OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1917. 39 



bush about 3 feet high, resembling our common locust in its forajre. but having 

 no spines. The plants are cut away at each clearin{? of the ground about the 

 orange trees, but soon grow again. TIks plant is said to be a good producer of 

 the nitrogen-fixing bacteria; it is said that the roots show more nodules than 

 either clover or bean roots. (Adapted from report of Mr. cJki.sc, October 19. 

 1917.) 



45480. Aleurites trispekma Blanco. Euphorbiaceae. 



Soft lumbang-. 



From the Philippine Islands. Seeds presented through Mr. Adn. Hernandez, 

 Director of Agriculture, Manila. Received November 20, 1917. 



" Soft lumbang is one of the Philippine names given to this species to distin- 

 guish it from the true lumbang, Aleurites moluccana. It is a strictly tropical 

 species of very limited distribution and is reported to fruit rather irregularly. 

 The shell of the seed is much thinner and more easily broken than that of A. 

 moluccana, and the oil obtained from the kernel is said to be very similar in 

 drying properties to that of A. for<lii,the tung-oil tree of China." (B. A. Young.) 



45481. CoLOCASiA esculekta (L.) Scliott. Araceae. Taro. 



From Japan. Seeds purchased from the Yokohama Nursery Co., Yokohama. 

 Received November 22, 1917. 



"Kimdcatsugi. A Japanese taro of the dasheen type, producing a considerable 

 number of small cormels, or tubers. It is considered by the Japanese to be one 

 of their finest varieties. The cormels are similar in appearance to those of other 

 Japanese taros tested in this country; but, though small, they are of better 

 quality." {R. A. Young.) 



45482 to 45485. 



From Porto Murtinho, Matto Grosso, Brazil. Seeds presented by Mr. C. F. 

 Mead. Received November 5, 1917. 



45482. Arachis hypogaea L. Fabacese. Peanut. 

 "This peanut, in Guarani called mandui guazu, is planted by the Indians 



and is customarily eaten, shell and all, after boiling. Plenty of space 

 (2 feet square) must be allowed each plant, and the main crop will come 

 from branches, which should be covered up from the main plant to the 

 end, leaving the tip of each branch uncovered." (Mead.) 



45483. AcEocoMiA totai Mart. Phoenicace;ie. Palm 

 "This palm, coco cordillero (mountain coco), was found on hills be- 

 tween Sapucoy and Caballero, in Paraguay. The plant is small, rarely 

 over 1 meter in height, with fruit clustered at the base." (Mead.) 



45484. Attalea guaeanitica Barb.-Rodr. Phcenicacese. Palm. 

 " Coco mbocaya, the base stock for oil, is a very valuable crop even 



as harvested here, and I see no reason why it should not do well in 

 your southern sections where citrus fruits thrive." (Mead.) 



A palm, native to tropical South America, with large, pinnate leaves 

 and with fruits that hang in large clusters; each nut consists of three 

 cells and contains as many seeds, a circumstance which serves to dis- 

 tinguish the genus from all its allies. (Adapted from Lindleij, Treas- 

 ury of Botany, pt. 1, p. 109.) 



