10 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



41688. Persea Americana Mill. Lauraceae. Avocado. 

 (Persea gratis 8ima Gaertn. f) 



From Guatemala, Guatemala. Presented by Mr. William Owen. American 

 vice consul in charge. Received January 13, 1916. 

 " Seeds of a very large aguacate, which I consider the finest product of 

 Guatemala in that line. They are high grown, winch will enable the tree to 

 thrive better in a northern climate." (Owen. ) 



41689. Chayota edulis Jacq. Cucurbitaceae. Chayote. 



(Seehiitm edule Swartz.) 



From New Orleans, La. Presented by the J. Steckler Seed Company. 

 Received January 24, 1916. 

 " Green, spiny." 



41690. Cupressus glabra Suchv. Pinaceae. Smooth cypress. 

 From Sedona, Ariz. Purchased from Mr. J. F. Derrick. Received Jan- 

 uary 25, 1916. 



" Collected in Oak Creek Canyon." 



In general appearance the foliage of smooth cypress resembles that of Arizona 

 cypress (Cupressus arizonica Greene), though the former species can be dis- 

 tinguished from the latter by the compact, narrowly oval, or somewhat pyra- 

 midal crown. The branches of the smooth cypress, particularly of younger 

 trees, are strongly upright. Old trees grown in the open develop long lower 

 branches, which from their great weight are less upright than those of 

 trees of the same age in a close stand. In height the trees range from 25 to 

 30 feet and in diameter from 10 to 14 inches, though much larger trees prob- 

 ably exist. The trunk is slightly tapering, while the upper portion is some- 

 times divided into several branches, differing in this respect from the usual 

 undivided stem of Arizona cypress. Only about one-fourth to one-third of 

 the trunk is clear of branches. The most distinctive characteristic of this 

 tree is its thin, smooth, dark purple-red bark. The foliage is a bright blue- 

 green (glaucous). The small spherical cones, composed of six to eight scales 

 and armed with large incurved, somewhat flat-pointed bosses, are borne 

 on short stout stems and mature at the end of the second season. The large 

 size of the seeds at once distinguishes them from those of Arizona cypress, 

 though in color and form the two are similar. Thoroughly seasoned wood is 

 moderately durable in contact with the soil, fence posts lasting about 20 years 

 and corral poles 30 to 35 years. Cabins built of the logs 40 years ago are 

 still in a good state of preservation. The small size of the trees and the 

 limited supply have confined the use of the wood mainly to local needs. The 

 extreme age attained by this species has not yet been determined, but it is 

 probably as long lived as Arizona cypress. The largest trees found so far are 

 at least 200 or 250 years old. (Adapted from Bulletin No. 201, V. S. Dept. 

 of Agriculture, The Cypress and .Juniper Trees of ihe Rocky Mountain Region, 

 P. 0.) 



41691 to 41702. Diospyros kaki L. f. Diospyraceae. Kaki. 



From Okitsu, Japan. Cuttings presented by Prof. Ishiwara, Government 

 Horticultural Experiment Station. Received January S, 1916. Notes by 

 Mr. T. Kiyono, Semmes, Ala. 



41691. "No. 1. Anzai. Sweet. Kiyoto Province." 



41692. "No. 2. Kubo. Sweet. Kiyoto Province." 



