NOVEMBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1919. 61 



and chests ; when reduced to ashes it is a valuable source of potash. Tlie roots 

 are nutritious, and are eaten by piss; tlie barii of the roots is medicinal. 

 (Adapted from Correa, Flora do Brazil, p. 71.) 

 For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 42542. 



48976 to 48979. 



From Adelaide, South Australia. Purchased from E. & W. Hackett, Ltd. 

 Received December 12, 1919. 



48976. Agrostis nebulosa Boiss. and Rent. Poacese. Grass. 



" Bouquet grass. A slender perennial grass, native to the Mediter- 

 ranean region, grown chiefly as an ornamental for dry bouquets. It has 

 little promise as forage, but may be useful as a turf grass." (C. V. 

 Piper. ) 



48977. AsTREBLA TRiTicoiDES (Lindl.) F. Muell. Poacese. Grass. 



"Mitchell ff7-ass. This is a perennial, native to Australia, where it is 

 highly valued as a range grass and to some extent has been brought into 

 cultivation. Experiments with it thus far in the United States have not 

 shown that it is of any particular promise under the conditions tried, but 

 in view of its high value in Australia further investigations of Jhis kind 

 are being carried on. Like many of our native western grasses, cattle 

 fatten on the grass even after it is entirely dried." (C. V. Piper.) 



48978 and 48979. Oryzopsis miliacea (L.) Benth. and Hook. Poacefe. 



Grass. 



48978. " Smilo grass. A perennial grass, native to the Mediter- 

 ranean region, and in Australia it is known as veld grass. In Cali- 

 fornia it has been called smilo grass, San Diego grass, mountain 

 rice, and many-flowered millet. Under Californian conditions it 

 has exhibited considerable promise and may prove to be an im- 

 portant grass. It has been generally introduced into Australia and 

 New Zealand, where it possesses considerable merit." {C. V. 

 Piper.) 



48979. Received as Piptatherum thomasi. 



48980. ^Ientha piperita L. Menthacese. Peppermint. 



From Sapporo, Japan. Rhizomes presented by Mr. Koji Abiko, agronomist, 

 Hokkaido Agricultural Experiment Station. Received December 12, 1910. 



"Alxamura peppermint, the Japanese variety which yields the most oil. The 

 name Akamura means that the plant has red stalks and round leaves. This is 

 the best variety and the one most popularly cultivated in Hokkaido." (Abiko.) 



Introduced for experimental purposes. 



48981. Canarium iNDicuM Stickm. Balsameacese, Kanari. 



(C commune L.) 



From Buitenzorg, Java. Purchased from Mr. R. D. Rands, Department of 



Agriculture. Received December 13, 1919. 



The Java almond, cultivated in the Dutch Indies on account of its seeds, 



which resemble in form the almonds of Prunus amygdaln^ ; they are somewhat 



longer than these almond kernels, with a slanting surface at the top and two 



wartlike protuberances on the under side toward the tip. From the kernels, 



65.73 per cent oil can be obtained by extraction with petroleum ether ; by 



79252—22 5 



