OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1916. 9 



be produced between it and the avocado are (jucstions for the breeders 

 to decide. It is certain that breeders onpfht to have a chance to cross 

 these various species under all sorts of conditions. 



A remarkable collection of field and garden beans (Nos. 43402 to 

 43543), particularly from the Northern Circle, Burma, is presented 

 by the Deputy Director of Agriculture at Mandalay. 



The pickled mume of Japan (No. 43558), although forming part 

 of the army ration of the Japanese, is as little known in America as 

 though it were produced by a tree growing on some other planet. 

 Interest in it is being aroused mainly because of the remarkable 

 picturesqueness of the tree when in flower, but the value of its pickled 

 fruits deserves our consideration. 



Plants of the tussock grass (No. 435G4), of the Falkland Islands, 

 are presented by Mr. W. A. Harding, manager of the Falkland Islands 

 Company. It is there considered not only an excellent forage grass, 

 but is used like asparagus for hmnan food, the young shoots having 

 a nutty flavor. 



The chufa industry of southeastern Spain is an important one, and 

 the use of the small tubers for the production of the favorite beverage 

 called horchata de chufa has already attracted the attention of 

 American travelers. Consul Sprague gives a description of the 

 culture under irrigation of this peculiar tuber (No. 43578) , which con- 

 tains a very appreciable amount of vegetable fat and a form of man- 

 nite. Apparently the main obstacle to growing this tuberous-rooted 

 sedge in this country has been the difficulty of harvesting the tubers. 

 Grown as they are in Spain, this difficulty seems largely to be reduced. 



The so-called bonavist bean {Dolichos lahlab) has begim to attract 

 some attention in Florida as a cover crop for avocado and citrus 

 orchards, making a dense growth and covering the ground well with- 

 out climbing into the trees. It produces quantities of excellent beans, 

 which when properly cooked are extremely palatable. The variety 

 "Nankinicus" from Georgetown, British Guiana (No. 43594) and 

 the large collection from Burma (Nos. 43505 to 43517) introduced at 

 Mr. Piper's solicitation may bring forward varieties of better quality 

 than the common one now grown in Florida, which came from the 

 Bahamas. The bonavist bean appears to be peculiarly adapted to 

 culture in Florida and deserves the serious consideration of horticul- 

 turists there. 



A collection of rare and promising shrubs and ornamental trees 

 presented by Prof. C. S. Sargent, of the Arnold Arboretum, includes 

 many hardy and beautiful species from China and Japan collected 

 by Mr. E. H. Wilson and other explorers (Nos. 43675 to 43701, 43703 

 to 43736, and 43810 to 43925). igixty-one species of the genus Eosa 

 form a part of this collection, and these are at the disposal of the 

 rose breeders of the country both for trial as stocks and for pur- 



