OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1917. 67 



45598 to 45604— Continued. 



45603 and 45604. Rheiu)ia lateriflora L. Clusiacese. 



(Trinidad, British West Indies, July 31, 1917. Seed presented to Dr. 

 Fassig by Mr. J. B. Rorer.) 



"The hatstand tree is a name which is said to be given to Rheedia 

 lateriflora. It is common in the woods of Trinidad and is noted for its 

 regular branching character when young. A small tree of 8 or 10 feet 

 will often have as many as 20 or more branches of even size thrown out 

 at regular and close intervals, at an angle of 45 degrees from the main 

 stem. It is frequently cut, placed in a heavy base, and used as a hat- 

 stand; and when shortened into a pyramidal form and nicely trimmed 

 and polished, it serves exceedingly well for the purpose." (J. R. Jack- 

 son, The Garden, July 25, 1903.) 



45605. Polygonum tinctorium Lour. Polygonacese. 



From China. Seeds collected by Mr. Frank N. Meyer, Agricultural Ex- 

 plorer for the Department of Agriculture. Received October 6, 1917. 

 "(No. 2443a. Hankow, China. June 14, 1917.) An annual herb, much cul- 

 tivated throughout northern and central China for the blue dye it produces, 

 which, however, fades easily. It is sown on rich lands toward the end of 

 February, and the first cutting is made during June, and a much smaller one 

 during August. Farther north the sowing takes place later and but one cutting 

 can be obtained. To procure the dye material the plants are deposited in 

 plastered pits, water is poured over them, and they are allowed to decay for 

 several weeks ; then the stems are taken out and the water is allowed to 

 evaporate. When at last the slimy mass in the pit has become sufficiently dry, 

 quicklime is added and thoroughly mixed, and the material is allowed to dry 

 out until it can be well worked. It is then taken out and kept in tubs, barrels, 

 and other vessels until needed for dyeing. The fi-eshly dyed cloth possesses 

 a most unpleasant odor which can often be detected for a considerable dis- 

 tance. Gradually, however, the wind takes away the odor and the cloth can 

 then be made into garments. The dye seems to be used almost exclusively for 

 the dyeing of coarse cotton cloth. Chinese name of the plant Liao Ian." 

 ( Meyer. ) 



45606. Pyrus betulaefolia Bunge. Malacese. Pear. 



From Jamaica Plain, Mass. Seeds presented by the Arnold Arboretum. 

 Received November 28, 1917. 

 A slender, quick-growing, graceful tree, 20 to 30 feet high, with gray-felted 

 young branches and round-ovate, long-pointed, coarsely toothed, lustrous leaves. 

 The white flowers, three-fourths of an inch across, are borne in clusters of 8 

 to 10 and are followed by grayish brown, white-dotted fruits the size of peas. 

 The Chinese use this species as a stock for the larger fruited pears. (Adapted 

 from Bean, Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles, vol. 2, p. 279.) 



45607. Smilax sp. Smilacaceae. Sarsaparilla. 



From Kingston, Jamaica. Roots presented by Mr. W. Harris, Hope Gar- 

 dens, Department of Agriculture. Received December 20, 1917. 

 This plant is used in Jamaica as a source of the sarsaparilla of commerce. 



