JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1922, 29 



54918 and 54919. 



From Tripoli. Libia, Africa. Seeds presi-ntecl by Dr. E. O. Feii/.i. i deceived 

 Marcli 22, 1922. Quoted notes by Doctor Fenzi. 



These are the wild forms of well-known evergreens and may difTcM- from the 

 Tarieties now cultivated. Both are native to Cyrenaica. 



54918. Cltpressus sempervirexs L. Pinacere. Cypress. 



" This is first found at about 650 feet elevation, but grows at Its best 

 above 1,300 feet, where trees 100 feet high and showing the same 

 branching habit as the old cedars of Lebanon are not rare. They are 

 confined to the northern slope of the Cyrenaican plateau, where pre- 

 cipitation is much greater than on the southern slope." 



54919. .TuNiPERUS PHOENICEA L. Pinacefe. Juniper. 



" The Juniperus is much more plentiful than the Cupressus, so much 

 so as to constitute about 60 per cent of the whole woody vegetation be- 

 tween sea level and 2.600 feet elevation. It may become over 30 feet in 

 height, but is generally smaller. The wood of both species is quite heavy 

 and practically indestructible." 



54920 to 54922. 



From Mount Silinda, Southern Rhodesia, Africa. Seeds presented by Dr. 

 W. L. Thompson. Received March 22, 1922. Quoted notes by Doctor 

 Thompson. 



54920. Khaya nyasica Stapf. Meliacese. \African mahogany. 



" The red mahoffany is one of our most valuable timber trees and is 

 widely distributed over Mozambique. It is fairly rapid in growth, 

 though not equal to some of the eucalypts in this respect. It is found 

 most often growing near streams, but also on high ground at a distance 

 from water. The timber is very durable and is not attacked by white 

 ants or borers." 



A huge tree. 150 feet or more in height, with a very straight trunk 

 and an enormous crown of handsome glossy foliage which is not eaten 

 to any extent by locusts. The hard red timber has a beautiful grain 

 and is easily worked. The seeds are boiled and crushed by the natives, 

 who u.se the resulting oil in their hair to kill vermin. The tree is 

 native to Gazaland, Mozambique, where its native name is umbaba. 

 (Adapted from Journal of the Linnean Society, vol. .'fO (Botany), p. ^2.) 



54921. Strychnos mellodora S. Moore. Loganiacere. 



" The Strychnos is also prized by us for its timber, which is fine 

 grained and strong, and is used here for tool handles. It is not so large 

 a tree as the red mahogany, not usually more than a foot or 15 inches 

 in diameter. It is mucii more free from the attacks of insects than the 

 uknhla and not so completely immune as the red mahogany." 



54922. Teichilia chikindensis Swynn. and Baker. Meliacese. 



" The uknhla is a fine timber tree except for the fact that white ants 

 and borers attack the wood. I have some bookshelves made of this lum- 

 ber over 20 years ago which have not been touched by borers since, 

 though they have some borer holes in them, made previous to the lumber 

 being made up into shelves. This immunity is due to chance treatment, 

 lying out in the storms during our rainy season, not to controlled con- 

 ditions. We have tried soaking the lumber in a pond, but so far have 

 not learned to control conditions so as to be uniformly successful. The 

 seeds are partially covereil with a white pulp, inclosed by a bright-red 

 skin, having a nutty flavor, and although there is very little of it on 

 each seed the natives are very fond of it. An oil is also obtained from 

 the seeds. I once obtained some of it from a native; it was quite solid 

 like tallow, and I attempted to make candles of it, but when melted 

 it did not harden again at once on cooling." 



