14 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPOETED. 



53958 to 53977— Continued. 



53975 and 53976. Raphanus sativus L. Brassicacete. Radish. 



53975. Shoffoin daikon. 53976. iliyashige daiJcon. 



53977. SoLANUM MELONGENA L. SolanacefK. Eggplant. 



Sandowara nagannsu. 



53978. Oryza sativa L. Poacese. Rice. 



From Chefoo, Shantung, China. Seeds presented by A. Siigden, through 

 Lester Maynard, American consul. Received August 5, 1921. 



" Glutinous rice which I got about 60 miles inland, which is said to be 

 specially good of its kind." (Sugden.) 



53979. Triticum aestivum L. Poacese. Common wheat. 



(T. vulgare Vill.) 



From Chefoo, Shantung, China. Presented by A. Sugden. Received 

 August 6, 1921. 



" Shantung is a bi-aid-producing place. The braid is made chiefly from 

 wheat straw, and I am sending you a sample of the straw and some seeds 

 of the wheat from which the straw is produced." (Sugden.) 



53980. Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott. Araceae. Taro. 



From Buitenzorg, Java. Tubers presented by Dr. W. M. Docters van 

 Leeuwen, director, Botanic Garden. Received August 8, 1921. 



"The variety Talus Ketan is softer and esteemed more highly than the 

 ordinary form of taro." (Dr. J. J. Smith, acting director.) 



"A taro having petioles of an even pale green; blade shaded with lighter 

 and darker green, without petiolar spot. The plant produces slender rhizomes 

 which run on the surface of tlie ground." (R. A. Young.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 21263. 



53981 and 53982. 



From Foochow, Fukien, China. Seeds presented by C. R. Kellogg, Fukien 

 Christian University. Received August 11, 1921. 



53981. Medicago lupulina L. Fabacete. 



Yellow trefoil, a native of Europe and Asia, is often called bla^k 

 medic from the fact that its seed pods when ripe are black. 



In addition to supplying the soil with humus and available nitrogen 

 for the use of succeeding crops, the green plants form an excellent 

 cover for the otherwise bare ground during the winter, thus retarding 

 the gullying action and erosion of the winter rains. When turned 

 under for soil improvement, a marked effect can usually be noted in 

 the yields of the succeeding crops. Yellow trefoil is better adapted for 

 pasturage than for hay, owing to its tendency to lodge, even when 

 grown in a comparatively thick stand. All kinds of stock do well on 

 yellow-trefoil pasture, since it furnishes very nutritious grazing. 

 (Adapted from note by J. M. Westgate and H. S. Coe.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 31395. 



53982. Myrica rubra Sieb. and Zucc. Myricacese. Yang mae. 



" The beautiful dark-purple fruits are the size of crab apples and can 

 be eaten out of hand or made into compotes, pies, sirup, and wine. 

 There is great variation in the habit and productivity of the trees and 

 also in the color, size, and taste of the fruits. The trees are evergreen 

 and thrive best in well-drained rocky terraces. The localities that will 

 best suit them in the United States will probably be the southern sec- 

 tions of the Gulf Coast States and the milder parts of California. 

 Chinese name yang mae." (F. N. Meyer.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 48000. 



