1 keep wondering what the people' up this way did before corn was known. For miles and over the mountains this Is the only crop. How did people live without it? The history of agriculture in China would be a worth while subject for some student aspiring to a high scholastic degree, We have been interested in watching the coming in of new crops. When we came here potatoes were not to be had. We got a piece of arden and some potato seed for Supplying our need. When we went fon furlough we distributed among the gardeners what potatoes we had left over. When we came back we could buy all we wanted. Up in this part of the world there is a very food vegetable called "Ti to po" or "Tin lo po." 1 nad known other places before coming here. But some began trying it, more followed fand now it is 9 standard garden crop. Te'is a leguminous plant growing a ong like a sweet potato, and having a white, turnip ike root, sweet and riley. Tt is eaten raw just like apples. Hawkers are calling them everywhere at all hours of day and night. No foes are seen on the market. "But our efforts to start people growing them have not been very successful so far. Blight iso. destructive that I fear people will not care to risk anything on that crop.
Hearing the reports of record hot weather not only generally in China Dut also in Europe and America makes us more than ever thankful for the very cool summer we have had. Our thermometer on an east side verandah rose to 90" a very few days. Now hovers between 60° and 70° day and night. In 100 years or so it will be Possible to get up here In a couple of days from Shanghai, so we'll all bbe happy—probably be some cabarets, ete, to help pass the time.
Fighting at Srenan, rumour has come through lately that there is fighting between soldiers and communists near Szenan, ten days east of here. ¥ do not know whether true. Tt is supposed that the: authorities have made all necessary reparations for dealing with the danger. At any rate they have asked the people for the needed funds, and It Is not considered polite to hesitate, about paying up. I am told that there are now between 20 {6 30 differ-lent public funds to which people must contribute regularly. Tt is very. [burdensome. Especially iniquitous i seems is the demand for payment of so called "Opium fines" for growing
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