APRIL 1 TO MAY 31, 1920. . 11 



49841 and 49842— Continued. 



reaches flowering stage. These seeds are about 2 years old. I have raised 

 plants from this lot within the past month. Ten degrees of frost should not 

 hnrt them when above the seedling stage." 



49842. Eucalyptus ficifolia F. Muell. Myrtacese. 



"A western Australian plant, commonly known as the red flowering gum. 

 It will take at least five or six years to reach the flowering stage, but it is a blaze 

 of scarlet when it does. The few trees I have seen flowering in the vicinity of 

 Sydney were not above 10 to 15 feet high, with about the same spread. I think 

 that they have been checked to make them spread. They grow in any fair soil, 

 and 10 degrees of frost should not hurt the plants when above seedling stage. 

 The seed takes three years to ripen, though I have just raised a plant or two from 

 2-year-old capsules grown near here." 



A rare and showy plant with a striking display of brilliant scarlet flowers in 

 branching heads. They are produced from a cup-shaped receptacle provided 

 with a capsule which falls off as the flowers expand. \Mien the flower is fully 

 open the green interior of the receptacle is seen, which adds to the beauty of 

 the flower. The gray-gi-een leaves, with red midribs, are also handsome. 

 (Adapted fi'om The Garden, vol. 71, -p. 441-) 



49843 to 49846. 



From Yola, Northern Provinces, Nigeria. Seeds presented by Alfred Thompson' 

 Received April 2, 1920. Quoted notes by Mr. Thompson. 



49843. Annona senegalensis Pers. Annonacese. ■ Abo. 

 "The natives call this 'wild papaw.' It is the nicest wild fruit we have in 



our part of Africa." 



"A shrub or tree, sometimes attaining a height of 8 meters, indigenous to a 

 large part of tropical Africa. It ascends Mount Ruwenzori to an altitude of 

 2,600 meters. The fruit is 4.5 centimeters in diameter, yellowish or orange 

 colored, and much esteemed by some travelers. It is believed that the wood 

 of this species was used by the negro tribes on the upper Nile for making fire by 

 friction as early as 2,900 B. C." (P. /. Wester.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 47214. 



A fruiting shrub of this species is shown in Plate I. 



49844. Arachis hypogaea L. Fabacese. Peanut. 

 "They grow a lot of peanuts in this part of Africa, but! do not think they are 



as good as those grown in America." 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 47865. 



49845. EcHiNOCHLOA stagnina (Retz.) Beauv. Poacese. Grass. 

 "The natives call this grass 'sokwa.' It is the best kind of grass we have in 



this part of Africa. The horses as a rule will eat this grass before they will eat 

 guinea corn. It is sweet like sugar cane, and the children like to chew it. It 

 grows in low swamp land and in the wet season is often covered with 7 feet of 

 water. When the water goes down the natives cut it or turn the cattle on it. 

 One thing against it is that it grows to a height of about 7 feet and when the 

 water goes down it lodges so that to cut it with a machine would be very hard." 

 For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 48427. 



49846. GossYPiuM sp. Malvaceae. Cotton. 

 "The African cotton is very poor, as you can see by the specimen I am sending 



you." 



