B. P. I.— 680. 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED DURING THE 

 PERIOD FROM JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1910: 

 INVENTORY NO. 24; NOS. 28325 TO 28880. 



INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT. 



No satisfactory test can be made of a new plant to determine its 

 economic value until many months, or even years, have passed 

 since its introduction. To emphasize those included in this inven- 

 tory before they are tested may therefore appear somewhat prema- 

 ture, but it seems warranted for the reason that while in the printed 

 descriptions new plants which arrive may seem much alike and equally 

 interesting, to those who see all the correspondence which has led up 

 to their introduction some of the new arrivals stand out as of special 

 promise. 



Those interested in the cover-crop problem of the California orange 

 growers will notice the importation of a half ton of seed of the Pales- 

 tine kirsenneh (Vicia ervttia, No. 2S761) and 500 pounds of seed of 

 another Palestine legume (LatJiyrus sativus, No. 28762), and will 

 note also the opinion expressed by Mr. Aaron Aaronsohn that the 

 Lathyrus will make a quicker growth in the California orange or- 

 chards than Vicia ervilia and will have an advantage over the fenu- 

 greek that is now used there in that seed can be obtained cheaper. 



The unusual interest in the mango in Florida, Porto Rico, and 

 Hawaii has made it desirable to get the best East Indian varieties as 

 rapidly as possible to increase the collection, which now numbers more 

 than a hundred sorts. Some of these are early and others late ripen- 

 ing sorts; others have unusual keeping qualities; while still others are 

 in the form of seeds imported for the purpose of originating new 

 varieties. As pointed out by Mr. Walter T. Swingle in his citrus 

 work, seeds like the mango, which are polyembryonic, are likely to 

 give rise through the unfertilized embryos to strains of the original 

 variety, which are characterized by increased vigor and produc- 

 tiveness. 



So much interest has been aroused in the possibilities of the oriental 

 persimmon through the introduction of the Tamopan variety and 

 the perfection by Mr. H. C. Gore, of the Bureau of Chemistry, of new 

 methods by wiiich the tannin can be rendered insoluble in a practical 

 way and the fruit hold its firm texture that a special search is being 



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