JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1910. 11 



26499 and 26500. 



From Kavali, Xellore district, India. Presented by Rev. E. Bullard. Re- 

 ceived January 10, 1910. 



Seeds of the following; notes by Rev. E. Bullard: 



26499. Erythrixa ixdica Lam. 



"A useful hedge tree used commonly here around betel-leaf gardens. It is 

 leguminous, does not have very spreading limbs, grows rapidly in almost any 

 soil, and attains a height of 30 or 40 feet. It can be transplanted and propa- 

 gated by cuttings of any size; these require watering for a time until well rooted. 

 It is planted close together as a hedge, a foot or less apart, at first, and the spaces 

 between are filled in with wild sugar cane. The leaf of the Badidi is excellent 

 fodder for cattle, sheep, and goats — probably for any animals. The wood is also 

 used in making some- ordinary implements. By being cut low it forms an excel- 

 lent hedge for keeping out animals. The Telugu name is Badidi or Badishe. 1 '' 



Distribution. — Throughout India and the Polynesian Islands; often 

 cultivated . 



26500. Melia azedarach L. 



"A tree called Turaka vyapa in Telugu, or a variety of themargosa; it is much 

 inferior, however, to the usual margosa, though useful as a quick-growing tree. 

 Its seed contains an oil used for medicinal purposes." 



26501. Rheum nobile Hook. f. and Thorns. 



From Sikkim, E. Himalaya, India. Presented by Capt. A. T. Gage, superin- 

 tendent, Royal Botanic Garden. Sibpur, near Calcutta, India. Received Jan- 

 uary 10, 1910. 



"The individual plants of Rheum nobile are upward of a yard high, and form conical 

 towers of the most delicate, straw-colored, shining, semitransparent, concave, imbri- 

 cating bracts, the upper of which have pink edges, the large bright, glossy, shining, 

 green radical leaves, with red petioles and nerves, forming a broad base to the whole. 

 On turning up the bracts, the beautiful membranous, fragile, pink stipules are seen, 

 like red silver-paper, and within these, again, the short-branched panicles of insig- 

 nificant green flowers.— The stems of this plant (called 'ChuTca' by the inhabitants) 

 are pleasantly acid, and much eaten.— The seeds should be planted in peat soil and 

 rockwork, and kept very cool and damp." (J. D. Hooker. Illustrations of Hima- 

 layan Plants, 1855, pi. 19.) 



Distribution. — The alpine slopes of the Himalaya Mountains, at an elevation of 

 13,000 to 15,000 feet, in the Province of Sikkim, northeastern India. 



26502 to 26504. 



From Chinese Turkestan. Presented by Mr. E. Cotes, Simla, India. Received 

 November 17, 1909. 

 Seeds of the following: 



26502. Prunus armeniaca L. Apricot. 



26503. Amygdalus persica L. Peach. 



26504. Citrullus vulgaris Schrad. Watermelon. 



26505 and 26506. Sesamum oriextale L. Sesame. 



From China. Presented by Rev. J. M. W. Farnham, Shanghai, China. Re- 

 ceived January 5, 1910. 



Seeds of the following: 



26505. Black seeded. 26506. White seeded. 



