43 
I have "been on the lookout for Davidla in - 
volucrata, of which you wanted seeds, but-- I did 
not come across a single specimen. The plant 
seemed to "be unknown in the districts we passed 
through. 
We also saw no mustard cultivated anywhere, 
tho small quantities of seeds pass through Ichang. 
This crop seems to "be grown further west from 
- here in .eastern Szechuan. 
My intentions now are to finish my corre- 
spondence here; then leave for Changsha, Hunan, 
by boat, to investigate special kinds of bean- 
cheese there; then. via Hankow and Hanking to 
Shanghai, from where I'll send off a few sacks 
of seeds and specimens. Then via Foochow, Canton, 
and Hongkong to Manila to meet Mr. Merrill and 
others and see So. Chinese collections of her- 
barium materiel, and then back again to the Tang- 
tze regions for these calleryana pear seeds, 
Pistacia chinens is seeds, and other material. I 
probably will have a hot summer to pass thru, 
but as yet I see no means of escape. 
I suppose you received the copy of Mr. 
Merrill's letter under date of February 19, 1917, 
which is self-explanatory. 
I received as usual several letters from 
correspondents here and there and everywhere. 
One Chinese student in Iowa v/ants me to write 
him how the Chinese raise pigs in his native 
land. T ought to write back: by their tails J 
Trusting the Pacific will remain open for 
traffic in this most deplorable condition of 
the v;orld's affairs, I remain. 
On May 2, 1917, Mr. Fairchild wrote Mr. Meyer the fol- 
lowing letter : 
It is difficult to imagine just what conditions 
surround you, and I imagine it is more difficult even 
for you to imagine what changes are taking place here 
in America. Congress has passed the conscription bill 
and officers are rapidly making a census of the coun- 
try, getting statements from every male citizen. A 
bill has been drafted and will be introduced in a day 
or two in the House and Senate simultaneously, which 
■ will give the Secretary of Agriculture $25,000,000 
to expend in the food campaign. You will see by the 
bill enclosed just what it is proposed to cover by 
December 31, I917. 
