4 SEEDS AXD PLANTS IMPORTED. 



the beauty of its fruits is so great that some enthusiast ought to devote 

 his spare time for a score of years to its dissemination. 



The neem tree of India {Asadlrachta indica; Xo. 46573), which 

 Mr. Lane sends, is related to the Chinaberry tree, but bears dark- 

 purple fruits. It should interest foresters if it grows anything like 

 as fast as its relative, for its Avood is reported to resemble mahogany. 

 Its fruits furnish a medicinal oil and its sap is made into a cooling 

 drink. 



The Xew Zealand rimu {Dacrydium cupressinum,' Xo. -46575) , seeds 

 of which Mr. AVright sends from Auckland, must be a most striking 

 conifer, resembling, it would seem, a drooping yew. with beautiful 

 red-cupped berries. 



Xos. 46576 to 46586 describe eleven named varieties of oriental 

 pears {Pyrus spp.) which were personally selected by Prof. F. C. 

 Reimer, the pear expert of the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Sta- 

 tion, during his recent exploration of eastern Asia. Should pear- 

 blight ever stop the profitable culture of the European pear in Amer- 

 ica, these oriental varieties and the hybrids between them and the 

 European forms would probably take their place. They are, there- 

 fore, of great interest and deserve the widest trial over the country. 



The botanical determinations of seeds introduced have been made 

 and the nomenclature determined by Mr. H. C, Skeels< while the 

 descriptive and botanical notes have been arranged by Mr. G. P. 

 Van Eseltine, who has had general supervision of this inventory. 

 The manuscript has been prepared by Miss Esther A. Celander. 



Dam:d Fairchlld, 

 Agricultural Explorer in Charge. 



Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction. 



Washington^ D. C, September 26, 1921. 



