4?4 
Besides these crops the Chinese secure an abundance 
of snails and frogs from the paddies. In some there are fish 
also, out the fish ponds are usually separate as are the duck 
ponds. On the surface of the paddies is a solid mat of Azolla 
and 2 species of Lerana which are gathered in great "baskets as 
food for ducks and fishes. 
The water and mud of the ponds smell vilely, due no 
doubt to fertilizers. Indeed at the edge of some paddies or 
in small special paddies public privies are erected so as to 
secure "katamorphic human products" as fertilizers. 
The gardens are excellently kept and no doubt are very 
profitable. It certainly is a wonderful way of utilizing 
what otherwise would be waste land, and indicates one method 
we might copy in utilizing some of our swamp areas. Indeed 
it seems to me a swamp experiment station would be well worth 
while even now. 
I saw no mosquitoes and they are said not to be bad, due 
no do'ubt to the fishes in the ponds at least in part. 
None of the Europeans I asked had ever eaten Kausun, but 
the Chinese hold it in high esteem. I can give no estimate 
of the area grown, but if all the lotus is succeeded by 
Kausun it is very extensive. 
This information I think accurate in a general way only, 
as one would have to observe the gardens a whole year to get 
them accurate. My brief experience indicates what so many 
others have said, that no two Chinese tell quite the same 
story. 
CHINA. Mokanshan. Rev. J. M. W. Parnham writes August 
26, that Mr. Kennedy, who was with the Agricultural Explorer, 
Mr. Frank N.' Meyer, at the time he collected the persimmons 
at Tangsi, will collect a considerable quantity of seeds this 
fall from the wild trees commonly used as stocks, and will 
send us scions in the spring. Mr. Farnham has resigned from 
his position With the Tract Society and will have much more 
time for his interests in things agricultural. 
CHINA. Tientsin. Dr. Yamei Kin writes August 14, that 
she has a quantity of the ordinary lacquer, made from the sap 
of Rhus vernicifera, ready to send, and is expecting to be 
able soon to report on the white lacquer, which she is 
experimenting with.- This lacquer was requested by this Office 
for experimental purposes. As to an orange from Shantung, 
the fruit gets its name from passing through this province 
from .the western provinces, and she has not yet been able to 
get authentic trace of its origin there. 
