JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1910. 17 



26593 to 26596— Continued. 



The leaf is rather long for its width, is shaped something like a willow leaf, 

 and, like some willows, the leaf is silvery white underneath and a rich green 

 on top. In the spring it has a wonderfully fragrant blossom, and in the autumn 

 a fruit is matured that looks very much like the commercial date, although 

 not so rich and sweet, but the poor of the country are sometimes reduced to 

 eating it to a considerable extent. These bushes are particularly adapted to 

 hot, dry climates where only occasionally a little water is given to them by 

 irrigation. They are rapid growers, and are used in this country for hedges 

 surrounding the fields for turning cattle. They are capable of standing a good, 

 sharp freeze, as it frequently falls to 15° or 20° F. in this high altitude, and 

 as this much cold has no effect on them they may be able to stand much colder 

 weather. 



"The idea I particularly have in mind in mentioning this plant is its supe- 

 riority as a hedge over the Osage orange that is so commonly used in our 

 country for the same purpose. They make a much more beautiful show than 

 the Osage, grow very rapidly, are very bushy and thick, can be easily trimmed 

 and kept in order, and as a novelty and something new would likely be much 

 appreciated by our people. They grow very readily from cuttings or from 

 seed and require but little attention." 



26596. Vicia faba L. Horse bean. 



"This is called Bakla in Turkish. In addition to the beans the stalks are fed 

 to cows and are said to be wonderful milk producers, and horsemen declare the 

 stalks to be exceedingly cooling feed for horses during the summer. They are 

 not as good as our best class of beans as a vegetable, but they have one merit — 

 they are the first real garden vegetable in the spring after onions and lettuce, 

 being a month earlier than the ordinary bunch beans. They are rather strong 

 in flavor, and coarse, but among these people they are in great demand." 



26598 to 26602. 



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

 government agrostologist and botanist, Transvaal Department of Agriculture. 

 Received January 17 and 18, 1910. 



Seeds of the following: 



26598. Indigofera sp. 



26599. Diospyros senegalensis Perrott. 

 See No. 25634 for previous introduction. 



26600. Pittosporum viridiflorum Sims. 



Distribution. — An erect shrub, found in the woods along the southeastern 

 coast of Cape Colony, from the Knysna district to the vicinity of Umtata, in 

 Kaffraria. 



26601. Aloe transvalexsis Kuntze. 

 Distribution. — The vicinity of Pretoria, Transvaal. 



26602. (Undetermined.) "Rhodesian teak." 

 "A typical tree of dryish regions." (Davy.) 



26603. Anona cherimola Miller. Cherimoya. 



From Orange, Cal. Presented by Mr. C. P. Taft. Received January 27, 1910. 



Golden Russet. "This variety originated or at least first fruited near Villa Park, 

 Cal. I am told that the plant came from London, England. I do not think that 

 they were budded trees, though they may have been. In form the fruit resembles a 



73527°— Bui. 207—11 2 



