90 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



39185 and 39186— Continued. 



very distinct from the heart wood, which is colored dark red, odor very 

 strongly aromatic, characteristic. This wood, compact, with fine grain 

 and susceptible of beautiful polish, is largely used for the manufacture 

 of furniture, doorframes, for beams which resist decay, and for the 

 manufacture of pencils. For this last use Schweinfurth has found it 

 superior to the American species, but so far as I know no experiments 

 have been made. . . . The indestructibility of this wood is such that 

 it resists intact the dissolving action of the atmospheric agents, of in- 

 sects, and of fungi, even after several years, since the tree has been cut, 

 fallen, and left in the forest." (Adriano Fiori, Boschi e Piante 1e</twse 

 del V Eritrea.) 



39186. Rosa abyssinica R. Br. Rosacea. Rose. 



Distribution. — A white-flowered climbing rose, probably a form of the 

 musk. rose (R. moschata Miller), found in Abyssinia. 



39187. Rubus rosaefolids Smith. Rosacea. Raspberry. 



From Port Louis, Mauritius. Presented by Mr. G. Regnard. Received 

 August 31, 1914. 



"Seeds of our yellow-fruited Rubus. This variety is very scarce, probably 

 because they are generally planted together with the common red variety with 

 which it becomes cross-fertilized very easily, and the red predominates. I 

 should therefore advise you to have these planted at a good distance from the 

 red variety. The sowing of the yellow variety should be made in a rich soil 

 and the plants cultivated in sheltered deep soil in the shade and well watered 

 when in want of rain. The Rubus grows naturally by roots." {Regnard.) 



39188 to 39190. 



From Mayaguez, Porto Rico. Presented by Mr. W. E. Hess, plant propa- 

 gator, Porto Rico Agricultural Experiment Station. Received August 29, 

 1914. Quoted notes by Mr. Hess. 



39188. Acrista monticola Cook. Phoenieacete. Palm. 



"Palma de Sierra. The mountain palm of Porto Rico covers many 

 mountain slopes, especially in the eastern part of the island between 

 2,000 and 3,000 feet above sea level. It apparently thrives in this very 

 humid, cool atmosphere and usually forms a clear stand. This palm 

 greatly resembles .-lreca bauerii, grown to a great extent as a decorative 

 palm in greenhouses, and young plants of Acrista are equally attractive. 

 The bud of the mountain palm furnishes a good cabbage, but is not as 

 sweet as those of the royal palm. Its black fruits are the size of a 

 cherry and are relished by hogs." 



39189. Aekia attenuata Cook. Phoenicacea?. Llume palm. 



" The tallest of Porto Rico palms, reaching a height of 60 to 100 feet. 

 Its foliage resembles the royal palm, but is shorter; the trunk never 

 exceeds 6 to 8 Inches in diameter. This palm is found only on limestone 

 hills and usually feeds upon nothing but the humus collected in the 

 cracks of these rocks. The large bunches of orange-red berries, which 

 are the size of a small cherry, are very attractive and are fed to chickens 

 and hogs." 



