The Lamar register., 1908-12-02
LIVES RISkED TO HELP U. S.
FARMERS IN THE WEST.
Explorers Scour World Seeking New
Seeds to Plant In Cold Climates.

culture is sending out explorers who
search every corner of the earth
where it is possible for them to pene-
trate. in the effort to find grains.
plants and trees that will thrive un-
der trying conditions. AT the cost
of considerable personal discomfort.
as well as occasional danger, these
explorers have succeeded in bringing
to this country seeds and roots that
will be of great value to certain sec
tions. On account of the resemblance
of it's climate to that of large part
of the United States, northern China
was ransacked for rare plants with
especial care.
Frank N. Meyer, one of the best
known of the explorers, has just re-
turned from three years trip
through China and Siberia. When
asked regarding his experiences and
the results of the trip, Mr.. Meyer
said:
THE conclusions in regard to the
resemblance of climate were found
ed on the remarkable fact that nearly
all pants of the northern regions o.
the celestial empire, which had been
previously introduced, proved to bt
hardy over the greater portion oil
North America. And so. because o
the little we know of North China
and in the expectation OF getting
some valuable fruits and plants, o.
which rumors have reached us, the
Department of Agriculture selected
me as agricultural explorer to col
lect any fruits, grains. flowers, trees
or shrubs that appeared to have any
value. either to be used as they were
or for plant breeding purposes. rms
last item was really very important
as it is well known that some OF our
best peaches are either seedlings
from China or else have some Chimes
blood in them. One OF our best
pears for canning purposes, the
Kiefer, is half Chinese.
1.-THE preliminaries for such trip
were necessarily lengthy, and l went
through a typhoon that damaged lots
Of my stuff, but finally reached Tien-
Tsin in northern China, where my
field OF work lay. Soon after land
ing l noticed several interesting fruit
in the markets, such as fine peaches,
pears and very large perslmmons.
Then set out in search OF the orch-
ards, but quickly found what diff
cult country China is to explore.
The ways of getting around are most
primitive, the information one receive
is often untrustworthy and there are
a thousand and one obstacles to over
come.
During the next few months l
went as far north as southern Mon
goIia and as far east as the
Manchurian frontier. One OF my first
finds was an orchard of large seed
less persimmon of flat shape, orange
red in color and of delicious flavor.
The fruits are often four and one
half inches in diameter and will be
much appreciated for desert. They
can be kept in cold storage during
the winter and are just as good after
having been kept frozen for a couple
OF months as when eaten ripe OIL the
tree. These persimmons are not
puckery like our wild ones and like
SO many of the Japanese varieties.
They can be eaten even wheh
not quite ripe.
Another interesting discovery was
the peculiar paper-shelled walnut
from near the town of Changil. The
shells of these walnuts are thin
enough to be peeled off with the I'm
gers, like the thin-shelled ALMONDS.
Some beautiful varieties Of white and
purple grapes were obtained at var
ious places, and superior muscatei
was found near Hsuen Hua Flu,
hundred miles north of Peking. the
climate is severe there. and the ma
tives bury the grape vines in the
ground during the long, cold winters
One variety of purple grape can De
kept in cool cellars from one year
end to the other. and therefore one
NAV find grapes on the tables OF the
,weIl-to-do Chinese the year around.
Some unusual pears were 1ouho'
One of these, the socalled qulnce-pea
looks and smells like ounce pu'
is. in reality. Chinese pear. nav
producing fruits as large as good
sized crab apples, was another ac'
uuisition. These fruits are used, poti
by the Chinese and foreigners lot
making fine preserves and Jeiiies
Scions and bud-wood of most oil these
fruits were sent home to America
and most of them are now Denhs
nropagated in this country. The per
simmons are giving indications OF DO
ing especially well. Some fine trees
arc growing in several places and
are being tested before being distri
buted generally.
among the few vegetables gam
red radish is conspicuous. one o'
these radishes will often weign more