6
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLiAXD, MAY 30, 1915.
olJAJJflrt
New PlajLr i?AiiiwiLr Are
in.
t SS 7k 1. W 1 1 lit II If i i II ASlT! - l.Z--ZJlI B IHfll Hi I li Mitlim
it ,
am m tr -i. 1.1 i k.
jkM : :-i' AAV
iy
5
BT RENE BACH.
WHEN Dr. Frank N. Meyer. Govern
ment plant-hunter, made a re
cent trip through Corea and
Northern China, he was obliged to cover
a distance of 1800 miles on foot, cross
ing lofty ranges of snow-clad moun
tains, swimming or wading Icy-cold
rivers and deeming himself fortunate
foot a distance of 200 miles. At length
he came to the River of Nine Winding,
which runs through a district of huge
sandstone cliffs and boulders. In the
shadow of the cliffs and in clefts
among the boulders, wherever a small
quantity of the poor, sandy soil is
found, the marvelous tea grows.
There is nothing more picturesque in
when he could obtain lodging at an inn agriculture than the role played by the
discovery or introduction of a new
kind of plant. The vines of the Chatua
qua grape belt, producing annually
200,000,000 pounds of grapes, are de
rived almost entirely from cuttings of
a single seedling planted at Concord,
Mass., 71 years ago. The Elberta and
Belle peaches, which have earned many
millions of dollars for fruit growers
since 1870, both originated in Georgia
from one tree of an imported Chinese
"cling." The cultivation in California
where he occupied the same room with
horses and In which there were no
tables, no chairs and no lamps.
The natives of tno region, who had
never seen a white man before and
who regarded him with a natural cu
riosity, were friendly enough; but It
was by mere good luck that his little
caravan, comprising an escort of seven
Chinese coolies and five ponies with
baggage, escaped attack by the Red
beards fierce robbers who rove in
if
I
7J
VSJWJJt
i
ft
ill
Wik
Wit
ft
1
It
id 1
lib II '
predatory bands, seeking just such op- of many square miles of such oranges
portunlties for theft and murder. The (navels) as the world never saw be
only weapon in the party was Dr. fore is the result of the Importation of
Meyer's revolver. - a single buuch of "scions" from Brazil.
Such risks as these, however, are all These are familiar examples of dis
part of the game from the viewpoint coverles in the plant world which are
of the adventurous explorers who, to comparable to the inventions of the
obtain new plants and animals for la- telephone and the typewriter in the
troductlon to the United States, seek mechanical world. Yet Ephraim Bull,
the least-known and most remote cor- who discovered the Concord grape; the
ners of the world. The ever-tempting Rumph brothers, who originated the
possibility of a fresh discovery and Belle and Elberta peaches, and Will-
useful acquisition lures them, as with
a beckoning finger, into wild and often
dangerous places, where venomous rep
tiles, deadly miasmas and bloodthirsty
savages combine to minimize their
chances of return.
Thus, not long ago, when Dr. C. C
Young, of Belen, Texas, went to Bo-
kara for the purpose of procuring- the
iam Saunders, who introduced the navel
orange, received no financial advant
ages from the benefactions they be
stowed upon mankind.
In Northern China has been found
what the Government plant bureau
calls a veritable Klondike of new
plants. From that source one of our
agricultural explorers obtained not
Karakul sheep, whose pelt Is the much- long ago a new and very curious kind
prized "astrachan" (the skin of the
new-born animal being known com
mercially as "Persian lamb"), he was
warned by the Russians that the at
tempt would cost hin his life. Never
theless, though dogged by official spies
(the local government being vigorously
opposed to the enterprise he had under
taken), he managed to secure a number
of pure-bred specimens and brought
of cabbage which grows on a tall
stalk. It is believed to be well adapted
for cultivation in the United States.
