Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-04-07

Se~>~~
combs on that city.
~~~~~-~S~-~~~~~~~
may contribute a new fruit industry
to the sections indicated.
The wild peach discovered In China,
and now brought to this country for
the first time, is considered of great
interest although its fruit is not de-
sirable. Investigation in its native
habitat showed that the roots of this
plant are not as susceptible as our
native peach to alkali in the soil. while
it will Withstand cold and does not re-
Quire much moisture. Experiments
are under way. therefore. to determine
the usefulness of the rootstock of this
peach for grating with different hardy
American varieties. II success is
achieved, the specialists believe that
they can develop peach trees which
will make possible the raising Of
peaches in the southwestern or aka
line sections, and at the same time of.
fer possibilities of peach cultivation
in many droughty and cold regions.
and possibly even into portions of
Iowa beyond the northern edge of our
present peach region.
Aquatic Food Plants.
OF special interest also are the col.
lections of aquatic food plants secured
in the recent expeditions. These In.
clude water chestnuts, water nuts, and
q number of aquatic bulbs, as well as
the water bamboo. The Chinese, the
explorer found, have mastered through
centuries of experiments the process
of using swamp lands for the raising
Of food crops. and their success is be-
lieved to point to commercial POSSIBLE
tiles for some Of our swamp regions
where reclamation by drainage IL not
practicable. Whether the American
farmer would ever be willing. how.
ever. as a commercial enterprise. to
grow crops which call for cultivation
in water waist deep is. the specialists
admit, open to question.
The kauba, sometimes called wild
rice or water bamboo, now to be made
the subject of experiment. Is Q vege-
table in taste somewhat between grass
and asparagus. The swollen stalks of
the plant are eaten much like our az
paragus.
In selecting Chinese vegetables for
introduction the explorer was greatly
limited by the fact that many articles
favored by Monaghan palates would
be unpleasant to Caucasians. He has
sent over. therefore, only those things
which promise to add valuable vege-
tables or fruits to the American table,
and also which fit in with q general
plan for the introduction of certain
food crops which will find q ready
market among our Chinese popula-
tions. The Chinese, in many cases.
are importing large quantities of
favorite native foods in canned or
dried form from China because they
find difficulty in getting them in q
fresh state in our larger cities. Some
of the vegetables brought over which
promise to find q dual market are o
number of varieties of vegetable bam-
boo and improved varieties of pc tsai.
the odorless Chinese cabbage, some
kinds of which already are on sale as
celery cabbage" In American mar.
kets.
Suitable for Cold sIaw.
This cabbage il suitable for cooking
or for cold slaw and can be grown
wherever ordinary cabbage is raised.
A vegetable novelty now under expert.
ment is q Chinese radish with q root
as large as a child's head. This Is
somewhat coarser and inferior in
flavor to the small radish, though the
Chinese cook 1t much like turnips, and
also pickle 1t in strips in brine for use
as a relish.
This and other explorations have
given to this country Chinese cher.
ry. very successful In California be-
cause of Its early maturity: and a
number of varieties Of wild pears and
apples, wild almonds. and hardy citrus
fruits which offer possibilities for by.
bridization with American varieties.
The explorer also brought over
specimens of the Chinese pistache
tree. which is is hoped will give the
United States a new and valuable tree
for the adornment Of city avenues in
Georgia, Alabama. the Carolinas, Flor.
ida, Texas. California, Arizona and
Oregon. Paintings were also secured
on this trip of a Chinese white pine
tree remarkable for its white bark.
One Of these specimens which Mr..
Meyer brought has been planted on
the grave of the late minister to China,
w. w. Rockhill, who once expressed
in the explorers hearing q wish that
this be done. Because Of its drought.
resisting qualities. this strikingly orna.
mental tree offers possibilities for the
Identification of parks and grounds
in Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and
California.
Latest In HooIery.
Palm Beach, Fla.-Conversationa
stockings for ladies' are the latest in