LIBRARY 

 NEW YORK 

 WOTANICAL 



( AKi>EN 



INVENTORY OF SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED BY 

 THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN SEED AND PLANT IN- 

 TRODUCTION DURING THE PERIOD FROM JAN- 

 UARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1920 (NO. 62; NOS. 49124 

 TO 49T96). 



INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT. 



During the period of three months covered by this inventory, 

 Wilson Popenoe, Agricultural Explorer for this office, was exploring 

 and collecting living plant mater'al in the region of the city of 

 Guatemala, Coban, Tucuru, Antigua, and El Barranquillo in the Re- 

 public of Guatemala, and Dr. H. L. Shantz, as Agricultural Ex- 

 plorer attached to the Smithsonian Expedition, was exploring and 

 collecting in Mozambique, East Africa, Northern Rhodesia, and the 

 Belgian Kongo. Inasmuch as both of these explorers are experi- 

 enced travelers and especially familiar with American agriculture, 

 what they collected has unusual value. 



Of Mr. Popenoe's introductions described here, the following ap- 

 pear at this time of particular interest : 



The lai'ge-fruited subtropical hawthorn {Crataegus stiimlosa. No. 49145), 

 which is used for jellies and preserves, reminds us of Frank N. ^Meyer's dis- 

 covery and introduction of the large grafted Chinese haws which have grown 

 well in this countrj\ The pacaya palm {Chamacdorea .sp., No. 49325) has an 

 inflorescence which is used extensively as a salad in Guatemala. The two su- 

 perior varieties of the coy6 (Persea schiedeana, Nos. 49329 and 49330), a close 

 relative of the avocado, represent a fruit new to horticulture and one of great 

 value for tropical and subtropical regions; these fruits, according to Mr. 

 Popenoe, have even a better flavor than the avocado. The three reinarkable 

 tropical blackberries (Ruins spp., 49331 to 49333) from Alta Vera Paz ought 

 at least to be valuable for breeding purposes. An entirely new species of Au- 

 nona (.4. sclerodenna, No. 49371). called the "posh," has a tliick, hard-shelled 

 fruit and ought to make a good shipper; its delicious snow-white llesh, which 

 is more acid and sprightly than that of the sugar-apple, should make it pop- 

 ular. The ochoy (Paspalvia fascicii latum. No. 49401) and the " hotz kor" 

 (Chaetochloa vamculifera, No. 49372) are considered among the best pas- 

 ture grasses of Guatemala and since they are adapted to moist regions 

 3^ould be available for trial on the Everglades; and the " kos-k(in " {Pennine- 

 ~S9im complanatum, No. 49763), a most important grass from Antigua, may 

 ■tiiso thrive there. Other interesting plants listed here with 'Sir. I'ojtenoe's 

 <^reful descriptions include an undetermined species of walnut fnnu Alta Vera 



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