He also secured, at Kirln, a frost-proof
peach that promises to be very. valu
able. A Buddhist priest secretly sold
him the cutting of it for 2. But in
the Shantung province he got hold of
budwood of the most remarkable
peaches in the world, which weigh a
rtminH un!nA Thv a r A Rn riollcioUA In
them to this country the result being favor that 100 000 of them are 8ent
that, thanks to his successful endeavor. each year to Pekln- for the exclusive
we shall be able before long to produce. aejectatlon of the imperial court. '
through scientific breeding, grades of Jn tho 8ame province were found
Persian lamb and astrachan far supe- ,omo most curious watermelons not
rior to the best hitherto known in the red lnslde nke ours, but salmon-colored
market. and white. Also a "strawberry tree"
Perils equally great were encountered which bears small, round, wine-red
by Dr. W. C. Bailey, of San Jose. Cal.,
when, a few years back, he undertook
to obtain some pure-bred angora goats
from Turkey. Their exportation was
forbidden by law, and to get them out
of the country seemed almost an im-
fruits of delicious taste.
Yet more remarkable were apples the
size of green peas. The productiveness
of the trees is described as nothing
short of marvelous the bright red
fruit being eaten fresh or dried, or
possibility. Having secretly purchased made into preserves, by both Russians
iMte1 .'. iLH . ' '-Ww&wM
I I - Ir . . t& si ha
Peosiy
-.,. A.
J-.. ?r-M9m .'-$ -. . 1
f 3i& 1? '- " P V v
four, resort was had to a series of most
ingenious expedients to elude the vigi
lance of the authorities the first thing
done being to cut off the long, silky
hair and transport them over a long
distance on muleback.
and Chinese. As ornamental plants,
when loaded with thousands of the tiny
scarlet apples, the trees would be very
effective.
Anybody who should visit a vine
yard in Northern China in the Winter
Another stage of their journey was time would scarcely suppose that the
accomplished on camels. Then they
ware transferred to a closed carriage;
and later on, they were carried for
many miles on men's backs in sacks.
Thus at length they reached the Bos
barren area over which he walked was
covered in Summer with a luxuriant
growth of choice grapes. But inquiry
disclses the fact that the grapevines,
grown upon arbors overhead in the
phorus, across which they voyaged Summer, are taken down after the first
under a boatload of loose hay.
Still the danger of detection was far
from being over. The goats, worth lit
eially their weight in gold, were
sprinkled plentifully with coal dust,
and disguised as black sheep, were car
ried through the streets of Constanti
nople in an open wagon. Three times
the wagon was stopped by Turkish of
ficials and police; but a liberal be
stowal of "baksheesh" extinguished
furiosity, and at last the precious ani
mals were safe on shipboard.
Wat
1.
cjr. -
1 j-rs
new varieties of maize, or Indian corn.
In Central America, whence this kind
of grain originally came. Many centu
ries before Columbus landed the use
fulness of the corn plant, which grew
wild in that part of the world, was
discovered by the natives, who culti
vated it. and spread a knowledge of
it abroad. Thus the cereal was com
monly grown by the Indians all over
the United States by the time the first along with a minimum of water, while
white settlers arrived in the New yet others will do well at lofty eleva-
tables and on the floor there was no
discomfort and I got the Impression of
rhythmic and harmonious conditions.
"'What does all this mean to these
young men and young women?' I asked
myself. They come from offices and
places of business of various kinds.
They have been working at high ten
sion, many of them, some of them in
uncongenial surroundings: they have
been nagged and hurried and worried.
They come out at noon in a depressed
or tense state.
"Here they find a place high above
the noise and turmoil of the street,
the light streaming in from broad
windows, harmony .of colors prevails. I
"Watch the consequent transforma-J
tion. j
"The relaxing of tension Is an essen-i
tial process for every one. Even auto
matlc machines must have periods of
rest or the molecules composing thern
will grow stale. Much more, when th
human element enters into considera
tion, is it necessary that the machine
bo rested from its accustomed work.
"The results are wonderfully benefi
cial from a medical standpoint. As far
back as Hippocrates dancing was pre
scribed for those who were out of con
dition. If a maiden were pale th pre
scription was for her to dance.
"The Spartans and Athenians alwayr
had dancln.gr and other entertainment
in the middle of the day, and the re
sults were beneficial from the stand
point of health as well as of esthetics.
