APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1916. 67 



42803 to 42805— Continued. 



42803 and 42804. Cucurbita pepo L. Cucurbitaceae. Pumpkin. 



"Seeds of the Ayote de pelleja (skin pumpkin) entirely without shell, 

 but solid and good. It is for the temperate and cold highlands of tropical 

 countries only; does not produce fruits in Philadelphia or Florida." 

 (WerckU.) 



42805. Meibomia sp. Fabacea?. 



42806. Gossypium sp. Malvaceae. Caravonica cotton. 



From the city of Guatemala, Guatemala. Presented by Mr. S. Billow. Re- 

 ceived May 10, 1916. 



"During the year 1912 I procured some seed grown from plants near the 

 Pacific Ocean, at an altitude of about 300 feet. When I returned to Guatemala 

 after my last visit to the States, I arranged to put in an experimental plat and 

 planted some of this seed in October, 1913, but owing to many plants not show- 

 ing the characteristics claimed for Caravonica cotton I exterminated them, 

 only saving those which appeared to possess the true strain. These plants in 

 about eight months gave the first crop, from which I obtained a very good 

 quality of seed. The plants were in a private garden near the city, the altitude 

 being 5,000 feet. I planted about an acre in July, 1915, and last month the 

 plants commenced to have matured bolls, some of the plants having as many 

 as 250 on them. During the time between planting and fruiting we had some 

 very dry as well as cool weather, the thermometer falling to 45° F., and while 

 it apparently retarded the growing of the plants it did not seem to have any 

 effect otherwise." (Billow.) 



42807. Prosopis vidaliana Naves. Mimosacese. Aroma. 



From Manila, Philippine Islands. Presented by Mr. H. T. Edwards, 

 director, Bureau of Agriculture. Received May 22, 1916. 

 " Considerable interest and argument has occasionally arisen with regard 

 to the aroma, since many people casually acquainted with the Hawaiian 

 prosopis species have insisted that our aroma is identical, hence have called 

 it algaroba. Mr. Merrill, of the Bureau of Science, upon his return from his 

 recent visit to the United States, secured adequate botanical material of the 

 Prosopis julifiora in Honolulu for comparison with our so-called Philippine 

 species. Mr. Merrill maintains that inasmuch as our species has much larger 

 leaves and leaflets and the entire absence of the sweet substance in the pods 

 characteristic of the Hawaiian form, the sinking of the aroma into P. julifiora 

 is a serious mistake, although practiced by many reputable botanists. Our 

 Mr. H. J. Gallagher, who has had extensive experience both in Hawaii and 

 here in feeding animals, is of the opinion that the aroma is of considerable 

 importance as a food for animals, citing his experience in Batangas Province 

 in the southern part of Luzon. During (he 11 years we have been observing 

 the aroma its spreading has been quite noticeable, but ii apparently lends to 

 follow the sandy coast regions, yet does spread slowly up over the hillsides. 

 The objection to the aroma is the presence of the Long sharp thorns, which 

 are much more pronounced than on the /'. julifiora in Hawaii. Nevertheless, 

 in Hawaii the thorns apparently vary with individuals, being longer on some 

 trees than on others." (Edwards.) 



