1909 
saux rorida ( Salicaeeae ) , 56485. Willow. From Echo, Kir in Prov- 
ince,- -Manchuria. Budwood presented by A. D. Woeikoff, director, Experi- 
mental Farm. Mr. Woeikoff, who has sent also two interesting poplars 
described in this issue of Plant Immigrants, forwards cuttings of this 
remarkable willow, accompanied by the following note: 
"This is a giant among willows. In the river valleys of Manohuria 
it reaches a height of 150 feet, with an enormous circumferenoe." It 
will be propagated for trial in the oolder parts of this country. 
A New Agricultural Exploration of Northeastern China. 
For a number of years the Department of Agrioulture has been ex- 
ploring the agricultural resources of China. The late Frank N. Meyer, 
dean of agricultural explorers, was first sent to that country in 1905. 
During the succeeding years he traveled widely, not alone in China, 
but also in Turkestan, Russia, Siberia and other parts of eastern Asia. 
The agricultural reconnaissance which he made, and the plants collected 
by him, are proving of great value. In 1922, C. A. Reed of the Bureau 
of Plant Industry traveled in the walnut-growing regions of China, and 
brought back much information concerning nut crops, as well as plant 
material. Joseph F. Rock, originally sent out as an Agricultural Ex- 
plorer of this Department, and later transferred to the National Geo- 
graphic Society, explored the remote and little-known southwestern 
portion of the country, securing a vast amount of information concern- 
ing the native flora, and seeds of many plants likely to find a con- 
genial home in certain parts of the United States. 
A new agricultural exploring expedition, distinct in character 
from those which have preceded it, left San Francisco on July 22. 
This is headed by P. H. Dorsett, Agricultural Explorer, a man connected 
with this Office for nearly a quarter of a century, and well known to 
most of our experimenters and correspondents. The work of the expe- 
dition, which will confine its activities to the northeastern part of 
China,, in particular the provinces of Chihli, Shansi, and Manchuria, 
is designed to benefit principally the northern portions of the United 
States, and especially the Great Plains region. The Department has 
long desired to undertake an intensive search for hardy crop plants, 
fruits and shade trees, but disturbed political conditions in eastern 
Asia, the most promising field for such an exploration, have necessi- 
tated considerable delay in carrying out the project. 
For many centuries the Chinese have been cultivating and improving 
fruits, vegetables, and crop plants of many sorts. Their highly de- 
veloped plant types may prove of great value to us, fitting into cli- 
matic, soil, and economic needs we have hitherto been unable to meet. 
The expedition, therefore, will work upon the plan which the Depart- 
ment has been, following for several years in its Latin American ex- 
