JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1910. 61 



27089 to 27095— Continued. 



27093. Psoralea sp. 



From near Gagri, Caucasus, Russia. "(No. 417, January 31, 1910.) Found 

 growing on dry places in decomposed rock. This legume may be of value as a 

 fodder plant in mild-wintered regions where hot summers prevail . " ( Meyer.) 



27094. Vinca sp. 



From near Gagri, Caucasus, Russia. "(No. 418, January 31, 1910.) A 

 Vinca found in shady nooks in the mountains, often hanging down between 

 rocks. Apparently distinct from the ordinary Vinca major. Ot value as a 

 ground cover or basket plant in mild-wintered regions." (Meyer.) 



27095. (Undetermined.) 



From near Gagri, Caucasus, Russia. "(No. 420, February 1, 1910.) A grass 

 growing plentifully here and there between bowlders and rocks on mountain 

 sides. Perhaps of value as a fodder grass in mild-wintered regions." (Meyer.) 



27097 and 27098. Pyrus spp. 



From Kew, England. Presented by Dr. David Prain, director, Royal Botanic 

 Garden. Received March 21, 1910. 



Cuttings of the following: 



27097. Pyrus chinensis Lindl. Sand pear. 



27098. Pyrus simoni Carr. 



to 



Distribution. — The Provinces of Chihli, Shingking, and Kiangsi, in China, and in 

 Korea, Manchuria, and Japan. 



27099. Ravensara aromatic a Sonner. 



From Port Louis, Mauritius. Presented by Mr. G. Regnard. Received March 14, 

 1910. 



"A fairly interesting spice tree." (Regnard.) 



This species of Ravensara is a large, bushy tree with a pyramidal head, entire leaves, 

 small flowers, and pear-shaped fruits the size of a small hickory nut. The leaves and 

 fruit are prepared by rolling into a ball which is allowed to hang in the air for a month; 

 then placed in boiling water for five minutes, and afterwards dried in the sun or before 

 a fire. This process preserves the leaves and fruits so that they keep for several years. 

 (Adapted from Sonnerat, Voyage aux Indes Orientates, vol. 2, p. 226.) 



Distribution. — The island of Madagascar. 



27101 to 27105. Medicago sativa L. Alfalfa. 



From Victoria, Minn. Obtained by Mr. J. M. Westgate from the farm of Mr. Henry 

 Gerdsen, August 11, 1909. Numbered for convenience in recording distribution 

 March 21, 1910. 



"These five selected plants were presumably 40 years old, as the field from which 

 they were taken was seeded in 1868 or 1869, according to Mr. Gerdsen, and there has 

 been no apparent reseeding since. The crowns of all the plants were very large and 

 apparently uniform in age; the individual crowns were often 2 feet in diameter and 

 were occasionally broken up into two or more separate but adjacent plants. ' ' ( Westgate.) 



27106. Carica papaya L. Papaya. 



From Bangalore, Mysore, India. Presented by Rev. N. L. Rockey, Gonda, 

 United Provinces, India. Received March 21, 1910. 



Seed supposedly of this same variety received under No. 25692. 

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