New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-16
WILL SEEK NEW CROPS.
Agricultural Department Explorer
to TrdUerse Chinese Empire.
IFrom Tho Tribune Bureau. J

Washington. Aug l5.-Frank y. Meyer one Of
the explorers for the Department OF Agriculture
is about 10 leave his second trip abroad 10 seek
crops for the American farmer. From London
he will proceed TO Tartar land 10 Investigate the
report that the largest and most delicious grapes
abound I'm that region. Mr.. Meyer hopes 10 have as
successful trip the from which he returned
last year, after spending three years in China
Korea and Siberia He not only brought back 10
the United States hundreds OF plants, but a fund
Of information which has been OF great value in
the experiment work Of the Agricultural Depart
ment.
Mr.. Meyer devoted considerable attention to the
Chinese methods Of growing crops under dry-land
conditions and the information he secured regard
ing dry-and farming practices. horticultural
methods. market gardening operations and the vast
forestry practices OF the Chinese Empire reveals In
a remarkable way the wonderful variety OF plants
grown by the Chinese and the great similarity OF
the climate OF Eastern Asia TO that OF the United
States.
The explorations made by Mr.. Meyer in certain
OF the Chinese provinces showed the presence Of
an extensive orchard industry, which the depart
ment regarded worthy OF serious investigation
with view 10 IT'S adoption in the dry Southwest
ern regions Of this country. the Chinese regions
and the southwestern part Of this country being
similar in climate and soil. Mr.. Meyer found ex-
tensve orchards OF what is known as the Chinese
date" drouth-resistant fruit tree, OF which the
Chinese have developed hundreds Of varieties and
OF which the dried fruits form a most palatable
and valuable fruit product with which this eoun-
try IS entirely unfamiliar He secured numerous
varieties OF this date. among them a seedIess
variety. which is being propagated for dis
tTibution In the Southwest.
Many varieties OF seedess persmmons have
been introduced IN this country a result OF Mr..
Meyers Investigations I'm the Far East. They are
different in form from and presumably harder
than any OF the Japanese persimmons. and be-
ing grown a commercial scale through the South.
One variety has already borne fruit here OF
the fruit attaining diameter OF four inches II is
perfectly seedless not astringent. the ordinary
Japanese forms when hard. does not fall or
readily, and promises TO be excellent shipper
A special effort made by Mr.. Meyer to secure
ornamentals suitable for parks and public
grounds. Many Of these things have been brought
in and being tested and grown by the
various co-operators OF the Department Of Agri-
culture.
Mr. Meyer Will proceed from London TO ST. Pc
tersburg. thence south 10 the Caucasus Mountains
and thence east visiting the famous cities OF Sa-
msrcand and Tashkend From the last named city
he will journey by caravan overland TO Peking.
This trip. which win occupy at least eight months.
viii take MIR. Meyer through Turkestan and the
entire Chinese Empire from west TO east. He will
retravel pretty much the region Sven Hedin.
who made the trip short time ago.