The best time for that sort of thing 14
when the sun is high and vitality Is at
the maximum.
"Another thing that is good is that
the dancing and relaxation come Ini be
tween working hours. That is why It
affords the best ponslble stimulus. When
one seeks these things at night, at the
end of an exhausting day, it takes far
longer to get into the excitement that
the tired nerves demand.
"This complete getting away from
the demands of work and business re
minds me of my student days, when
my most cherished treasures were my
walklnar stick and my hour and a half
World.
As a result of this inquiry the ex
plorers have secured several odd and
most interesting kinds of maize, the
of freedom at noon, which I used most
tions. frequently for the indulgence of my
Jose D. Husbands has recently ob- aay rea.mu. Coming to this country,
tained a number of new kinds of pota- j discarded my walking stick, as I
toes, unlike any with which civilization foun dthat because of it I wss under
value of which for our own agricultu- Is familiar, from the little archipelago guspicion. and I learned that few
ral employment lies in the fact that f Chiloe, off the south coast of Chile. perBOns of serious purpose let ease or
they have become "specialized" for lo- which is now believed to have been the pieasure have sny chance in the middle
cal conditions of moisture, drouth or original home of the much-prized tu- 0f tne jay.
high altitude. In other words, some Dr. The group of islands In question "Another advantage of a place lik
of them are suited for wet lands, be- " "' "y Dpnin-.peaRini! wnn roof arden le that the young peo-
ing able to endure almost any amount
of moisture without being drowned
out: others are adapted for getting
people, whose sole food, practically, is
potatoes. They even make bread of
potatoes, pounded raw and mixed with
a little grease.
NOON DANCE ADVOCATED
cold snap in Autumn, pruned, tied to
gether in long bundles, and burled in
pits, covered with old matting and a
couple of feet of soil. The roots, of
course, are not disturbed. When
Spring comes they are dug up and
trained again over the arbors. It is ln value within a short time from $2 obtained a new kind of mush melon,
thought that this method of growing to Per acre th6 output of the cereal huge in size, which looks somewhat
grapes might be profitably adopted in increasing during the same period from like an elongated watermelon. Its skin
the region of our own Rocky Moun- from 115.000,000 to 750,000,000 pounds smooth and mottled in green and yel-
tains the object of it, needless to say. Per annum. Macaroni wheat, fetched low when the fruit is ripe. It has
irom KUSBii, now produces in
w
HAT'S the great idea in going table. The music struck up a fox trot.
to
pie seem to have come to it from every
kind of occupation. That is good.
"If a girl goes out with a fellow
worker from her office or shop at noon
they will soon find that they have
nothing to say to each other. They do
not change the current and they sre
not freshening their ideas or invigorat
ing their minds. The break which
f",..ri, Karfen for yur and the response of the dancers left comes by lunching in a place like this
feed?" objected the young . m
his usual midday haunt and led in the
The dance finished, some of the danc-
directlon of the Strand Roof Garden, ln wnos luncn time was up left the
New York City. place and others sat down to the tables
"Dancing thrown in." laconically re- to wa't another dance. There was
plied his friend, taking him by the constant coming and going, eating and
arm. dancing, always on the verge of a
hplnff nrntftrtlon ncAlnnt freAilnc.
China is supposed to have been the country an annual crop valued at 45,- thick, so that a single slice furnishes
original hom rst ih. .wo.t 000,000. It is remarkable for the size as much to eat as the whole of an or-
Angora goats in this country are now More tha s0 iiffa-.r, v1rlH ,hiki of its heads, the small amount of water dinary muskmelon. But it can be
annually producing more than $1,000- oranges are sald to grow. today along u needs, and its large percentage of grown only in the arid -parts of the
000 worth of wool, the finest of which the southern coast or the EmDlre But gluten. - West, under irrigation.
Grain sorghum and broom-corn mil- Another valuable importation made
" " strange to say. lemons are not grown
and indulging in a recreation which is
a radical change from business is de
cidedly beneficial.
