18 SEEDS AM> PLANTS IMPORTED. 



21834 to 21836. Andropogon sorghi m (L.) Brot. Kafir. 



From Maiduguri, Bornu, Sudan, Africa. Presented by Prof. J. Burtt Davy, 

 agrostologisl ;ni<l botanist, Transvaal Department of Agriculture, Pre- 

 toria, Transvaal. Received January 27, 1908. 



21834. Black-Hull. 21836. White Mat a Jew a. 



21835. Red Uatakwa. 



21837. Bambos a run din ace a Retz. Bamboo. 



Fr Sibpur, Calcutta. India. Presented by Capt. A. T. Gage, superin- 

 tendent, Royal Botanic Garden, through Mr. W. W. Smith. Received 

 January 28, 1908. 



(For description sec .\<>. 21317.) 



21838. Tin ri < i m AKSTivr.M L. Wheat. 



Prom Vomero, Naples, Italy. Presented by Dr. C. Sprenger. Received 

 January 28, 1908. 



" The kind of grain which is used for the straw-plaiting industry of Italy is 

 Triticum aestivum var. crimeron, called commonly in Italian Grano Mar: nolo. 



"There are two undervarieties known, the Santa Flora and the Scmone, 

 which are cultivated on poor, thin land. The seed is planted in the month of 

 November and also in February, and sown very thickly. We pull it up when 

 the ear begins to be formed." (Angiolo Puccl.) 



"The straw used in the plaiting industry is that of a special kind of very 

 dwarf wheat: it is sown in November (in Italy). The straw is dried and after- 

 wards blanched with sulphur. This blanched straw is the material used in all 

 industries of this kind." (Sprenger.) 



21860. Canarittm ltjzontcum (Blume) Gray. Pili nut. 



From Manila, P. I. Presented by Mr. George A. Spooner, Pay Department, 

 F. S. Army, Chicago, 111. Received January 25, 1008. 



" This nut is largely used in the Philippine Islands and East Indies for food. 

 It is said that the flavor is finer when the meat is blanched and salted, after 

 the manner in which salted almonds are prepared." (Ralph A. Gould.) 



21861. Dimorphotheca spectabilis Schlechter. 



From Barberton, Transvaal. Presented by Mr. George Thorncroft. Re- 

 ceived January 18, 1908. 



" Habitat : Grows on stony hills, altitude 6,000 feet. Flowers in September, 

 with the first shower of rain. (We get no rain here from the end of March 

 until August.) It is the handsomest of all our daisies." (Thorncroft.) 



" The plant grows 30 to 45 centimeters high and has bright purple rays about 

 2..~» centimeters long and a purple disk." {Schlechter.) 



21862 and 21863. Spergt la arvensis L. Spurry. 



From Paris. France. Purchased from Vilmorin-Andrieux & Co. Received 

 January 30, 1908. 



21862. Corn or Common. 21863. Giant. 



21864. Dioscorea decaisneana Carr. Yam. 



From Paris, France. Purchased from Vilmorin-Andrieux & Co. Received 

 January 30, 1908. 



21865. Coleus amboinicus Lour. • 



From Toco, Trinidad. Collected by Mr. (). \V. Barrett in October, 1907. 

 137 



