OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1909. 29 



26238 to 26240— Continued. 



26238— Continued. 



better than any of the American kinds, and in addition to being a good cropper, 

 it is very ornamental and may be used with good effect for covering wild rockery 

 and rough banks.' " (Swingle.) 



26239. Raspberry. 



November Abundance. "This is said to produce 'a good supply of fruit during 

 September and onwards.' " (Swingle.) 



26240. Raspberry. 



Superlative. "Said to be a good dessert berry, of red color, large size, and 

 of excellent flavor, readily picked on account of its long stalks." (Swingle.) 



26241. Brassica oleracea capitata L. Cabbage. 



From Dalny, Manchuria. Presented by Mr. A. A. Williamson, vice-consul in 

 charge. Received November 15, 1909. 



"The Manchurian cabbage is one of the chief articles of diet of the inhabitants of 

 these regions. It is particularly tender, succulent, and well flavored. These are a 

 few of the first seeds, which only ripen in the spring." (Williamson.) 



26242. Quercus aegilops L. Oak. 



From Patras, Greece. Presented by Hon. F. B. Wood, British consul. Received 

 November 16, 1909. 



Valonia. "The valonia oak derives its name from a Greek word signifying acorn. 

 The valonia produces fully two or three times more than the ordinary oak. The 

 term ' valonia ' used commercially does not apply to the acorn but to the cup which 

 contains it, which when ground is used for tanning purposes. The cup is a bright 

 drab color, which.it preserves as long as it is kept dry; any dampness injures it, as 

 it then turns black and loses both its strength and value. The more substance or 

 thickness there is in the husk or cup the better it is for commercial purposes. 



"Valonia without the acorn (which is only of use for feeding swine, etc.) is worth 

 about £8 to £10 per ton, but the finer quality sometimes fetches £2 or £3 more. In 

 former years the article was worth double the above figures, but chemical and other 

 substitutes used for tanning purposes have brought its value down to a point which 

 scarcely covers the expense of picking and getting ready for shipment. 



"The valonia oak flourishes almost exclusively in the Levant; Greece, several 

 islands in the Aegean Sea, Crete, and Asia Minor are its favorite localities. There it 

 thrives in great profusion and in every variety of soil and climate, being affected by 

 neither severe heat nor great cold. In the plains of Elis in soft, heavy, rich soil the 

 valonia displays all its beauties, and in perfect similarity to its congener growing on 

 the barren and stony mountains of Acarnania and Laconia. 



"The tree is very beautiful with its great outspreading branches and delicate foliage; 

 it reaches in many instances a height of 60 feet and a girth of 15 feet 3 or 4 feet from 

 the soil. In appearance it resembles the ordinary oak and has many of the latter's 

 characteristics, forming occasionally great distorted boles. It produces the oak 

 apple, and the mistletoe grows on it plentifully. 



"The valonia tree can scarcely be called deciduous, for although the leaves attain 

 a withered and brownish look in winter, only a certain proportion are cast before 

 the fresh shoots appear in the early spring. 



"The finest valonia forest I know of exists in the province of Achaia, between 

 Patras and Pyrgos. In length it measures some 10 miles and in breadth about 4 

 or 5. The trees in most instances must be several centuries old. 



"The manner of collecting valonia brings one back almost to patriarchal days. 

 The Greek peasantry are for the most part and to a great extent nomadic. In the 

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