"If It were possible for the working
arirls and boys of the city to take a
longer time in the middle of the day,
even If they had to make it up later In
. v. 1, .miU V. a irr9ti Brain
,,! J . . . : . , . HIO UOJT, l 1. "1. vw - O - - wf
me two young; men squeezea into a -... mu- d tQT the,p employer,.
crowded elevator and a minute later eio or some clever unseen executive . -vrir.,.,n of nfe of vitality.
this pulp of delicious flavor, several inches und themselves skillfully mar- at work chaos was avoided. . efisent)al to the best development
shaled in line with hundreds 01 otner orKmg pretty line, isn t it?" asked and Its maintenance. In other coun-
young people and a goodly sprinkling Miss Elizabeth Marbnry. sweeping a trlea there la ,ore opportunity for
of older ones. contented eye over the place. "What do that kind of expression. Yet there Is
"Take your tray." directed a woman's you think of it?" she inquired of Dr. much to be said for the intensity with
voice, and they found themselves stoop- Joseph Fraenkel, the noted nerve spe- Whlch Americans have pursued, their
lng and groping ror a capacious tray cianst. wno. Dy invitation 01 Mrs. W. K. vocations and avocations. That has its
four specimens secured by Dr. Bailey, in that country except as dwarf Dotted let are the moat important plants re- Dy a Government explorer. David G. on which some one detuy placed knives, anoerout. one or the managers, was place when the developing and build
occasionally it happens mat our con-, plants the idea beinsr to have as much cenuy miroauceo. lor lurage purposes Fairchild, is the carob bean, native to IW" na spoon wroweu m a, paver iniuumt w iuhhcuo nu looming on in8: UD cf a country Is the chief mat
sular officials abroad act as volunteer fruit as possible on the smallest n,. the one from
sibie tree. Wholly a curiosity is the -r mo
explorers. Thus, not long
Nightingale, vice-Consul at
ago, Mr.
Fu-Chau
Manchuria and the the Mediterranean retrion. which 1 h- napkin. The line moved slowly but con-
steppes of Siberia.
interestedly.
ir in hand. The time has now come.
Inz tried in the arid parts of the tmuously and the attendants behind xou want my candid, professional however, for something different, for
fingered lemon, or "Buddha's hand." Both ar0 cereals excellent for human United States. It is the fruit of a beau- the counter handed out croquettes, opinion of such an experiment?" more leisure and for a better use of iU
tiful tree and its seeds are edible by chops, omelette or otner vianas as re- tes. uoni you approve? ..jf there were more roof gardens
human beings, while the husks are Quested. "Well, ''as I came in here I received with noonday dance lunch there would
supposed, as a matter of popular tradi- The man who had been tnere before an instantaneous impression of light, be fewer nervous breakdowns, better
went forth to seek the wonderful tea which is grown as a tot nlant it ( food and are so employed in the re
which hitherto has been monopolized supposed to bring good luck, and the Kions Irom which they come. They
by royalty and the highest nobility of hand-shaped fruit commonlv sn at bear huge crops, the grain sorghum
having ears that weigh three or four tlon, to have supplied the humble prov- seized his dessert with his free hand, brightness, flowers: later, I found that work and happier workers. More persons
the Chinese Empire, much care being 60 cents apiece.
taken to prevent any of the seeds from Thanks to the Jananese short-ker- ouncea aP'ece, which are masses of ender of the Prodigal Son when the for- and his friend followed his example; the food was not only good but that It would be fit for their business, more
getting abroad. To obtain the seeds, neled rice. Introduced into this country west have fo'und suchraTn excellent tunes of tha youth were at their low- then some one put a check on the tray, was temptingly served and that the attuned to life and better able to ex
Mr. Nightingale was obliged to take a a few years ago, land ln the coast sec- for griddle cakes. est ebb. another person took their money and expense was moderate; next. I saw that, press themselves artistically and use
Ions boat trip, and then to proceed on tions ol Texas and Louisiana h., risen . From. Turkestan ha jecentljr been Recently, there fcaa beea search Xoi thex found taemaeiv.es looking tor a although, thera were so manjr at the fully."'