112 
further, if you can, the rumor that the leaves of 
Eucomraia ulmoides are useful in the cure of sores. 
They are making some reiaarkalDle discoveries in 
connection with these matters, and the most recent 
is the isolation of a substance contained in the 
pituitary gland, which is the gland controlling 
the growth of human beings. This has been pat- 
ented, and the owner of the patent has turned his 
patent over to the University of California. The 
use of this substance is said to start recalcitrant 
wounds into activity. 
The discovery of the chestnut blight on Casta n- 
ea mollissima is another knock at this species 
which v/e hoped would be entirely immune. I will 
let Doctor Shear know about this. 
I am sorry to hear that Mr. Morrison has sold 
his library, but what else could we expect? 
Under date of ITovanber 10, 1917, from Ichang, Mr, Meyer wrote 
Mr. Fairchild the following post card: 
Prof. Reimer and self have been here three 
days and we' are leaving again today for a week's 
trip in the mountains north of here in search of 
wild Pyrus serotina, P. serrulata and Citrus 
ichangensis . I despatched again c.a. ?5 lbs. 
of seeds of Pyrus calleryana from here to the 
Consul at Shanghai. I hope it will reach you 
0. K. The weather is clear today for the first 
time in weeks and v/e expect to have a pleasant 
and successful trip. 
The Pyrus calleryana seed referred to is a portion of that 
recorded under SPI No. 4^59^ -'-On lovember ?7, 1917, Mr. 
Meyer wrote the following very interesting letter at Hsing 
Shan hsien, six days' march west of Ichang, Hupeh, China: 
Here I am sitting in a hole of a town, all 
surrounded by high mountains, on which a slight 
- snowfall has been deposited during the past 
night. The flanks of these mountains are brov/n 
with the v/ithered vegetation but here and there 
a tallow tree stands out as a bit of flaming 
red and purple, some scrub of Rhus cotinus is 
blazing carrain, and a few bushes of Rhus .1 avani ca 
are of an- indescribably warm hue of orange-red. 
The Indian summer is speeding to its close and 
December 31, 1917. 
