APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1921. 11 



52898 to 52900. 



From Nice, France. Presented by Dr. A. Robertson Proschowsky, Jardin 

 d'Acclimatation. Received April 18, 1921. Quoted notes by Doctor Pros- 

 chowsky. 



52898. Amygdalus persica T/. Amygdalacese. Peach. 

 (Pninus persica Stolies.) 



" Seeds of varieties of peaches from Laos, French Indo China." 



52899. Cyperus escltlentus L. Cyperacooe. Chufa. 



" Tubers which can be kept in sand in perfect state for months and 

 which have a very good taste like very sweet almonds. The plant grows 

 with the greatest facilitj', does not require much moisture, and yields an 

 abundant crop. When the tubers are planted in March the crop is ripe 

 in October and November." 



For previous inti'oduction, see S. P. I. No. 43578. 



52900. Malus laosensis (Cardot) Cheval. Malacese. Laos apple. 

 (Pyrus laosensis Cardot.) 



Seeds of an interesting species of apple growing wild on the high 

 plateaus of Indo China at Tranninh at an altitude of 1,500 meters and 

 also on certain mountains of the Tonking. It is a large tree which pro- 

 duces fruit similar in shape, color, and flavor to certain cider pears of 

 Normandy. A drink has been made of it the color of which recalls 

 the Normandy pear cider. Although this species grows in the dense 

 forest and is uncared for by the mountain people, it may have been cul- 

 tivated and improved in the past. The trees from which this seed was 

 obtained may be remnants of specimens cultivated as sacred trees around 

 certain Laos pagodas where the priests cared for them. (Adapted from 

 Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Stances de I'Acad&mie dcs Sciences, 

 Paris, vol. 110, p. 1129.) 



52901. SoLANUM TUBEEOSUM L. Solanacese. Potato. 



From Reading, England. Tubers presented by Sutton & Sons. Received 

 April 20, 1921. 



" Dunnotar Castle. The crop yielded over 13 tons per acre." (SuttOii.) 



For use in breeding work. 



52902. Calamus sp. Phoenicaceae. * Rattan palm. 



From Lamao, Bataan, Philippine Islands. Seeds presented by Adn. 

 Hernandez, Director of Agriculture. Received April 26, 1921. 



" Bejuco seed." (Hernandez.) 



For a discussion of rattan palms in the Philippines, see Brown and Merrill, 

 Philippine Palms and Palm Products, pages 34 to 54, 



52903 and 52904. 



From Nairobi, Kenia, Africa. Seeds presented by Alexander Holm, Direc- 

 tor of Agriculture. Received April S, 1921. 



52903. Capriola sp. PoacefE. Grass. 

 " Probably an undescribed species of Capriola." {C. V. Piper.) 



52904. Capriola sp. Poacete. Grass. 

 "Apparently a mixture of two species of Capriola." (C. V. Piper.) 



52905. DioscoREA esculenta (Lour.) Burkill. Dioscoreacese. 



Lesser yam. 



From Dominica, British West Indies. Tubers presented l)y A. Kt\vs, act- 

 ing curator. Botanic Gardens. Received April 11, 1921. 



"Silver. This yam is better known locally as the 'Silk yam.'" (Keys.) 

 "A small-tubered, smooth, tough-skinned yam having white flesh of good 

 quality." (R. A. Young.) 



