668 
The leaves are perhaps as long as those of New Zealand 
flax and yield a fibre from which the Indians make a very 
strong rope. I saw them use this rope in ways that would 
severely test its strength and there can be no doubt on 
that point. If any one will take this matter up and grow 
the plants it would be worth while to spend some money to 
secure it. There was no seed and young plants would have 
to be sent. These would have to be taken up with some 
earth and carried in sacks on horseback over a terrible 
trail for some distance, then across a lake and again by 
cart or on horseback to Castro, from which point they can 
be shipped. Dr. Christie ca& attend to this If you want 
it done. I suspect this plant is entirely unknown outside 
Chiloe and there are only two men who really know the way 
south into this region. By the way, I have a plant some- 
thing like celery with edible stems and leaves. Dr. 
Christie thinks it the wild form of celery but that is 
old-world, and I found this where there is no definite 
knowledge of anyone's having lived for an unknown length 
of time, though there was once an ancient people for I 
found bits of pottery within 20 miles. The present 
Indians do not make pottery, neither have they ever been 
known to do so, while what I found was in the earth and 
was being exposed by the wind uncovering it in the hills 
200 feet above the sea." 
CHINA. Shantung. Tsi-nan-fu. Mr. Frank N. Meyer 
writes April 5, 1913. "I hope that the shipment which I 
am sending by post today will reach Chico O.K. and that 
the stocks there are not too far advanced, for there are 
among this lot the interesting seedless jujubes and a 
large fruited variety, the size of the fruit being like 
small hen's eggs. I have also been getting some interest- 
ing varieties of vegetables. A variety of the egg plant 
with large reddish white fruit, a great rarity apparently. 
Also some muskmelons and cucumbers. The weather all of a 
sudden has become very warm here and poplars and willows 
have already good sized leaves. The lilac, ornamental 
crab apple, apricot and plum are in full bloom. I am 
afraid that scions cannot be sent any more over that long 
distance to America and several things will have to be 
gotten this coming winter. With my present interpreter 
and assistant I am getting on the track of several things 
of which I have heard nothing before and as I probably 
have another two years before me here in China I suppose I 
will be able to bag the major part as time advances. A 
week or so from now I hope to return to Peking, and after 
having finished accounts and reports, prepare myself for 
