JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1916. 55 



42076 to 42080— Continued. 



transplanted when of suitable size. Its seeds in the wild state are said 

 to be to some degree unhealthful, but in the cultivated form this quality 

 . has been bred out." {Bailey, Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, vol. 

 J,, p. 1825.) 



See S. P. I. Nos. 32415 and 40G72 for previous introductions. 



42079. Lathtrus sylvestris L. Flat pea. 

 "Var. wagneri." This so-called variety, claimed to have been pro- 

 duced by a German named Wagner, seems not to be different from the 

 ordinary Lathyrus sylvestris. 



See previous introduction fS. P. I. No. 42078] for description. 



42080. Lathyrus vernus (L.) Bernh. Spring 1 vetchling. 

 "A compact, tufted plant, growing quickly in the sun or a little shade; 



best in deep, sandy loam, in a sheltered position; hardy." (Bailey, 

 Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, vol. 4, P- 1827.) 



See S. P. I. Nos. 22555 and 40322 for previous introductions. 



42081. Maltts baccata (L.) Moench. Malacese. 



(Pyrus baccata l.) Siberian crab apple. 



From Castlecomer, Ireland. Cuttings presented by Mr. I. Proctor, Bally- 

 hemon House. Received March 20, 1916. 



" A fine variety of Siberian crab which produces fruit from 14 to 2 inches 

 long and from one-half to three-fourths of an inch in diameter." (A. L. T. 

 Froctor, in letter of February 7, 1916.) 



* 



42082. Puya chilensis Molina. Bromeliacea:'. Puya. 



From Lima, Peru. Presented by Dr. A. Weberbauer. Received March 13, 

 1916. 



" Seeds of one of the most interesting plants of the Peruvian Cordilleras, 

 namely, of the giant bromeliad. I collected the seed at Capaya, Department of 

 Apurimac, Province of Aymaraes, at an elevation of 4,000 to 4,100 meters above 

 sea level in a region where frosts and snowfalls are abundant. The plant 

 should, therefore, perhaps not be cultivated in a greenhouse, but requires only 

 protection against sharp frosts and must naturally receive much light. In the 

 vicinity of Capaya the plant is called titanca. Heretofore I have known this 

 plant only from the Cordilleras between 9° and 10° south and have described and 

 figured it in my book, Die Pflanzenwelt der Peruanischen Anden." (Weber- 

 bauer.) 



"This is one of the most striking of our bromeliaceous plants, cultivated in 

 a cool stove of the Royal Gardens, Kew. The stem, or caudex, has now at- 

 tained a height of 4 feet, independent of the [eaves, which are from 3 to 1 feet 

 in length, spreading in all directions, the lower ones being reflexed. These 

 leaves would render the plant admirably suited to the formation of fences, in 

 the nature of the spinous margins; for the upper half of the leaf has all the 

 spines directed forward towards the apex, presenting a greal obstacle to in- 

 trusion of man or beast in that direction, whilst those lower down the leaf 

 (longer and Stronger, too) have their curvature downwards, so that if man 

 or animal is so bold as to make his way partially through, the decurved spines 

 would prevent his retracing his steps with impunity. The compound spike of 

 flowers upon the columnliko. perfectly straight peduncle is remarkable for 



