Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-05
\ \

NAV
" jujube. This tree, discovered in the interior
of China by Mr. Frank y. Meyer plant explorer of the
department of agriculture, is being watched with
deal of interest by scientists in its career
American soil. results distinctly
satisfactory. the reports indicate
that will Ions before eating jujube
jujube fruit is small brownsh morse, which, when
fresh, has a unique and delicious flavor, and when
dried is somewhat similar to the Persian date.
Besides the jujube Meyer brought back from
China many other singular specimens which will prob
ably valuable country, including wild
sprouts and garden vegetables, huge persimmons and
a, yellow These already under expert
mentaton by the department. which grating the
of the peach tree. crossing with
species and planting the various seeds and scions.
China chosen the hunting ground of plant
exploration because its climatic similar
to those of this country, some portions corresponding
with eastern others with the semi-arid
regions of southwest. Consequently,
places the like that seen in this country
that times difficult Meyer o believe
he was in China and not in New Jersey Indiana.
Mr.. Meyer and his travelled by and
on foot through the sections of China where rail-
roads not visiting all the small agricultural vii
lagos and also individual farms. The Chinese farmer
who by experimentation has produced superior
variety of fruit vegetable extremely 10th
advertise the fact but his relatives
sometimes an extraordinary species grown on one
farm VIII be absolutely unknown a few miles
Moreover he has strong antipathy to using any of
the modern employed for the preservation of
a plant such spraying and treatment specific
diseases; things were unknown to his ancss-
tors and therefore could have possible
eyes. Hence many ancient varieties pro-
life throughout China nave either become extinct.
may be discovered growing occasional remote farms
one variety OF peach, for example, which formerly
grew in great abundance around shanghai has com
petey died out Many of these almost extinct varie-
ties may be restored to usefulness by methods
The collection plant material in interior China
is not without its difficulties, perhaps the greatest
which the packing the exporting the product
scions and cuttings often be collected in the
severe winter weather and packed in damp i'm
medately after they cut In mostening the moss
Mr.. Meyer often found it necessary heat water
in order prevent it from freezing and the
next hour would sometimes see the package frozen
hard. In North China there is also prejudice against
all modern innovations in with ancestors
whose lineage evidently begins with the original
man, for the inns without stoves
The windows, which made of paper, usually
broken, admitting icy breezes creating atmos-
pnere colder than the outdoors. Mr. Meyer was
compelled to carry these frozen parcels Of scons and
cuttings around with him sometimes for before
reached a postoice would forward them direct
to the department at Washington or the
general at Shanghai
Growing in the sem-ard sections of China gem
orally neglected and in soil of alkaline substance,
Meyer found the jujube tree. He Immediately be-
thought him semi-ard regions of the American
southwest packed iujubes to the depart
ment which planted them in California and Texas
The jujube in its wild state grows in the waste
places and spraws walls in northern
China producing small, hard fruit which is not
fit for BY crossing the various species which
there nearly 400, the Chinese have pro-
duced fruit that is sweet and lucious highly priced
by mandarins New Years presents and by the
keepers of hotels catering to the European The
jujube is bearing heavy crops in Fresno
Chico, Indio and Bard, Cal, and WORTH, Austin
and San Antonio, Tex. Years a quantity jujubes
distributed throughout the southern Atlantic
states but being seedlings these produce
fruit.
The Chinese growing a large variety of
persmmon unknown this country. for drying pur-
poses. The fruit picked just ripens before
it has had chance to become "mushy and soft 1t is
then peeled and slashed and strung up lines
i'm the and wind. has been thus suspended
several it is distributed in piles
mating. when the curing process begins forming
layer of grape-sugar This persmmon is also
Hourishing wherever it has been planted in
southwest
While travelling foot through a deep ravine in
northern China Mr.. Meyer came upon what is thought
the original wild peach which all the cult
waited species world were grown Upon ques-
tioning the Chinese gardeners they
using the this plant for grating purposes.
it resistant alkali He succeeded
in shipping seeds of this variety to the department,
since produced excellent California
and Texas and have hourished beyond north
peach belt of Iowa.
Varieties of bamboo also brought over by Mr..
Never. found that in addition to building their
houses and furniture this the Chinese grew
many species of succuent bamboo sprouts which
in great demand as vegetables Quantities of bamboo
shoots raised in the Chinaman's front yard,
keep the family supplied fresh, crisp vegetable
similar the American asparagus. Americans
China have become quite proud the bamboo sprout,
if raised in this country it would probably
a popular item the American bill of fare
After spending many months Chinese inns and