JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1919. 9 



The clovers represent a group of such great agricultural im- 

 portance that a new sjoecies like the one introduced from Natal 

 {Trifolium africanwm glabellum^ No. 47321) is certain to attract its 

 full share of attention. According to Mr. John Fisher, who sends 

 it from Cedara, it has proved more vigorous than any imported 

 sjDecies yet tried at Natal. 



Job's-tears have commonly attracted only the attention of those 

 who were looking for seeds from which beads can be made, but the 

 ma-yuen (Nos. 47325 and 47326), a variety from Mindanao, has thin- 

 walled seeds which, according to Mr. Wester, are used for food by the 

 natives. 



A relative of the chayote, the tacaco {Polakowshia tacaco^ No. 

 47329) of Costa Eica, is a small fruit with a single large seed in it. 

 Unlike the chayote, the fruits refuse to grow if put in the ground, 

 whereas if put on top of the ground and covered with leaves they 

 will sprout. Is there here a clue to some peculiarity worth investi- 

 gation ? 



The botanical determinations of seeds introduced have been made 

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



David Fairchild, 

 Agricultural Explorer in Charge. 



Office of Fokeign Seed and Plant Introduction, 



Washington^ D. C, October i, 1921. 

 72727—22 2 



