APRIL. 1 TO JUNE 30, 1921. 91 



53845. Saiaadora persica L. Salvadoraceae. 



F'roni Klmrtuni, Sudau, Africa. Seeds pi*esented by It. E. Massey, Govern- 

 ment Iwtanist. Received June 27, 1921. 



A .slu'ub or small tree easily repi'oduced from seed, though of slow growth, 

 common on the shores of Lake Chad and growing in dense clumps from 3 to 

 10 feet high near vShibani, Hadraniant, etc. The twigs are used as a tooth 

 cleanser by the natives of Portuguese East Africa. The wood is white and soft 

 and weighs about 4^^ i)ounds per cubic foot. The shoots and leaves are i)ungent. 

 They are eaten as salad and given as fodder to camels; the fruits, bitter, 

 pungent, and aromatic, are used with the leaves and shoots as a relish. The 

 root bark is acrid and vesicant. The seed contains about 45 per cent of fat, 

 suitable for the manufactui'e of candles. A vegetable salt called kcf/r is ob- 

 tained from the ash of this plant in northern Nigeria. The seed cake is useful 

 as a manure; analysis shows that it contains nitrogen 4.8 per cent, potash 2.8 

 per cent, and phosphoric acid 1 per cent. (Adapted from HoUand. Useful 

 Plants of Niffcria, pt. 3, p. .',21.) 



For previous introduction, see S. 1». I. No. 7802. 



53846. SoLANUM coMMERSONii Dunal. Solanacese. Wild potato. 



From Montevideo, Uruguay. Tubers presented by Sr. Luis Gnillot, Direc- 

 ci6n General de Paseos Publicos. Received June 28, 3021. 



"A Solanum with angled stems and leaves 4 to 8 inches long with two to 

 four pairs of leaflets, the terminal one somewhat larger. The corolla is white 

 or pale violet, pubescent on the o^ter surface. Native to eastern Argentina 

 and Uruguay, usually in moist situations." {W. F. Wight.) 



For discussion of exi>eriments with this species in France, see Labergerie. 

 Une Nouvelle Pomme de Terre (Solanum commer.sonii). Revue Horticole, 

 vol. 78, p. 303). 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 170.54. 



53847. RuBus macraei A. Gray. Rosaceee. Akala. 



From Mauna Kea, Hawaii. Cuttings collected by J. F. Ro<'k. Agricultural 

 Explorer of the Department of Agriculture. Received June 7. 1921. 



" The Hawaiian giant raspberry, reddish black to purple variety, from an 

 altitude of 4..500 feet, on the Shii»man Ranch, Mauna Loa. Hawaii, Mav 13, 

 1921." (Rock.) 



For introduction of roots, see S. P. I. No. 53760. 



For an illustration of the fi-uit of this raspberry, see IMate VI. 



53848. Hyphaene THEBAicA (L.) Mart. Phcenicacese. 



Doum palm. 



Received through the United States Department of State. June 24, 1921, 



A palm 25 feet high, distributed from Upper Egypt to central Africa. The 

 stems of old trees are sometimes forked three or four times. The yellowish 

 brown, beautifully colored fruits are borne in long clusters of one to two hun- 

 dred. In Upper Egypt the poorer classes eat the fibrous, mealy fruit husk, 

 which tastes nmch like gingerbread, but is rather hard and husky. The hard 

 tough wood is used for domestic utensils. (Adapted from LhuUen n»d Moor(\ 

 Treasury of Botany, vol. 2, p. 612.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 51440. 



53849. Pixus MASSONIAXA Lambert, Pinacese. Pine. 



From Hongkong, China. Seeds collected by J. F. Rock, Agricultural Ex- 

 plorer of the Department of Agriculture. ReceivtHl June 1. 1921. 



" The Hongkong pine, the most common tree of the island of Hongkong, 

 growing well on sandy soil and nmch planted to check erosion. It is a rare 

 pine and sparingly cultivated in America. Suited for northern Florida. Col- 

 lected April, 1921." (Rock.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 34548. 



