INVENTORY OF SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED 

 BY THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN SEED AND PLANT 

 INTRODUCTION DURING THE PERIOD FROM 

 JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1914 (NO. 38; NOS. 

 3693T TO 37646). _ 



INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT. 



While plants adapted to cultivation in the Southern States pre- 

 dominate in this inventory, it is probable that something of interest 

 to nearly everyone who is experimenting with plants will be found 

 described or listed in it, and this introductory statement is designed 

 to point out certain interesting features regarding them which occur 

 to the writer even before sufficient time has elapsed since their 

 introduction to make anyone really familiar with their behavior 

 in this country. 



Whether the Kerguelen cabbage (Prinr/Jea antiscorbutica, No. 

 87554), which is a low, sprawling plant with heads of leaves some- 

 times 18 inches across, that occurs close to the seashore on Ker- 

 guelen Island, will ever thrive in this country may be a question, 

 but no doubt those interested in cabbages will be glad to test it. It 

 has a dense white heart and a taste like mustard and cress, though 

 coarser. The Lit ton (Phaseolus aureus, No. 3T0T8), a bean from 

 which in China a starch that is considered superior to corn or wheat 

 starch is prepared for laundry purposes, deserves to be investigated 

 in this country. A collection of 23 varieties of beans (Nos. 37036 to 

 37058) from Fusan, Chosen (Korea), may yield some valuable sorts 

 for cultivation in our gardens after they become acclimated. And 

 among the 98 varieties of soy beans secured through Consul General 

 Scidmore, of Seoul (Nos. 37228 to 37325), and similar collections 

 from Pyeng Yang (Nos. 37326 to 37356) and Kongju (Nos. 37306 to 

 37104), Chosen (Korea), there should be some valuable forms of this 

 remarkable food plant. The eight named varieties (Nos. 37145 to 

 37152) of Japanese udo from Kanagawa Ken propagated by cut- 

 tings will doubtless make it possible to lengthen materially the season 

 of this new spring vegetable. 



Nut growers will J)c interested in testing the English walnut 

 variety (No. 37225) which Dr. Trabut has sent in from the moun- 



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