JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1908. 25 



23548. Psidium guajava L. Guava. 



From Bradentown, Fla. Presented by Mr. W. A. Berg, through Mr. Walter 

 Fischer. Received September 16, 1908. 



" Seed of the largest and finest fruit that I have yet seen. Weight, from 7 to 

 10 ounces ; color of outside skin, green : when ripe the flesh is cream colored ; 

 fruit has a slight banana flavor and is late in ripening, coming in when others 

 have gone. Flesh one-half inch thick. Seeds from 75 to 175 in number, 

 bunched." (Berg.) 



23549. Arachis hypogea L. Peanut. 



From Cochin China. Presented by Mr. J. E. Conner, American consul, 

 Saigon, Cochin China. Received August 28, 1908. 



" These are very small, very abundant as to the number of seeds, but about 

 equal in weight to the yield of the Javanese peanut (about 1,700 pounds to the 

 acre). Because of the smallness of the seed the officials at the Jardin Botanique 

 hadn't any good words for it. I tried to discover whether they were bunched 

 together more closely at the root of the plant, but without success. They are 

 planted in rows, distanced 40 cm., the rows 50 cm. apart, in soil sandy, moist, 

 and rich in nitrogen though poor in phosphoric acid, potassium, and lime." 

 (Conner.) 



23551 to 23623. Solanum tuberosum L. Potato. 



From Chile. Procured from Mr. Jose D. Husbands, Limavida, Chile, through 

 Mr. Alfred A. Winslow, American consul, Valparaiso, Chile. Received 

 at the Mississippi Valley Plant Introduction Garden, Ames, Iowa, August, 

 1908. 



The following tubers. Descriptive notes by Prof. S. A. Beach, Mississippi 

 Valley Plant Introduction Garden. 



23551 to 23577. 



" Each of these is a wild variety or class of its own, sent as found grow- 

 ing in the virgin bush on the hills, mountain sides, and lowlands on the 

 island of the archipelagos de Chiloe and Guaitecas. They form the sole 

 food of the Chilote Indians and other native inhabitants. These tubers 

 grow abundantly in spots, often very deep in the ground or gravel. Many 

 grow from self-sown, grown, and planted seedlings. These preserve their 

 character and improve, increase in size, and also perfect their forms for 

 five consecutive years, when they become established sorts. Thousands 

 have to be dug to make small collections of new kinds. Often when a 

 little tuber is found it must wait many days for its companion to be 

 found far away. Generally all these improve with continued cultivation. 

 They are all good eating, especially baked; some when boiled are inclined 

 to dissolve, but with continued planting they outgrow this fault. A col- 

 lection of seedlings is more effective to work on than sowing seeds, which 

 grow in every direction but the desired, and frequently strike back to the 

 worthless wild sorts." (Husbands.) 



23551. Dark purple, elongated, irregular. Flesh dark in center, 

 with purple line about darker portion. 



23552. Red, elongated, irregular. 



23553. Purple, round, flattened, regular. 



23554. Purple, elongated, irregular. 



23555. Dark purple, round or elongated, irregular. Flesh yellow. 



23556. White, purple eyes and eyebrows, elongated. 



23557. White, round or elongated, irregular. 



23558. White, roundish but very irregular in shape, slightly 

 flattened. 



23559. Pink, elongated, irregular. Flesh contains a distinct line 

 about half way from center to circumference. 



148 



