JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1915. 7 



ehinensis (No. 39007), which grows to 100 feet in height and of 

 which Mr. Meyer has secured seeds in China; the wild small-fruited 

 but probably very hardy walnuts from Kansn. Juglans regia (No. 

 40016) ; and a new form of the comparatively disease-resistant- 

 Chinese chestnut with slender trunk. Castanea sp. (Nos. 40035 and 

 40036), will be of particular interest to nut specialists. 



Extensive introductions of sweet-potato varieties have been made 

 through Mr. Roig from the experiment station at Santiago de las 

 Vegas, where many trials have been conducted with this vegetable, 

 Ipomoea batatas (Nos. 31)720 to 39735, 39741 and 39712. 39799 to 

 39802, 39831 to 39833. 39941 to 39945, 40237 to 40258, and 40388). 



A Japanese gentleman visiting this country, Mr. Kuwashima, has 

 directed attention to the fact that one of the highest priced vege- 

 tables in Japan is the Mitsuba or Mitsuba-jeri, Deringa canadensis 

 (No. 39869), a native of this country as well. The young leaves 

 are eaten boiled and the roots are fried. 



Dr. Trabut has sent in a wild pear. Pyrus mamon nsis (Nos. 4o-_>97 

 and 40331), from the Moroccan forests of Maniora. which is resistant 

 to drought and thrives in sandy noncalcareous soils. 



Thirteen varieties of plum, Prunus bokhariensis (Xos. 40223 to 

 40235). adapted to the warm South, from Seharunpur, India, have 

 been sent in by Mr. Hartless. They begin fruiting in May and 

 bear for two months. 



His Majesty the Ameer of Afghanistan sent through his special 

 envoy. Mr. Jewett, a remarkable collection of dried fruits and seeds 

 representing varieties of tree and field crops which are grown in 

 his country. The most interesting of these were the samples of 

 dried white mulberry. Morns alba ( No. 4021.")). which in Afghanistan 

 is considered a very important article of food and proved upon 

 analvsis to have the food value of dried figs. As Kabul has a cold 

 winter climate and is subjected to intense summer heat, the cultiva- 

 tion of a sweet, drying variety of mulberry may be worth considering 

 for the Great Plains of this country. Those sent by the Ameer were 

 extremely palatable. 



The best market apple of southern Italy and Sicily is the Limon- 

 cella (Xo. 39829). Dr. Gustav Eisen, who sent in bud wood of it. 

 considers it superior to any variety now grown in southern Cali- 

 fornia, where it is likely to succeed best. 



Of strictly southern or subtropical introductions, the following 

 are worth mentioning: The black sapote from the [sle of Pine-. 

 Diospyros ebenaster (No. 39719) : the famous durian of Java, Durio 

 zibethinus ( Xo. 39709), noted at the same time for its delicious 

 flavor and offensive odor: ;i rare specie- of anona, Aniiomi sclero- 

 derma (Xo. 40305), front Guatemala, of richer flavor than the sour- 

 sop: the Ilarrar fig from Abyssinia, Ficus sp. (No. 39828), which 



