JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1910. 45 



26896— Continued. 



leaves frequently trail and wind through the underbrush 10 to 12 feet in length. 

 The species sent is armed with sharp and recurved spines and the leaves stood up 

 straight 11 to 14 feet high (measured). The mother plants grow at Mariato, Province 

 of Veraguas, R. P., on the property of the Boston-Panama Company, on rubber land 

 (semiwild trees)." (Schultz.) 



26897. Diospyros senegalensis Perrott. 



From Hartley and Melsetter districts, Rhodesia, South Africa. Presented by 

 Mr. H. Godfrey Mundy, agriculturist and botanist, Department of Agriculture, 

 Salisbury, Rhodesia. Received February 24, 1910. 



"Native names: M'shuma, M'chenji, Cheehati or M'soko. This tree is said to be of 

 considerable size and the timber to be useful for building purposes. The fruit is 

 described as resembling that of ' Mahobohobo' ( Uapaca kirikiana Mill.), though some- 

 what smaller and with a thinner skin. Three to five seeds in each fruit. Habitat, 

 warm and sheltered river banks, and not found in dry, waterless localities." (Mundy.) 



See No. 25634 for distribution of this species. 



26898. Cicer arietinum L. Chick-pea. 



From Brooklyn, N. Y. Purchased from Messrs. Labato & Lombroso. Received 

 February 25, 1910. 



Mexican. 



26899. Avena sativa L. Oat. 



From Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa. Presented by Mr. I. 3. P. Evans, 

 Transvaal Department of Agriculture. Received February 23, 1910. 



Algerian. "With us, oats suffer very considerably from rust, and this variety is 

 practically the only one that shows immunity to the pest." (Evans.) 



To be used in breeding work for rust resistance. 



26901 to 26907. 



From Tientai, via Ningpo, China. Presented by Rev. A. O. Loosely, through 

 Mr. B. Youngblood, Scientific Assistant, Farm Management Investigations, 

 Oklahoma, Okla. Received February 28, 1910. 



Seeds of the following; descriptive notes by Rev. A. O. Loosely: 



26901. Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. Loquat. 



li Bibo (bee-bo). A delicious fruit growing in clusters, each fruit being 

 smaller than a small-sized egg; it is splendid for eating raw, stewed, or made 

 into jam or jelly. This tree produces abundantly, but the kernel is large in 

 proportion to the size of the fruit. It may be possible to make the fruit larger 

 by cultivation." 



26902 and 26903. Diospyros kaki L. f . Persimmon. 



26902. Seeds long and narrow. 



26903. Seeds short and broad. 



"I presume you have better persimmons in California, but I never saw them 

 in the Middle West; these ought to grow in Oklahoma. The fruit of one is the 

 size and shape of a large egg; the other is larger, round, and flat; they are a 

 delicious fruit for eating raw or dried. They have a long season of about two 

 months, are prolific, and a sure crop." 



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