Journal of Botany for 1872. of v/hich 
article I possess a photostat copy, sent to me 
in a letter by Mr. Fairchild, dated Oct. 30, 
1914. 
On February 10, 1917, from Peking, Mr. Meyer addressed the 
following letter to Mr. Fairchild: 
This morning Dr. Reinsch, our Minister, wanted 
to see me and we had a long talk about Chinese ag- 
ricultural problems. The Doctor was especially an- 
xious to know what my ideas were as regards pub- 
lishing a book on Chinese agriculture. I said that, 
with my present rough field work I could not do 
much in that line, for I could not even finish the 
Yr'ork I am engaged in now, not to speak of writing 
a book; then as the matter I had written already 
was not considered to be complete enough by various 
specialists in our Department, it would be far from 
easy a task to fulfill. Dr. Reinsch, hov,rever, said 
that even if incomplete, for the Chinese and for 
the foreigners dwelling here the book would be of 
inestimable value. He asked me whether as assist- 
ant would relieve me of some v/ork; yes, I stated, 
most decidedly; that is, if he is a capable man. 
Well, Dr. Reinsch said that he believed at the 
University of Wisconsin there are some men who 
would be fit to do this exploration work, and he 
would write about it. So if you should get appli- 
cations, you know now how these things have come 
about. It surely would be a good thing to break 
in into this work one or two young men, v/ho want 
to make it their life's aim. I could give them 
many points and a start and later on allow them 
to shift for themselves. 
How long I myself will be able to travel 
about in China yet, I do not know, but it seems 
that I Diay return sooner than I expected, per- 
- haps in I918. The loneliness and the hardships 
of life here are beginning to be more and more 
distasteful to me and the time is approaching 
that I»ll have to leave further exploration of 
December 31, I917. 
