JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1908. 15 



23436. Colchium autumnale L. Meadow saffron. 



From York, England. Purchased from J. Backhouse & Son (Limited) for 

 Dr. R. H. True's experiments. Received August 11, 1908. 



••A low, perennial, bulbous plant, native in moist meadow lands in middle 

 and southern Europe. The corins and seeds are used in preparing the extract 

 and wine of colchicum and the alkaloid colchicun and its salts, employed in 

 the treatment of gout. 



" Cultivated as an ornamental. Flowers in autumn. 



" This plant possesses very active properties, a small portion of the root or 

 seeds taken internally being sufficient to cause poisoning." (True.) 



23437. Gladiolus spp. Gladiolus. 



From Pretoria, South Africa. Presented by Prof. J. Burtt Davy. Re- 

 ceived August 7, 1908. 



" Corms of our native gladioli. There is more than one species represented 

 in this collection." (Davy.) 



23438 to 23446. 



From Bagdad, Turkey. Procured by Mr. William C. Magelssen, American 

 consul. Received August 11, 190S. . 



The following seeds : 

 23438. Phoenix dactylifera L. Date. 



Ascherasi. 

 23439 to 23446. Zizyphus jujuba (L.) Lam. " Nabuk." 



23439. Ascherasi. 23443. Khadrawi. 



23440. Khastawi. 23444. Zeytouni. 



23441. Zehdi. 23445. Jozi. 



23442. Beroen. 23446. Taoerzal. 



" The foliage of the Nabuk tree appears to be equally luxuriant on ah 

 varieties, and there is no choice so far as their growth is concerned. The 

 fruit differs slightly in taste and quality ; it is eaten by the poorer 

 classes of Mohammedans and Jews. I am informed that the natives 

 make it a practice to soak the seed in rose water before planting, claim- 

 ing that this tends to increase the beauty of the tree and the flavor of 

 the fruit. The Nabuk is certainly the finest shade tree grown in these 

 parts, and I judge from the scant care given it that the tree must be an 

 exceptionally hardy one." (Magelssen.) 



23449. Amygdalus persica L. Peach. 



From Pretoria, Transvaal. Presented by Mr. R. A. Davis, government 

 horticulturist, Transvaal Department of Agriculture. Received August 

 13, 1908. 



" These seeds are from a natural variety, St. Helena, or Transvaal Yellow. 

 always coming true. As a fruit, they are a good cling canner, but otherwise 

 useless. As a stock, they are unequaled for wet, dry, rocky, or loamy soil ; will 

 germinate and fruit in two years if thrown from a railway carriage window 

 into a rocky crevice. I think it should be very useful in California." (Davis.) 



23450. Agathis australis (Lamb.) Steud. Kauri pine. 



From Auckland, New Zealand. Presented by Mr. D. Petrie. Received 

 August 13, 1908. 



" This magnificent tree measures, under favorable circumstances, ISO feet in 

 height and exceptionally 17 feet in diameter of stem, the estimated, but per- 

 haps overrated, age of such a tree being 700 to 800 years. It furnishes an 

 excellent, remarkably durable timber, straight grained, and much in use for 



70949— Bull. 148—09 3 



