APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1915. 79 



40776 to 40782. 



From Nice, France. Presented by Dr. A. Robertson Proschowsky. Received 

 May 15, 1915. Quoted notes by Dr. Proschowsky, except as otherwise 

 indicated. 



40776. Albizzia moluccana Miq. Mimosacese. 



For previous introduction and description, see S. P. I. No. 25783. 



40777. Alpinia nutans (L.) Roscoe. Zinziberacese. Shell flower. 



"A magnificent ornamental plant, quite hardy here." 

 " Striking plant, reaching 10 to 12 feet, with long lanceolate, glabrous, 

 long-veined leaves ; flowers orchidlike, yellow with pink, sweet scented, 

 in a long drooping terminal spikelike raceme. Fine for foliage masses 

 and an old favorite. Said to grow 20 feet high in southern California in 

 rich soil with plenty of water and to bloom continuously." {Bailey, 

 Cyclopedia of Horticulture, vol, 1, p. 265.) 



40778. Amerimnon sissoo (Roxb.) Kuntze. Fabacese. 

 (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.) 



"A deciduous tree of the sub-Himalayan tracts from the Indus to 

 Assam, ascending to 3,000 feet, but probably nowhere in India, strictly 

 speaking, indigenous. Gamble remarks that it is often, however, gre- 

 garious on the banks of sandy, stony, torrential rivers. On higher lands 

 it may grow and grow well, though not gregariously unless planted. 

 Cultivated and often self-sown on the plains of India. But even when 

 the trees are growing close together the shade given is light; hence sissu 

 is an important shade tree with tea planters of Dehra Dun. The seed on 

 germinating at once makes a great length of root compared to its growth 

 above ground, a circumstance that greatly minimizes the chance of its 

 being swept away when spontaneous germination takes place within the 

 sandy and stony beds of rivers. Sissu coppices well and reproduces itself 

 freely from suckers. Artificially it is best grown from seed deposited in 

 suitable positions, because transplantation is sometimes difficult and the 

 young trees have to be protected till fairly established. It grows most 

 luxuriantly on low-lying sandy tracts and has been successfully raised on 

 irrigated lands. But it is reputed that the timber of trees raised under 

 irrigation is of poor quality and subject to serious damage by fungi. 

 When young the growth of sissu is very quick; it is said to attain a 2^-foot 

 girth in 12 years, but as it gets older its growth gets slower. The full 

 height of a tree is about 60 feet or so, and in girth i! is rarely more 

 than 6 feet. It is very successfully grown in Sind, and is said io be the 

 best hardwood of the Punjab. 



"The wood is very durable, seasons well, and does not warp or split. 

 It is highly esteemed for all purposes where strength and elasticity are 

 required, as, for example, agricultural implements, wheelwrights' work-. 

 frames of carriages, boat building, etc. At one time it was extensively 

 employed for gun carriages, but owing to the limited supply of the tim- 

 ber it is now very little used for that purpose. It i- one of the finest 

 timbers in India for furniture and wood carving, and is in regular demand 

 all over the north of India. In Upper India the shisham wood i Dalbergia 

 .sissoo) replaces very largely the rosewood ( it. latifolia) of western and 

 southern India. It attains its position of greatest importance in the 

 United Provinces, the Central Provinces, and the Punjab, being replaced 

 on the north by deodar and to the south by sal and rosewood. The wood 



14082°— IS 6 



