Inventory of Seeds and Plants Imported (Volume 39)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1917 Excerpt: ... INVENTORY. 37647 to 37678. From China. Collected by Mr. Frank N. Meyer, Agricultural Explorer for the Department of Agriculture. Received April 2, 1914. Cuttings of the following, except as noted; quoted notes by Mr. Meyer unless otherwise indicated. 37647. Sybinga sp. Oleacese. Lilac. (No. 1107. From Sianfu, Shensi, China. January 30, 1914.) A lilac of slender growth, the flowers of which are said to be of a peculiar deep shade of blue. Though the individual panicles are small, they are produced in such profusion as to make a striking impression. Obtained, like the cuttings listed under the preceding number, from the garden of the English Baptist Mission Hospital at Sianfu. 37648 to 37658. Diospybos Kaki L. f. Diospyracese. Persimmon. From the village of Tongjapu Tungchiaochen, near Fuping, Shensi, China. February 3, 1914. 37648. (No. 1109.) A Chinese dry-meated variety of persimmon, of medium large size and round-oblong shape; color, dark orangered; contains seeds as a rule. This variety is a good keeper and is also one of the best sorts for drying purposes. Chinese name Ta kou tzu niu hsin shih tzH, meaning 'big-hooked oxheart persimmon.' To obtain a superior quality of dried persimmons, the following method is used with this variety: In early October sound fruits are picked, which, although ripe, must still be hard. Care should be taken to have the peduncle with a piece of twig attached to each fruit. The fruits are peeled by means of a small, special knife, an average worker peeling 2,000 persimmons a day, though an expert brings it up to 3,000. The peeled fruits are tied, by means of their peduncles, to loosely twisted but strong strings, which hang in pairs vertically from horizontal beams put up especially for this work. From 200 to 300 fruits ar...