JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1916. 71 



42274. Pyrus mamorensis Trabut. Malacese. Pear. 



From Mustapha, Algiers. Presented by Dr. L. Trabut, director, Service 

 Botanique, Algeria. Received March 31, 1916. 



" A Moroccan pear from the Mamora. Very resistant to dryness in tlie sandy 

 noncalcareous soils. This vigorous tree will probably form a good stock." 

 (Trabut.) 



42275 and 42276. 



From Yokohama, Japan. Purchased from the Yokohama Nursery Com- 

 pany. Received March 16, 1916. 



42275. Beta vulgaris L. Chenopodiacese. Beet. 

 " Grown in Japan." 



42276. Zea mays L. Poacese. Corn. 

 "A corn with a very short cob mown on the slopes of Mount Fuji." 



42277. Nyssa ogeche Marsh. Cornaceae. Ogeechee lime. 



From Burroughs Station, Ga. Presented by Mr. S. B. Dayton. Received 

 March 20, 1916. 



A tree sometimes 65 feet high, with a maximum trunk diameter of 2 feet, 

 with simple, entire leaves, and bearing red, very acid drupes two-thirds of an 

 inch long. 



42278. Holcus sorghum L. Poacese. Sorghum. 



(Sorghum vulgare Pers. ) 



From Tahiti, Society Islands. Presented by Mr. Edouard Ahnne, presi- 

 dent, Chamber of Agriculture, through Mr. Thomas B. L. Layton, Ameri- 

 can consul. Received March 11, 1916. 



" To-ura, indigenous. False grass of Guinea. Herbaceous plant, smooth, per- 

 ennial. Stems upright, full, greenish yellow, I]- to 2 mm.; a little woody, inter- 

 node from m 20 to m 25, few leaves at the base. Leaves green, sheath smooth, 

 bearded at the apex, striated with age by red marks, length 50 to 60 cm.. 

 breadth 2 cm., midrib prominent, margin lightly scarious. Panicle from 35 to 

 40 cm. ; reddish spikelets grouped by two or three in whorls. Boots fibrous. 

 This grass grows in Tahiti in a wild state, all along the creeks, on the road- 

 sides, and on the uncultivated lands. The horses and cattle seek for it willingly 

 when it is young; later the stem becomes woody and hard." {Ahnne.) 



"With regard to the plant known here as to-ura, 1 am inclined to believe 

 that it is none other than the common guinea grass known in the United States. 

 That grass is grown in certain sections of those islands as forage for cattle 

 and horses, but it is also found in the wild slate over large areas. It was not 

 originally indigenous, but it has thrived since its Introduction. The name 

 to-ura is pronounced in the native Tahilian as (hough it were spelled tow rail, 

 the tow as in the word tower." (Layton.) 



42279. Medicago sativa L. Fabaceae. Alfalfa. 



From Invercargill, New Zealand. Presented by Dalgety & Co. (Ltd.). 

 Received March 15, 1916. 

 For use in selection and breeding experiments. 



