18 SEEDS AND PLANTS [MPORTED. 



23474. Illipe latifolia (Roxb.) F. Muell, Mahwah. 



From Baroda, [ndia. Presented by M. a. Sltole, Director of Agriculture, 

 Baroda State, [ndia, through Mr. < >. w. Barrett. Received August 20, 

 L908. 



a tree, growing 50 Peel high, contenl with dry, stony ground, enduring 

 slight Frost. Wood so tough as t<» be adapted for plows and various machin- 

 ery [Dr. Schlich]. The succulent corolla affords a never-failing crop of 

 nourishing saccharine food to the rural Inhabitants. Bach tree supplies 2 to ."> 

 hundredweight; each hundredweight yields on distillation about .'! gallons of 

 spirits; essential oil is also obtained from the corolla. The flowers are also 

 used for feeding cattle; they will keep for a long time. The seeds yield oil of 

 iiiirk consistence." (Von Mueller.) 



23475. Paspalum dilatatum Poir. Large water grass. 



From Coffs Harbor, New South Wales, Australia. Purchased from Mr. 

 \Y. Seccombe, through Mr. C. V. Piper. Received August 22, L908. 



23476. Dendrocalamus strictus (Roxb.) Nees. Bamboo. 



From British India. Presented by Mr. Jean Houzeau de Lehaie, Saint 

 Symphorien, Belgium. Received August 20, 1908. 



"One of the most valuable bamboos; is not hurt by slight frosts and, it is 

 said, is very drought resistant. Wood of the finest quality. 



"1 hope that this valuable species, designated by Sir I). Brandis as the most 

 important for the Southwest of the United States, has now been introduced in 

 sufficient quantity so that a distribution may be made for outdoor planting. I 

 think that in order to be successful the young plants ought not to be planted 

 outdoors until the spring of 1910, unless it is under exceptionally favorable 

 conditions, and that in any case it will be necessary to irrigate or water them, 

 to fertilize them, and to keep them covered with straw the first summer after 

 they are planted out. It will of course be only the most vigorous and well 

 rooted plants which will show all their power of resistance and all their good 

 qualities." {De Lehaie.) (See Xos. 21548 and 22819 for previous importations.) 



23477. Vitis vinifera L. Grape. 



From Aberdeen, Cape Colony, South Africa. Presented by Mr. F. W. 

 Eagle, at the request of Mr. R. A. Davis, government horticulturist, 

 Transvaal Department of Agriculture. Received August 29, 1908. 



Karroo Belle. " This grape is a really good table fruit, possessed of hardy 

 qualities and largely resistant in this country to oid'nun ; it would be quite at 

 home in the Santa Clara Valley, and also, I think, farther south, even in 

 Fresno." (Davis.) 



" I have succeeded in rearing a cross between the vines White Crystal and 

 Muscat Hambro, which I have named Karroo Belle. A magnificent grape, 

 strong grower, enormous cropper, very large and most compact bunches (some 

 cut this season weighed from 5 to 11 pounds), round and very large, almost 

 stoneless berries, which are a dark brownish purple where well exposed to the 

 sun, but where hanging in the shade are only slightly tinted, or even quite 

 green if very much shaded, and always with a great deal of bloom. Carries 

 exceptionally well, as proved by a box of grapes sent to Johannesburg con- 

 taining eight varieties, among which were Hannepoot, Crystal Muscat Hambro, 

 Uitenhage Blue, etc., all of which were useless except* Karroo Belle, bunches of 

 which were perfect. As regards keeping qualities, we cut the first ripe bunch 

 off the parent vine on January 15, and the last one on June 28, which were 

 perfectly sound except a few berries stung by the bees through the bag, so 

 that we have been cutting grapes from the one vine for nearly five and a half 

 months." (Mr. Eagle, Aberdeen, Cape Colony, in the Transvaal Agricultural 

 Journal, January, 11)01, p. Jfi2.) 



" This variety of grape has been planted largely in different districts of the 

 Transvaal. The vine arrived with a flattering reputation, but has, unfortu- 

 nately, proved in the majority of cases quite worthless, owing to the fact that 



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