OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1917. 29 



45348. HoLCus sorghum L. Poacege. Sorghum. 



{Sorghum vulgare Pers.) 

 From Johannesburg, Union of South Africa. Presented by the Agricultural 

 Supply Association, Ltd., through Mr. J. Burtt Davy, botanist. Received 

 November 1, 1917. 



" Kafir corn grown by the natives in the Vereeniging district of tlie Trans- 

 vaal, and claimed by them to be earlier in maturing than any other sorts grown 

 in the neighborhood. This strain may prove of inmien.se value in areas 'having 

 a short growing season. The rainfall at Vereeniging averages about 27 inches 

 and comes almost entirely in the summer." (Davy.) 



45349 to 45357. 



From Guatemala. Collected by Mr. Wilson Jopenoe, Agricultural Explorer 

 for the Department of Agriculture. Received November G, 1917. Quoted 

 notes by Mr. Popenoe. 



45349. Chamaedoeea sp. Phcenicacese. Pacayito. 



" (No. 174a. Finca Chejel, Baja Vera Paz, Guatemala. October 15, 

 1917.) Seeds of the pacayito, of which plants have been sent in under 

 No. 174 [S. P. I. No. 44994]. These seeds are from the garden of Doiia 

 Ines Dieseldorff, in Coban, and are from the taller, more slender, and 

 more graceful of the two probable species included under No. 174 [S. P. I. 

 No. 44994]." 



45350. Chayota edulis Jacq. Cucurbitacete. Chayote. 

 (Sechium ecliile Swartz.) 



" (No. 181a. Finca Chejel, Baja Vera Paz, Guatemala. October 15, 

 1917.) Seeds of a rather small variety but little larger than a hen's 

 egg. It is a waxy white in color, oval or subpyriform in shape, spineless. 

 and considered by the Guatemalans a very choice vegetable. 



" This variety of giiisquil or chayote from San Cristobal Vera Paz is 

 known as penilero, or as chima in the Kekchi dialect, which is that 

 spoken in tlie Alta Vera Paz region." 



See notes under S. P. I. Nos. 43393 to 43401 for further data in re- 

 gard to the various forms of chayotes found in Guatemala. 



45351. Inga sp. Mimosacese. 



" (No. 183a. Finca Chejel, Baja Vera Paz, Guatemala. October 15. 

 1917.) CojiniquU. Seeds of an indigenous species of Inga counnou 

 along watercourses in Alta Vera Paz and also planted for shade in 

 coffee plantations. The tree is medium sized, reaching about 40 feet in 

 height, with a broad, open crown and scant foliage. The leaves are 

 large, compound, with three to four pairs of leaflets. The fruits, which 

 are produced in abundance during September and October, are slender 

 pods about 6 inches in length. They contain 6 to 10 irregularly oblong, 

 dark-green seeds, each surrounded by white, jellylike pulp of sweet, 

 aromatic flavor, strikingly suggestive of the lychee (LitcJii chincitsis). 

 AVhile the quantity of pulp is not great, the flavor is really excellent, 

 and the fruit seems to be popular among the inhabitants of the region. 



"Though it is not anticipated that this fruit will become of com- 

 mercial importance in the United States, the species is well worthy of 

 trial by plant fanciers in Florida for the interest which it possesses." - 



