JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1915. 7 



tioned, according to Mr. Cook, but has very remarkable keeping 

 qualities, tubers of it remaining fresh after an exposure of more 

 than six months to room temperatures. Mr. Cook suggests that it 

 might be hybridized with the flowering nasturtiums of our gardens 

 and produce new varieties which could be perpetuated by tubers. 



The fourth root crop described by Mr. Cook is the llacono (Polym- 

 nia sonchifolia, No. 41188), which belongs to the sunflower family 

 and produces tubers resembling sweet potatoes in shape, but tasting 

 like the Jerusalem artichoke. 



Although Peru is recognized generally as the home of the potato, 

 it is doubtful whether even the American breeders have known the 

 extent to which the potato has been developed by the inhabitants of 

 the Andes. Mr. Cook's collection of 47 varieties (Nos. 41197 to 

 41243), each with a distinctive native name, gives some indication of 

 the development which has taken place in the home of the potato. 



Of material received from Mr. Frank N. Meyer, who was exploring 

 in the region south of Shanghai, little is described in this inventory. 

 The most interesting appears to be a variety of the nagi (Myrica 

 rubra, No. 41256), which bears fruits as large as crab apples, of a 

 dark-purple color, extremely attractive appearance, and fine flavor. 

 Mr. Meyer's investigations near Hangchow, China, show that this 

 species of fruit tree exists in numerous varieties and constitutes a new 

 crop which deserves to be tested on well-drained soils in our Gulf 

 States. 



Mr. Wilson Popenoe, during a brief visit to Cuba, studied the 

 Cuban varieties of the mango and avocado and sent in what from his 

 experience with Florida and California conditions he believes to be 

 the most promising Cuban varieties of these fruits (Nos. 40911, 40912. 

 40920, 40921, and 40978 to 40982). He recommends as a new orna- 

 mental tree and for trial as a stock for the mango the nariz (Ana- 

 eai-dium excelsum, No. 40987). 



The newly aroused interest in the chayote {Chayota edulis) makes 

 the collection of six selected varieties from Sum Jose, Costa Rica 

 (Nos. 41135 to 41140), of unusual importance, and Mr. Werckle's 

 remark that over 100 pounds of the edible routs are dug from a single 

 plant of certain green-fruited varieties calls attention to a portion of 

 the plant which has not yet been utilized by us. 



The time may not have arrived when plantations of tropical forest 

 trees grown for their timber will be a paying proposition, but when it 

 does the ucuiiba (Virola surinamensis, No. H255), which the veteran 

 student of tropical agriculture, the late Doctor Huber, considered 

 the most useful tree of the Amazon region, will come in for consid- 

 eration. Its easily worked, moderately lewd wood, as also its seeds, 

 which furnish a kind of vegetable wax rich in stearin, may make it 

 eligible lor plantation purposes. 



