8 SEEDS AND PLAXTS IMPORTED. 



54973. Hylocerels polybhizus (Weber) Britton and Rose. Cac- 



taceae. 



From Guayaquil, Ecuador. Seeds presented by Dr. Frederic W. Coding, 

 American consul general, Guayaquil. Received June 2, 1922. 



" A triangular-stemmed cactus which is very abundant in the region about 

 Guayaquil, where it may be seen climbing the trunks of various trees by 

 means of aerial roots. It is also found in sandy places in the neighborhood of 

 liiobamba. where it does not climb trees. The local name of this cactus is 

 ' pitajaya.' The roundish fruits are 5 to 7 inches long, with a thin, straw- 

 berry-red skin inclosing a mass of reddish pulp containing many small black 

 seeds. This pulp is of most delicious flavor, and from it is made a cooling 

 drink, called locally ' refresco,' which is superior to any other I have ever 

 tasted." iGodincj.) 



54974. ViciA FABA L. Fabacese. Broad bean. 



From Granada, Spain. Seeds purchased from Don .Tuan Leyva, Granada, 

 by Miss Ola Pow-ell, States Relations Service, through Gaston Smith, 

 American consul. Malaga, Spain. Received April 17, 1922. 



" Hnbas (jranadina. A large, tender bean." (Poicell.) 



Introduced for experiments in the use of broad beans as forage. 



54975. DioscoREA esculenta (Lour.) Buikill. Dioscoreacese. 



Lesser yam. 



From Mayaguez, Porto Rico. Tubers presented by T. B. McClelland, horti- 

 culturist, Porto Rico Agricultural Experiment Station. Received May 4, 

 1922. 



Potato. A .sraall-tubered ^-ariety from Africa, resembling the Irish potato 

 and known in Porto Rico as the Potato yam. In some places it is considered 

 among the best for home planting, and in a few city markets it brings good 

 prices. 



The vines of this variety are slender and round stemmed, with short, 

 strong, sharp spines ; there are two longer spines at the base of each leaf 

 petiole. The leaves appear alternately. The edible tubers develop near the 

 crown of the plant much the same as sweet potatoes. They are oval and 

 vary up to 8 inches in length and 2i inches in diameter. As they are small 

 and not easily injured, these roots can usually be kept longer after beinir 

 harvested than the large-rooted kinds. They are smootli. dark grayish brown, 

 and at a distance of a few feet are likely to be mistaken for Irish potatoes. 

 The skin is very thin and tough and may, after being broken. ))e pulled off 

 in strips resembling thin pieces of cherry bark. The interior of the tuber 

 is white, brittle, and firm and practically free from fiber when not allowed 

 to remain too long in the soil ; it is over 23 per cent starch. However, tubers 

 which are left in the soil until late in the winter sometimes have a few long 

 and rather strong, longitudinal fibers. When cooked the tubers are fine- 

 grained, tender, and sweeter in flavor than most other varieties. 



Since the small yams develop in the surface soil and are not hindered by a 

 compact subsoil, the Potato variety thrives best in rich soil and better than 

 most other varieties in clays. It yields poorly in sandy soil and in compact 

 soils produces angular or flattened tubers. 



From experiments made in planting at different distances apart it is believed 

 that 3 by 3 feet will give the best results. The variety grows well on ridges or 

 on level land where the drainage is good and the soil is loosened to a good 

 depth. (Adapted from C. F. Kinman in Bulletin 27, Porto Rico Agricultural 

 Experiment Station, p. 13.) 



54976. Fragaria sp. Rosaceae. Strawberry. 



From Irapuato. Guanajuato. Mexico. Plants presented by Luis Kan, 

 through Arthur Stockdale, Mexico City. Received May 8, 1922. 



" Irapuato is famous throughout Mexico for its strawberries, which supply 

 the markets of Mexico City and many other towns of the highlands. Terry's 

 ' Mexico ' says : ' The rich soil of the environing country is favorable to the 



