APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1917. 71 



44802. MicROLAENA sTipoiDEs (Labill.) R. Br, Poacese. 



Meadow rice-grass. 



From Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Purchased from Messrs. 

 Arthur Yates & Co. (Ltd). Received May 31, 1917. 



These seeds were introduced for the Office of Forage-Crop Investigations. 



A perennial, erect or ascending grass, 1 to 2 feet in lieight, with usually 

 rather short and very acute leaves, narrow panicles 3 to 6 inches long, and 1- 

 flowered spikelets. It keeps beautifully green throughout the year and will 

 live in poor soil, provided it be damp. It bears overstocking better than any 

 other native grass and maintains a close turf. It is native in Australia and 

 also in New Zealand. (Adapted from Bailey, Queensland Flora, pt. 6, p. 1872, 

 and from Maiden, Useful Native Plants of Australia, p. 9Jf.) 



44803. SoLANUM TUBEROSUM L. Solanacese. Potato. 



From Allahabad, India. Presented by Mr. William Bembower, horticul- 

 turist, Ewing Christian College. Received May 31, 1917. 



" Potato seed produced on the farm of the Agricultural Department of the 

 Ewing Christian College, Allahabad. Gathered in March, 1917. The variety or 

 varieties we have here are of inferior quality generally, and we find a little 

 difficulty in carrying them over the hot season, but we are trying to improve 

 the local kinds." {Bemhower.) 



44804 and 44805. 



From Yihsien, Shantung, China. Presented by Rev. R. G. Coonradt. Re- 

 ceived June 1, 1917. 



44804. Cannabis sativa L. Moracese. Hemp. 



" The hemp is planted here in March, in rich, black soil, and often 

 irrigated. From the fiber taken from the outside of the stalk our best 

 rope is made." {Coonradt.) 



For the use of the Office of Fiber Investigations. 



44805. Polygonum tinctorium Lour. Polygonacese. 



" The ' blue plant ' may be common in America. When mature, it is 

 put through a process to obta'in the dye with which all of our blue 

 clothes are colored." {Coonradt.) 



An annual herb commonly cultivated in dry fields in China and Japan, 

 growing to a height of 1 to 2 feet. The leaves are variable in shape, 

 ranging from long narrow to short and oval, and the pink flowers 

 are borne in spikes. The dried leaves are made into "indigo balls," from 

 which the dye is obtained. (Adapted from Useful Plants of Japan, 

 p. 101.) 



44806. Canavali GLADiATUM (Jacq.) DC. Fabacese. Sword bean. 



From Cairo, Egypt. Presented by Mr. F. G. Walsingham, horticultural 

 division, Gizeh Branch, Ministry of Agriculture. Received June 1, 1917. 



A robust, woody, perennial climbing plant, with leaves composed of three 

 roundish leaflets, 2 to 6 inches long, and axillary racemes of dark-purple 

 flowers. The scimitar-shaped pods are about a foot long and contain numerous 

 red or white seeds which resemble large beans. The young pods are sliced and 

 boiled for table use and are also pickled. Propagation is by seeds. (Adapted 

 from Lindley, Treasury of Botany, vol. 1, p. 212, and from Macmdllan, Hand- 

 book of Tropical Gardening and Planting, p. 207.) 



