INVENTORY OF SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED 

 BY THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN SEED AND PLANT 

 INTRODUCTION DURING THE PERIOD FROM 

 JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1915 (NO. 42; NOS. 

 39682 TO 40388). 



INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT. 



Owing to the disturbed condition of ocean traffic and the uncer- 

 tainty of getting perishable plant material in, no expeditious were 

 undertaken except that into the Province of Kansu, China, which 

 had been planned for two years. Nevertheless, an unusual number of 

 interesting and important plants are described in this number of the 

 inventory. Mr. Frank N. Meyer, who made the Kansu expedition, 

 although hampered by the difficulty of getting good interpreters 

 who were willing to accompany him to the borders of Tibet, suc- 

 ceeded in getting as far as the capital of Kansu Province, but was 

 obliged to retrace his steps from that point. 



He discovered a number of very interesting plants, however, among 

 which perhaps the most important will be found to be some large- 

 fruited wild freestone peaches, Amygdalus spp. (No. 40001 to 40006) ; 

 the Tangutian bush almond, Amygdalus tangutica ( Xos. 39893. 

 40010, and 40011), a species very resistant to drought and cold : a wild 

 pear, Pyrus ussuriensis (No. 40019), of the melting, juicy type, quite 

 distinct from the characteristic hard, gritty ones of China; a will 

 species of grape, Vitis sp. (No. 40026), with small bunches of black 

 edible berries; wild hardy apricots, Prunus armeniaca (Xos. 40012 

 and 40013), which may enable breeders to extend the area of success- 

 ful apricot culture farther northward; a very hardy dwarf crab 

 apple. Mains sp. (No. 39923), from an altitude of 9,000 I'eet in Kansu ; 

 a wild gooseberry, Ribes alpestre giganU um (No. 39916), growing L5 

 feet tall, found on dry embankments, a promising hedge plant for the 

 cold semiarid sections of the United States; a very vigorous-growing 

 currant. Ribes sp. (No. 30910). from 7.000 feel altitude, which makes 

 ;* hush 25 i'vvi tall; a wild cherry, Prunus setulosa (No. 39911), 

 which has possibilities as a stock plant: Potanin's peach. Amygdalus 

 persica potanini (Xos. t0007 to L0009), a bushy form resembling 

 otherwise A. daridiana, which has been so successful as a slock, hut 



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