JANUARY 1 TO MAECH 31, 1917. 21 



44059 and 44060— Continued. 



which they produce. In otlier parts i>[' Alta Vera I'az the i»aca\ii is 

 also quite common, and it is pnnvn in the southern i)art of (Uiateuiala 

 as well. Since it succeeds here at elevations of r),(_M(0 feet or even higlier, 

 where the winters are quite ci>ol, it would seem that it ought to he 

 a success in southern California and Florida, though it is difficult 

 to predict whai: effect the sandy soil of tlie latter State may havi> 

 upon it. The palm grows to a height of 15 feet, having a slender stem 

 about 2 inches in diameter and handsome leaves, somewhat reminding 

 one of Chrysalidocarp'is lutescens (Areca lutenccns). The foliage is 

 of a rich-green color. The inflorescences are produced along the trunk 

 in the winter and spring, and apparently more or less throughout the 

 year. Before the spathe has opened it is removed from the palm 

 opened, and the tender inflorescence, nearly white in color and flnely 

 branched, is removed and eaten. Its preparation for the table con- 

 sists in dipping it in a batter made of eggs and then frying it; in 

 enveloping it in an omelet; in boiling it and serving it as a vegetable; 

 or in mixing it with otlier vegetables to form a salad. When very 

 young an<l tender its flavor is agreeable, but when older and nearly 

 ready to emerge from the spathe it has a strongly bitter taste, which 

 makes it disagreeable. It should therefore be used v^-hen quite young. 

 The pacaya palm grows in a variety of soils, seeming to do well on 

 clay and also on black sandy loam. An abundance of lime in the soil 

 does not seem to injure it. It is frequently planted in gardens among 

 coffee bushes, and in many sections it is planted beneath large trees, 

 where it has partial shade. I have seen many beneath large avocado 

 trees, interplanted with coffee l)ushes. It may be necessary to furnish 

 shade for the palms in California and Florida by means of a slat house 

 or some such device, or they might be planted beneath large trees, as 

 tliey are in Guatemala. The pacaya as an article of food is exten- 

 sively used in Guatemala and by local standards commands a good price, 

 single inflorescences usually selling at two to five for a peso (2* cents). 

 The spathes are pulled from the palms, tied together in small bundles, 

 and thus lirought to market." (Popenoe.) 



44060. ViTis TiLiAEFOLiA Humb. and Bonpl. Vitacete. Grape. 



{V. caribaca DC.) 

 "(No. 81a. Guatemala, Guatemala, December 29, 1916.) A native 

 grape sold in the markets of Guatemala. The bunches are about the 

 size of those of Yitift caribaca and the berries very similar; it .may. in 

 fact, be this species, though I do not know whether or not V. caribaca 

 occurs in Guatemala. The fruit is used to make .ielly. For trial in 

 southern Florida in connection with tlie work of producing a grape 

 adapteil to tropical and snbtr(i|(iral conditions." (Popcnoc.) 



44061. Aleurites trispp:rma Blanco. Eupliorbiacese. 



Soft lumbang. 



From the Philippine Islands. Presented by Mr. A. W. Prautch. through 

 Mr. Adn. Hernandez, director, Manila Bureau of Agriculture. Received 

 .lanuary 22, 1917. 



"Mr. Prautch has returned from his trip to Cavite Province with seeds and 

 leaves of Aleurites trisperma. The nuts were picked up under the trees, where 

 They had been lying since last August, in which month the tree fruits. As you 

 have alreadv successfully introduced Aleurites mnluccana in the United States, 



