2 SEEDS AXD PIAI^TS IMPORTED. 



acquaintance with them may enable me to do it better than the 

 layman himself, and it is with this idea that I continue to prepare 

 these introductory statements. 



The cultivation of Job's-tears as a field grain crop has been pro- 

 posed for tropical and subtropical regions, but I think P. J. Wester 

 has furnished the first report of its yields. In Mindanao, where 

 several varieties are grown by the natives in a limited way, one 

 variety {Coix lacryma-johi ma-yuen; No. 49798) yielded 3,230 pounds- 

 per acre. 



The bulso (Gnetum indicum; Xo. 49799) is a climber which bears 

 brick-red fruits like grapes, each containing a seed which when 

 roasted tastes like a chestnut. In Java its close relative, G. gnemon, 

 is used as a pickle with the "rijs tavel." 



The sokwa grass of Nigeria [EcJiiimcMoa stagnina; No. 49845), 

 which, according to Alfred Thompson, is adapted to low swamp 

 lands and is so sweet that children like to chew it and horses prefer 

 it to Guinea corn, may prove • valuable for Porto Rico, Hawaii, or 

 even for the Everglades of Florida. 



The guar of Burma {Cyamovsis tetragonoloha: Nos. 49864 and 49899 

 to 49904) is, according to Professor Piper, more drought resistant 

 than any other annual legume and will grow in any part of the 

 country where cowpeas succeed; it may be utilized as hay, or pas- 

 turage, or silage; its green pods are also used as a vegetable. It 

 deserves more serious consideration than has heretofore been given it. 



Mr. Wester's introduction of the silani (Vigna lutea; No. 49870), 

 a new leguminous vine with possibilities as an orchard cover crop 

 for citrus orchards, will interest Florida growers. 



The success of the beautiful Australian vine (Cissus hypoglauca; 

 No. 49871) on Miss Kate Sessions's place at San Diego, Calif., where 

 it is one of the most attractive of pergola vines, makes its wide 

 distribution most desirable. 



H. E. .Ulanson 'calls attention to a quick-maturing variety of 

 watermelon (Citrullus vulgaris; No. 49872), the seed of which was 

 sent by Mr. Voyeikoff, of Madivostok. At Chico, Calif., it matured 

 fruits in 45 days from seed. 



Capt. F. Kingdon Ward, the English explorer, sends from the 

 Htawgav%- Hill tracts of Burma a promising plumlike fruit (No. 

 49886) which so far has not been determined botanicall}", but which 

 seems suited to regions of perpetual cool climate and rainy weather, 

 like the Puget Sound region, and is a good table fruit even in its wild 

 state. 



The Chilgoza pine (Pinus gerardiana: No. 49889), from the dry, 

 arid valleys of the northwestern Himalayas at 6,000 to 12,000 feejt 

 altitude, yields a large edible seed suited for table use, and hke our 



