850 
doors, like willows. It has been called a variety of T. 
hispida, but that species, as stated above, is very dis- 
tinct in its downy twigs and leaves." (W. J. Bean, Trees 
and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles.) As a wind break 
plant the Tamarisk is proving to be very valuable on the 
Great Plains and it is recommended for this purpose. 
Zea mays L. (Poaceae.) 39803-807. - Seed of maize from 
Oroya, Peru. Collected and presented by Dr. J. N. . Rose, 
U. S. National Museum. "Corn obtained from Chola women, 
July 1914, altitude 12200 feet." (Rose.) Five varieties 
including light yellow, mixed blue and white, brownish and 
red. 
NOTES PROM CORRESPONDENTS ABROAD. 
China. Klaylngchow. Rev. George Campbell writes April 
13, 191.5 . "You refer, of course, to the water buffalo. 
As I write, people are using these animals In ploughing 
their rice fields. The are exactly fitted for plouhlng 
and harrowing in the deep mud, and wallow through the 
fields dragging the ploughs after them as no other animal 
could. .They are never used here as pack animals , and we 
have no carts or vehicles of any kind. While I was at home, 
in 1913, there was some talk of making a cart road from here 
to a market town 17 or 18 miles north, and an enterprising 
native came to my daughter to borrow a mail order cata- 
logue" and see what carts to be drawn by buffaloes would 
cost. Nothing came of it, however, and I hear no more 
about the road. They are used in some places to a limited 
extent to supply milk. I suppose there may be 20 or more 
so used in this city. 
"The loquats are just coming into the market now. 
They are our earliest fruit. They vary greatly In size 
and the seeds are usually very large. The trees thrive 
and come into bearing early. The branches tend to split 
at junction with the trunk and borers attack the trees, 
caterpillars also. 
"Tobacco is a couple of feet high and the fields are 
invariably edged with taro. Beans are growing well and 
are extensively planted. Wistaria and Pride of India are 
in bloom, and grapes are leafing out a little. Peaches 
and almonds are as large as hickory , nuts. Mulberries are 
loaded to the ground with fruit. One plant of rhubarb is 
doing very well. 
"I stumbled on something the other day while at an 
out-station which may interest you. A tailor who has been 
abroad (Rangoon) called on me and asked if anything could 
be done for his 10 year old son who has epilepsy. I en- 
quired about his heredity. He told me that he bought the 
