1244 
Vieiafaba (Fabaceae), 45305. Broad bean. From China. 
Collected by Mr. Frank N.Meyer, Agricultural Explorer 
for this Department. "(No. 2438a. Ichang, Hupeh, 
China. March 24, 1917.) A medium large variety of 
broad bean, much grown as a winter crop on rice lands 
which have been drained for the cool season. The 
beans are much eaten, when fresh, like green peas and 
they form a very tasteful and nutritious dish. After 
soaking in water over night, the dry beans are often 
fried in oil, and salt sprinkled over them. They are 
then eaten as a delicacy, like salted peanuts. Chi- 
nese name Ts'an tou (Tchan doh) , meaning 'Silk worm 
bean', possibly on account of the silky hairs cover- 
ing the outside and the inside of the pods. To be 
tested as a winter crop in the southern parts of the 
Atlantic and Gulf States and on the Pacific coast. As 
a summer crop in the inter-mountain regions and along 
the north Pacific coast." (Meyer.) 
Vigna sinensis (Fabaceae), 45301. Cowpea. From China. 
Collected by Mr. Frank N. Meyer, Agricultural Ex- 
plorer for this Department. "(No. 2434a. Hanchow, 
China. March 7, 1917.) A black-eyed, white cowpea 
eaten as a human food; boiled with dry rice general- 
ly, but also much used in stews and soups. The young 
pods are much consumed slightly boiled as a vege- 
table; they are also dried for winter use and in some 
localities pickled in brine. Chinese name Pai chiang 
tou (Pai chiang doh), meaning 'White precious bean'." 
(Meyer.) 
Notes from Correspondents abroad. 
Mr. S. Iida writes from Yokohama, Japan, in a 
recent letter: 
The Plum Blossom (Prunus mume) , at Tsukigase in 
the province of Yamato is the most famous and largest 
orchard In Japan, but I gather that the cultivation 
has been curtailed in sympathy with the decline of 
the rouge Industry in Kyoto, where there were formerly 
ten principal factories of the color but a single one 
survives at present. The burnt kernel of P. mume is 
said to be used in the manufacture. From this it 
seems that the demand as fruit alone is not suffi- 
cient for the orchard. 
