JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1922. 27 



former American Minister to Siam. as of unusually good quality and free from 

 the objectionable odor which characterizes those of many other countries. 



55734. Phleum PRATENSE L. Poaceae. Timothy. 



From Budapest, Hungary. Presented by the Hungarian Seed Culture Co. 

 Received August 29, 1922. 



Locally grown seed introduced for timothy breeding experiments. 



55735. Myrica rubra Sieb. and Zucc. Myricaceae. Yang mae. 



From Yokohama, Japan. Seeds purchased from the Yokohama Nurserv 

 Co. Received August 31, 1922. 



" The beautiful dark-purple fruits are the size of crab apples and can be 

 eaten out of hand or made into compotes and pies. There is great variation in 

 the habit and productivity of the trees and also in the color, size, and taste of 

 the fruits. The trees are evergreen and thrive best on well-drained rocky ter- 

 races. The localities that will best suit them in the United States will prob- 

 ably be the southern sections of the Gulf Coast States and the milder parts of 

 California. Chinese name yang mae." (Frank N. Meyer.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 53982. 



55736. Persea Americana Mill. Lauracese. Avocado. 

 (P. gratissima Gaertn. f.) 



From Laguna, Guatemala. Budwood collected by Wilson Popenoe, Agri- 

 cultural Explorer of the United States Department of Agriculture. Re- 

 ceived October, 1916. Numbered September, 1922. 



This variety was not distributed along with others introduced from Guate- 

 mala in 1916-17. as no buds were saved at Washington, and only one was 

 successfully established at Miami, where several budsticks of the original 

 shipment were sent. For a year or more the variety was considered to be lost. 

 When it came into bearing, less than two years after the original buds were 

 top-worked on an old tree of the West Indian race at the Miami Plant Introduc- 

 tion Garden, the variety was seen to be sufficiently meritorioiis to justify a 

 wider trial. In habit and character of growth it is excellent ; the branches are 

 strong, not drooping, and the growth vigorous. The fruits, which ripen at 

 Miami in late winter and early spring, are slender pyriform, about 18 ounces 

 in weight, dark green, with the surface somewhat rough ; the skin is thick and 

 woody and the flesli cream yellow, smooth, and free from fiber, of rich flavor 

 and excellent quality. The seed is rather small and tight in the cavity. 



The original note on this variety is as follows : 



"(No. 41. Laguna, Guatemala. October 2, 1916.) Avocado No. 2. Itzamna. 

 A fruit of good size, having a very small seed and flesh of good quality and 

 ripening very early in the season. The tree does not seem to be a very heavy 

 bearer, but it is in such condition that it is diflicult to say what its behavior 

 may be under more favorable culture. 



" The parent tree is growing among coffee bushes in the finca of Don Miguel 

 Soto, a few hundred yards from the northern shore of Lake Amatitlan, at 

 an altitude of 3,900 fei^t. The soil is a heavy black loam, rich and moist. 

 The tree is about 25 feet high, with a trunk 1 foot in diameter and a rather 

 scanty top. The amount of fruit which it is ripening this year (1916) is not 

 great, but the crop may be considered a fair one. 



" Following is a description of the fruit : 



" Foi-m oblong-pyriform, not necked ; size above medium, weight 14 to 16 

 ounces, length 5^ inches, greatest breadth 31 inches ; base rounded, with the 

 stem insertion nearly central ; stem moderately stout, 5 inches long ; apex 

 rounded ; surface pebbled, light green to yellowish green, with fairly numerous 

 yellowish dots; skin slightly le.ss than one-sixteenth of an inch thick at base 

 of fruit, more than one-sixteenth of an inch thick at apex, separating readily 

 from the flesh, brittle, and granuhir in texture; flesh pale cream, greenish 

 near the skin, firm, with very slight fiber markings toward the bai^'e of the 

 fruit ; flavor nutty ; quality very good ; seed very small, ovate-conic in form. 

 If inches long, 1^ inches thick, with both seed coats adhering closely and tight 

 in the cavity. 



