97 
You say that I do not say much about bamboos. 
Well, the Hupeh Prov. is not exactly a bamboo- 
region; the land at large is too sterile for the 
better types of bamboo. You say it is very un- 
fortunate that we didn't start our plantation 
somev/here on the Mississippi delta or near Savan- 
nah. Well, Mr. Fairchild, it is not too late yet. 
If you get hold of a suitable piece of land and 
of a man who is willing to stick to this bamboo 
problem, please go ahead. I considered Brooks- 
ville mainly as a propagation station and when 
once hundreds of groves had been set out then our 
main object would have been fulfilled. The 
economic end means the devotion of a man's life 
to this problem entirely. 
I am really sorry you felt obliged to go back 
to Washington, D. C, after you once were in Sav- 
annah. Couldn't somebody else have attended to 
the war program in T/ashington? The acquisition 
of a bamboo grove is fully as important, in my 
opinion, as many a war -program item. 
I see your considerations about what I might 
do when once back again. True, no one but one's 
self 'knows what things would suit one best, but 
still -- some advice, some suggestions, they often 
shovr one roads where one didn't expect them. One 
thing is sure and that is that the office life 
pure and simple is not in my line. I must have 
plants around me and must be able to visit col?- 
lections of living plants frequently for study 
and inspiration. I'll see what comes up in the 
next fev years. 
Since the Government does not give tiensions 
and since living expenses are getting to be higher 
and higher, what are the chances for advancement 
in my line of work? To what limit can an explorer 
in the field climb up in this service? Please 
let me hear a few lines about this in a next 
letter. 
Letter of August 8, 1917- I ^^^ '^'ery glad to 
hear that Mr. Groff was in Washington for some 
time, but -- I myself . would like to have seen his 
pictures and listen to what he has to say on lychee 
and other fruit problems.. I tust to meet him in 
Canton some day this winter. Should his inter- 
views with you have been of such a nature as to 
inform you about matters" which are of high in- 
terest to me also, then I would be much pleased 
to receive a copy of some notes in your desk-book 
December 31, 1917. 
