5. 
RUSSIA,. St. Petersburg. F.N. Meyer, Dec. 9. Visited the 
Imperial Botanical Garden and found it very rich in 
Central Asian material. There are probably more than 25 
spp. of Tamarix; alone, some of great value as ornamental 
or sand-binding plants in alkaline soils. Says there are 
many important botanical works in Russian that are not 
published in any other language and it is important that we 
get in closer touch with the Russian scientists, as they 
have much .the same problems to face in agriculture that 
we' have. Among plants of interest in the Caucasus he men- 
tions several varieties of hazelnuts; Lasiogrostis splen- 
dens which he says the natives use for making mats; several 
splendid oaks; Fagus caucasicus, an interesting tree, and 
a very robust ivy, Hedera colchica, which grows to enormous 
size. There i.s a new species of red currant in the Altai 
mountains which has very large racemes of berries. This 
has not been introduced by the Russians. There is another 
currant near Yakutsk (Ribes dicusha) which stands remark- 
ably low temperatures. Sorbus sambucifolia in Pam- 
s'ehatka produces edible berries where ordinary fruits can- 
not even be thought of. Has found out the native names and 
locations of the fine Turkestan grapes. 
RECENT VISITORS. 
CHINA. Mr. H. K. Fung. Is at present a student at Cornell 
University, Ithaca, New York. When he finishes his course 
there he is going to have charge of an Experiment Station 
in Canton. Is. much interested in the propagation of Chinese 
f rui ts . 
CHINA. John Berkin, Puling, is now visiting in Washington. 
Mr. Berkin lives at the summer resort, so to speak, of the 
Chinese missionaries, a delightfully located spot south of 
Hankow. He is much interested in the Introduction of fruits 
into China and will gladly assist, so far as is compatible 
with his missionary work, in interesting the missionaries 
who .come to Puling in getting and sending in seeds of val- 
uable plants. Is familiar with varieties of Chinese dates, 
