OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1&17, 49 



45525 to 45534— Continued. 



as room perfumers and carry them about instead of a perfumed hand- 

 kerchief. Since they possess an abundant juice of good quality, fureif;u 

 residents use these fruits for making lemonade. If it were not for the 

 many very large seeds, this fiiiit could well be sul)stituti'd for the 

 ordinary lemon ; as it is, it may be grown considerably north of the true 

 citrus belt to supply a home product from which to make refreshing 

 drinks." 



45535 and 45536. 



From Mexico. Seeds presented by Mrs. Zelia Nuttall, Casa Alvarado, 

 Coyacan, City of Mexico. Received December 5, 1917. 



45535. Amakanthus paniculatus L. Amaranthacese. Huauhtli. 



An annual, with entire leaves, bearing the abundant grainlike edible 

 seeds in dense panicles. Some plants produce white seeds, and some 

 produce black. The white seeds are those chiefly used by the natives. 

 This plant is found both in cultivation and gi-owing wild. The seeds 

 are ground atid cooked in the form of small cakes known as " alegria," 

 these cakes being eaten in large quantities by the poorer classes, espe- 

 cially during a time of scarcity of corn. This plant was cultivated by 

 the Aztecs before the discovery of America. It occupied an important 

 place in the fare of the people, and accounts show that every year 18 

 granaries, each with a capacity of 9,000 bushels, were tilled by Monte- 

 zuma. Often the tribute exacted by the Aztecs from the people they 

 conquered would take the form of a certain quantity of this grain. It 

 was so closely connected with the life of the people that it figured in 

 i-eligious observances. Spanish historians, writing in the first half of 

 the seventeenth century, give accounts of how the ancient Mexicans 

 made figures of their gods out of the flour obtained from the seed. The 

 figures were carried in processions, and at the end of the ceremony were 

 broken up and served to the people as a form of conunuuion. (Adapted 

 from Safford, Proceedings International Congress of Americanists, p. 

 286, 1911.) 



45536. Chenopodium nuttalliae Safford. Chenopodiacefe. 



Huauhtzontli. 

 " Huauhtzontli combines the properties of a cereal and a vegetable, and 

 furnishes a substantial meal. When fresh and the seeds are ' in milk,' the 

 food is, to me, delicious. I am told that it is almost as good when pre- 

 pared from the dried inflorescence." {Mrs. Nuttall.) 



45537 to 45539. 



From Panama. Republic of Panama. Seeds presented by Senor Ramon 

 Arias Feraud. Received November 30, 1917. 



45537 and 45538. Carica papaya L. Papayacese. Papaya. 



" A fine oblong papaya, with tapering ends, about 12 to IS inches long 

 and 5 to 6 inches in diameter." {Arias F^raiid.) 



45537. Male. 45538. Female. 



45539. CucuEBiTA pepo L. Cucurbitacese. Squash. 



" An edible squash, which, when well mashed and mixed with olive oil 

 and vinegar, makes a splendid salad." {Arias Feraud.) 

 C5587- 22 4 



