OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1913. 47 



36662 to 36675— Continued. 



inn in Peking. Said to be a hybrid. The trunk, 5 feet above the ground, 

 measures 5 feet G inches in circumference. Chinese name Mau tau shu, meaning 

 'hairy peach tree.' Not to be used for stock, but for seed-bearing purposes." 



36666. Castanea mollissima Blume. Chestnut. 



"(No. 1893a. Peking, China. October 9 to 15, 1913.) About 250 pounds 

 of Chinese chestnuts, said to come from the Pang shan region to the northeast 

 of Peking. 



"This North China chestnut has no value as a lumber tree, being of a low- 

 branching open-headed growth, while the tree does not grow tall, specimens 

 over 40 feet in height being rare. It seems, however, much more resistant to 

 the bark-fungus disease than the American chestnut, and it might be utilized 

 in certain hybridization experiments to combine the good qualities of both the 

 American and the Chinese parents into one tree. This chestnut loves a well- 

 drained, decomposed granite soil, preferably at the foot of hills or of mountains; 

 it also seems quite averse to strong winds and thrives best in well-sheltered 

 valleys. In its native localities it is but little cultivated, the peasants being 

 content to plant a few trees here and there along the bases of hills and on sloping 

 fields, and the trees in general look much thriftier when close to rocks and 

 bowlders than when seen on fairly level fields. From the nature of the tree 

 and the climate in which it grows one might conclude that sheltered valleys 

 in the foothill section of the Rocky Mountain region will probably suit this 

 chestnut better than any other section in the United States, and some serious 

 attempts should be made to establish it in these regions as a hardy nut-bearing 

 tree." 



36667. Zea mays L. Corn. 



"(No. 1895a. Peking, China. September 29, 1913.) A variety of flint 

 maize, said to be of dwarf growth and of very early ripening habits, occupying 

 the ground only from 8 to 10 weeks. Chinese name To kwei boun tze, meaning 

 'earliest of all maize.' " 



36668. Zea mays L. Corn. 



"(No. 189Ga. Hwai-lai, Chihli Province, China. July 30, 1913.) A dwarf- 

 growing variety of white flint maize, of early ripening habits. Fit for regions 

 with short growing seasons." 



36669. Zea mays L. Corn. 

 "(No. 1897a. Sliih-men, Chihli Province, China. August 3, 1913.) An 



early-ripening variety of yellow-seeded flint maize, said to be of dwarf growth. 

 Fit for regions with short growing seasons." 



36670. Holcus sorghum L. Sorghum. 

 {Sorghum, vulgare Pers.) 



"(No. 1898a. Hwai-lai, Chihli Province, China. July 30, 1913.) A variety 

 of sorghum with reddish brown seeds borne in dense heads; growing not higher 

 than 3 to 4 feet. Of value in regions with short growing seasons. Chinese 

 name Wu ta lang kaoliang, meaning 'Tom Thumb sorghum.' ' 



36671. Holcus sorghum L. Sorghum. 

 (Sorghum vulgare Pers.) 



"(No. 1899a. Tan hwa, Chihli Province, China. September 1, 1913.) A 

 dwarf variety of sorghum with large, dense heads and reddish brown seeds. 

 Fit for regions having short growing seasons." 



