JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1909. 57 



25081— Continued. 



ornamental tree at all seasons of the year. The fruits, which ripen in September, 

 are the size of large, unhulled black walnuts and contain 5 warty seeds the size of 

 chestnuts and the general form of castor-oil seeds. 



"The seeds, which make up somewhat more than half by weight of the entire 

 dried fruit, consist of 48 per cent shell and 52 per cent kernel, or 24 per cent oil cake 

 and 28 per cent oil. During the past year the price of the oil in the United States 

 was about 65 cents a gallon of 8 pounds, with linseed at 42 cents. 



"For centuries the Chinese have found innumerable uses for wood oil, chief of 

 which may be mentioned the preservation of woodwork from moisture, the water- 

 proofing of cloth, umbrellas, etc., and the making of oil papers and putty; from the 

 oil cake, various calking compounds and fertilizer, and the best India inks from the 

 soot obtained from its combustion. Americans are the only foreigners who have 

 used wood oil to any great extent and then only during the last ten or twelve years. 

 Their appreciation of its good qualities is shown by the steady demand, which has 

 led several importing firms to establish branch houses in the chief exporting centers, 

 Hankow and Hongkong, and by the steadily increasing importations, which grew to 

 2,000,000 gallons in 1907. 



"The wood oil now imported is used almost exclusively in varnish making, but 

 the manufacture of such products as linoleum, enamel paints, and high-grade elastic 

 oilcloths has just commenced, while other uses have been suggested. It belongs to 

 the class of drying oils typified by linseed, but it is much harder, quicker drying, 

 and more impermeable to water, though less lightproof and elastic. Owing to certain 

 physical disadvantages which it possesses, it can not replace linseed, but used in 

 conjunction with it gives most excellent results, especially for outdoor use, where 

 such qualities as it possesses are highly desirable." (W. Fischer.) 



Distribution. — A native of the southeastern part of China, extending from Hong- 

 kong north to the province of Hupeh. 



25082 and 25083. 



From China. Presented by Mr. D. MacGregor, Shanghai, through Mr. Frank 

 X. Meyer. Received March 20, 1909. 



Seeds of each of the following: 



25082. Astragalus sinicus L. 



From near Shanghai. "Used in the Chekiang Province as a leguminous 

 green-manure crop on the low-lying rice fields." (Meyer.) 



Distribution. — A native of the southeastern part of the Chinese Empire, and 

 of Japan. 



25083. Arisaema sp. (?) 



From Mokanshan. "Fruit plum colored, aromatic, vinuous flavor; seeds in 

 pulp; fruit the size of a plum." (MacGregor.) 



25087. Prunus pseudocerasus Lindl. Flowering cherry. 



From Japan. Purchased from the Yokohama Nursery Company. Received 

 March, 1909. 



"Seedling plants and seeds of the wild cherry of Japan upon which the Japanese 

 bench-graft all their flowering cherries. I am informed by the Yokohama Nursery 

 Company that this wild cherry, in contrast with the double-flowering and other Jap- 

 anese ornamental varieties, can be reproduced very easily from cuttings, and that 

 the scions of named varieties are grafted on pieces of the root and not budded, as is 

 the custom in this country with the fruiting cherries. May this new stock not possibly 

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