LIBKAKY 



NEW YURSt 



BOTANKCAL 



UAKOKN 



INVENTORY OF SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED BY 

 THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN SEED AND PUNT INTRO- 

 DUCTION DURING THE PERIOD FROM JANUARY 1 

 TO MARCH 31, 1922 (NO. 70; NOS. rMTi TO r,49f)8). 



INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT. 



Although a small inventory, as inventories go, this seventieth one 

 has many new plants which are worthy of mention. 



The ka-a he-e {/Stevla rehaudiana, No. 54677J of Paraguay seems 

 to merit serious consideration as a new source ot sweetening, particu- 

 larly for diabetics, since its glucosid has a sweetening power 150 to 

 200 times greater than that of sugar. The fact that it has never been 

 cultivated should not deter us from attempting its culture, and since 

 it grows somewhat like our ironweeds it might be harvested by ma- 

 chinery. Glucosids differ from sugars in that they are not foods. 



The jaragua grass from Brazil {('i/7nhopogon rufus, No. 54679) is 

 a tall, leafy bunch-grass which can be grazed or cut for hay. It is 

 already being extensively tried in southern Florida. 



The molasses grass {Melinis minutiflora, No, 54G80) of Brazil, one 

 of the best forage gi-asses of that country, appears to have a great 

 future on the sandy lands of Florida, At first, cattle there refused 

 to eat it, but it has been learned that they were turned out to pasture 

 on it after it had become old and coarse. When this grass is young, 

 cattle are very fond of it. 



The chirimoriiion {Aimona sp., No, 54682) according to H. Pittier, 

 of Caracas, is by far the most delicious of the anonas, and it may 

 become another delicate fruit for southern Florida and our island 

 possessions, 



Mesua ferrea (No. 54687), a large, handsome tropical tree with 

 blood-red young foliage, large white scented flowers, and seeds 

 which yield a perfumed oil, may easily add another glory to the 

 tropical vegetation of southern Florida, 



Solanum pierreanum (No, 54695), the olombe of French Equato- 

 rial Africa, whose fire-red fruits the size of walnuts are eaten by the 

 Pahouins, or natives of Gabon colony, might possibly be crossed with 

 the tomato. 



The chilacayote {Cucurhita -flcifolia^ No, 54700), a member of the 

 ' cucumber family from Mexico, the fruits of which resemble small 

 I watermelons and are used for pie and for making conserves, may be 



well worth growing in the vegetable gardens of the South, 

 ^ Eugenia hlotzschiana (No. 54702), the pera do campo, is a pear- 

 "^ shaped fruit which was first featured by Dorsett and Popenoe in their 

 "-^introductions from Brazil because of its most unusual fragrance. 



