16 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



27512 to 27517— Continued. J 



"The trees themselves are ornamental, but the fruits are too small to be ever 

 used by the white races as a dessert." (Meyer.) 



See also S. P. I. Nob. 17173, 17905 to 17907, 18266, 18599, 19395, 22370, and 

 22599 for previous introductions. 



Distribution. — Southern Europe and Asia; native from the Caucasus region 

 eastward through northern India and central China to Japan; naturalized in the 

 European countries bordering on the Mediterranean. 



27513. Cicer arietinum L. Chick-pea. 



From Batum, Caucasus, Russia. "(No. 1259a, February 24, 1910.) These 

 chickpeas are locally called ' AmouV and are said to come from the vicinity 

 of Anapa, Northern Caucasus. They are much eaten here by the natives and 

 the Russians, generally boiled in soups or served with meat stews, also roasted 

 and sugared and eaten as a sweetmeat. To be tested especially in the semi- 

 arid sections of the United States." (Meyer.) 



27514. Triticum durum Desf. Wheat. 



From Batum, Caucasus, Russia. "(No. 1260a, February 25, 1910.) A winter 

 wheat of first quality, called 'Kriek Bogda;' said to come from Samsun, Asia 

 Minor; costs 3 rubles per pood in Batum. To be tested in mild- wintered semi- 

 arid sections of the United States." (Meyer.) 



27515. Triticum durum Desf. Wheat. 

 From Batum, Caucasus, Russia. "(No. 1261a, February 25, 1910.) A 



winter wheat of second quality, coming from the same locality a3 the pre- 

 ceding (S. P. I. No. 27514); costs 2.80 rubles per pood in Batum. Recom- 

 mended for the same localities as- the preceding." (Meyer.) 



27516. Gleditsia caspica Desf. 



From Livadia, Crimea, Russia. "(No. 1262a, January 25, 1910.) A honey 

 locust growing to be a tall tree, found along roads and in thickets, perhaps 

 escaped. A good shade tree for the semiarid sections of the United States 

 where mild winters prevail." (Meyer.) 



27517. Gleditsia caspica Desf. 



From Nikita, Crimea, Russia. "(No. 1263a, January 24, 1910.) Collected 

 from a tall tree in the Botanical Garden at Nikita. Recommended for the 

 same localities as the preceding number (S. P. I. No. 27516)." (Meyer.) 



27518. Aleurites fordii Hemsl. China wood -oil tree. 



From China. Purchased from Messrs. L. C. Gillespie & Sons, New York, N. Y. 

 Received April 7, 1910. 



See S. P. I. No. 25081 for description. 



27519. Grewia can a Sond. "Kafir raisin." 



From Bloemhof District, Transvaal, South Africa. Presented by Prof. J. Burtt 

 Davy, Government agrostologist and botanist, Transvaal Department of Agri- 

 culture, Pretoria. Received April 9, 1910. 



"This is a common bush of the southwestern Transvaal, about 4,000 faet altitude, 

 subject to light frosts, growing to a height of 4 to 5 feet. It is generally found on 

 outcrops of the dolomite limestone in districts having a rainfall of 20 inches in sum- 

 mer and with a winter drought lasting about six months. The berries are small, 

 but produced in quantity; each contains a large stone, and the percentage of flesh 

 208 



