68 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



tiou of Totonicapam and the consequent lack of heat, the fruits are very slow 

 in reachinfi maturity. The season of ripening is from September until the end 

 of the year, but the fruits which ripen at this time are those from the pre- 

 vious year's bloom- — that is. flowers which appeared in May, 1916, developed 

 fruits which were not fully ripe until September or October, 1917. 



" The fruit is of medium size, of attractive pyriform shape, .smooth, and 

 green in color. The flesh is of good quality, free from fiber, and the seed is 

 comparatively small. It can be considered a fruit of very good quality and 

 desirable from other points of view than tliat of its probable hardiness. 



" Following is a formal description of this variety : Form pyriform. rather 

 islender, and slightly necked ; size medium, weight 12 ounces, length 4f inches, 

 greatest breadth 3 indies ; base tapering, narrow, the stem inserted almost 

 squarely without depression ; stem 3* inches long, stout ; apex rounded, slightly 

 depressed around the stigmatic point ; surface smooth or nearly so, light green 

 and almo.st glossy, with numerous yellow dots ; skin moderately thick, about 

 one-sixteenth of an inch, woody and brittle; flesh deeii-cream color, changing 

 to pale green near the skin, free from fiber, and of very rich flavor ; quality ex- 

 cellent ; seed rather small, conical, weighing about li ounces, tight in the cavity, 

 with both seed coats adhering closely." (Popenoe.) 



See also Exploring Guatemala for Desirable New Avocados, Annual Report 

 of the California Avocado Association, 1917, p. 125, fig. 21 ; reprint, 1918, p. 24, 

 fig. 20; and The Avocado in Guatemala, U. S. Department of Agriculture Bulle- 

 tin No. 743, p. 50. 



44786. Cryptostegia grandiflora R. Br. Asclepiaflacea*. 



Palay rubber. 



From Old Fort, New Providence, Bahamas. Presented by Mr. W. F. Doty, 

 American consul, Nassau, Bahamas, who secured it from Dr. Charles S. 

 Dolley. Received May 24, 1917. 

 A twining shrub, native of India, but cultivated in many places in the Tropics 

 for the rubber obtained from the sap. It lias opposite, elliptic leaves and termi- 

 nal cymes of large reddish purple flowers which bloom all the year. The leaves 

 and stems contain an abundance of latex which yields a quantity of rubber esti- 

 mated at 2 per cent of the weight of the fresh plant. From the bast fiber of the 

 inner bark a good quality of wrapping paper has been made. The seed coma 

 furnishes a silky floss which can be made into an excellent felt. Propagation 

 is by seeds. (Adapted from C. S. Dolley, On the Occurrence of Palay RuMer in 

 Mexico, India-Rubber Journal, May 20, 1911.) 



44787 to 44789. 



From Ranchi, India. Presented by Mr. A. C. Dobbs, Deputy Director of 

 Agriculture, Chota Nagpur Division. Received May 24, 1917. 



44787. Bkassica campestris sarsox Praiu. Bra.ssicaceje. Sarson. 



An erect annual of rigid habit, cultivated in many places in India for 

 the seeds. There are two forms — one with erect pods and one with 

 pendent pods, the former being the true sarson and the latter being 

 found commonly only in northern Bengal and eastern Tirhut. The seed 

 is sown in September, either broadcast or in parallel lines, usually with 

 wheat or barley, and the plants are cut soon after the harvest of the 

 associated crop. Sarson is very liable to be attacked by insects and 



