JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1916. 53 



a considerable space, almost always near a stream, where scarce the smallest 

 intruding plant is permitted. The gua-dua might be cultivated to great profit, 

 but I never knew of but one attempt at it. The flower and seed are so rare 

 that few botanists have ever seen it." (Holton, Xcir Granada, pp. 109, 110.) 



42067. Cercidiphyllim japontctjm Sieb. and Zucc. Trochoden- 



dracea?. 



From Jamaica Plain, Mass. Presented by the Arnold Arboretum. Re- 

 ceived February 7, 1916. 

 "A deciduous tree of the largest size, often 100 feet high in its native state, 

 with pendulous branches and a spirally twisted furrowed trunk. The trunk 

 is sometimes solitary and 3 to 4 feet through, but more often the tree is made 

 up of a group of several smaller stems. Leaves broadly ovate or heart 

 shaped, 2 to 4 inches long. The male and female flowers are borne on sepa- 

 rate trees, but neither possesses any beauty. This tree for a long time was 

 thought to be confined to Japan, where it is the largest of deciduous trees, 

 reaching its finest development in the island of Yezo; but Wilson found it in 

 China in 1910. One tree, still living, but with its top fallen away, he found 

 to be 55 feet in girth of trunk. The timber is light, straight grained, and! 

 yellowish, and is highly valued. The finest trees I have seen in Europe are 

 in the Imperial Garden at Sans Souci, near Berlin, where there was, in 1908, 

 a singularly elegant tree 30 feet high, with slender, spreading, arching branches. 

 It succeeds equally well in the Royal Garden at Hanover. Still finer trees, 

 but of denser habit, are in the Arnold Arboretum, Massachusetts, and in Mr. 

 Thayer's grounds at Lancaster in the same State. It evidently needs a con- 

 tinental climate. At Kew, where it was introduced in 1881, it still remains 

 a mere shrub. The generic name refers to the resemblance of the leaves to 

 those of the Judas tree (Cercis)." (W. J. Bean, Trees and Shrubs Hardy in 

 the British Isles, vol. 1, p. 332.) 



42068. Chayota edulis Jacq. Cucurbitaceae. Chayote. 



(Sechium edmle Swartz.) 



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

 Received February 26, 1916. 

 Round, green. 



42069. Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb. Cucurbit acese. 



Loofah gourd. 



Secured by Mr. Frank N. Meyer, of the Bureau of Plant Industry, from 

 Mr. Moy Auk, Kenilworth Avenue, Washington, D. C, March 9, 1916. 



"A very good vegetable, much liked by the Chinese." 



" This is a much smaller and apparently earlier variety than we have in the 

 South." (/). N. Shoemaker.) 



42070 and 42071. Capsicum anntjum L. Solanacese. 



Red pepper. 



From State College, N. Mex. Presented by Mr. Fabian Garcia, New 

 Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. Received March 7, 

 1916. 



42070. "No. 9. This strain is proving to be more early and prolific and 

 has a more shapely pod than the other strains." (Garcia.) 



42071. "No. 11. This strain is almost as good as No. 9 [S. P. I. No. 

 42070], but it is not quite as prolific." (Garcia.) 



