JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1917. 7 



heavily. Recent information indicates that the silk from silkworms 

 fed upon the leaves of this plant is different from ordinary silk 

 and that lute strings made from it give ai clearer tone than those 

 made of silk spun by silkworms fed on the ordinary mulberry leaves. 

 This fact doubtless will be of interest to all those studying the influ- 

 ence of foods upon the secretions of animal bodies. Silk being a 

 typical protein, like the white of eggs or the casein of milk, facts 

 discovered regarding changes in its character might have a bearing 

 upon the studies of the changes in the character of other proteins. 



A wild bush tomato {Lycopersicon eseulentum^ No. 44245), with 

 wrinkled fruits, from Panama, where it appears, according to Mr. 

 O. W. Barrett, to be resistant to wilt {Bacillus solanacearum) . 



A collection of Chinese peach varieties {Amygdalus spp., Nos. 

 44253 to 44266) from Kiangsu Province, China, secured through the 

 Rev. Lacy L. Little, of Kiangyin, among them one variety from the 

 famous Lushang Gardens. 



In Nairobi, British East Africa, the inner bark of Strychnos 

 spinosa (No. 44019) appears to be used successfully as an antidote 

 for snake bites and deserves to be investigated. The fact that this 

 plant grows so successfully in southern Florida, where rattlesnakes 

 and moccasins are frequent, may make the wide distribution which 

 has been made of it a thing well worth while. In any event, it de- 

 serves study from this new point of view. 



The pepino {Solarium muricatuni, Nos. 44021 and 44022) appears 

 to be represented in Ecuador by two distinct varieties, one white and 

 the other purple. As this is a fruit of excellent quality, practically 

 seedless, and adapted for salads, it seems a pity that a more thorough 

 test of it has not been made in America. Enough ought to be pro- 

 duced- to place it on our markets for several years, for a fruit which 

 has become so popular in the Canary Islands surely has a chance in 

 America. 



A new annual legume {Aeschynomene sp.. No. 44040), for soil 

 fertilization, from Costa Rica, which, though not certainly a forage 

 crop, is reported to have unusual quantities of nitrogen-collecting 

 nodules on its roots. 



Sixteen distinct species or hybrids of the genus Pyrus (Nos. 44041 

 to 44056), from the Arnold Arboretum. These deserve a thorough 

 trial as stocks for the cultivated pear. This is particularly interest- 

 ing at this time, when the question of shutting out European-grown 

 nursery stock and the creation of a more uniform root system for 

 our orchard trees appear as problems of great importance. 



Few shrubs strike the American visitor to England as adding 

 more to the charm of the grounds of small cottages than do the 

 cotoneasters, which are extensively used in dooryards. Many of 

 those used in England are tender here, but certain of the Chinese 



