OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1917. 31 



45349 to 45357— Continued. 



in general appearance that it would not be taken by one unfamiliar with 

 avocados for a distinct species, but the flavor is so distinct that the 

 difference can be recognized at once. 



"In general, the coyo does not seem to be nearly so productive as the 

 avocado. Occasionally trees bear heavily, but most of them do not pro- 

 duce good crops. The season of ripening is much shorter than with the 

 avocado ; mature fruits will rarely hang on the tree more than six 

 weeks, while avocados often remain three or four months. When picked 

 and laid away to ripen, the coyo I'equires only thi-ee or four days to 

 soften, while the avocado sometimes takes eight or nine days. Among 

 the Indians of the Vera Paz region the coyo seems to be preferred to 

 the avocado." 



45355. PiMENTA sp. Myrtacese. 



"(No. 185a. Finca Chejel. Baja Vera Paz, Guatemala. October 15, 

 1917.) A small tree grown in the gardens of San Cristobal Vera Paz 

 for its aromatic seeds, which are known as pimienta and are much used 

 by the natives for seasoning. This is possibly the common allspice, 

 Pimenta officinalis, but on the chance that it may be a different species 

 a few seeds have been obtained." 



45356. RuBus ukticaefot-ius Poir. Rosacere. 



"(N'o. 186a.) Seeds of a very interesting species of Kul)ns, which I 

 have seen only in the Vera Paz region. It is common about Puruln. 

 Tactic, and San Cristobal, and I have seen it as far east as Sepacuite. 

 It occurs at altitudes of approximately 3,000 to 6,000 feet. There is 

 another wild Rubus in this region which is more common, but its fruits 

 are much more seedy and of acid flavor. 



" This plant sends up strong, rather stiff canes, sometimes 10 or 15 feet 

 in length. They are covered abundantly with reddish spines, the young 

 branchlets appearing coarsely hairy. Tlie leaves are trifoliolate (dis- 

 tinguishable by this means from the other species, whose leaves are 

 composed of five leaflets) and velvety in texture. The leaflets are ovate 

 acinninate, about 3 inches long, and finely serrate. 



" The flowers, which are rather small, are produced in large terminal 

 racemes. The fruits are not as large as in many wild blackberries, being 

 scarcely more than half an inch in length ; but they are of delicious flavor, 

 and the seeds are so soft that they are scarcely felt in the mouth. In 

 this latter respect the species is a marked contrast to the others seen in 

 Guatemala, the seeds of wild blackberries being usually very large 

 and hard. 



" The plant bears abundantly, and the sweetness of the fruits makes 

 them very desirable for eating in the fresh state. This Rubus can be 

 strongly recommended for trial in the southern United States." 



45357. SoBRAtiA sp. Orchidacese. 



"(No. 187. Finca Chejel, Baja Vera Paz, Guatemala. October 15, 

 1917.) Plants of a handsome terrestrial orchid found on rocky banks in 

 the vicinity of Tucuru, Alta Vera Paz. It grows about 3 feet in height, 

 and produces at the apex of each stalk a handsome lilac-purple flower, 

 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Should be tried in southera Florida." 



