B. P. I.— 689. 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED DURING THE 

 PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER :!!, 

 1910: INVENTORY NO. 25; NOS. 28883 TO 29:!2T. 



INTRODUCTOHY STATEMENT. 



The present inventory includes the material collected during the 

 period from June to September, 1910, by Mr. Frank N. Meyer, the 

 only agricultural explorer in the field, who was exploring the region 

 which lies along the Zerafshan Valle}'' and in the vicinity of Samar- 

 kand, Tashkend, Old Bokhara, the oasis of Merv, Chartchui, Andijan, 

 Guldscha, Terek-Dawan, Osh, Kostakos, Kizil-Kurgan, and Khokan 

 in Russian Turkestan, and the cities of Kasligar, Kan-Shugan, 

 Ulukshat, and Irkestan in Chinese Turkestan. Although Mr. Meyer 

 was hindered from making several important side trips which had 

 been contemplated, he still secured during his stay in this region 

 141 dift'erent specimens, some of which are of special importance. 

 Among them is a hardy dwarf Prunus (Nos. 28943 and 28944) from 

 the mountain slopes near Wishist at an altitude of 3,000 to 7,000 feet, 

 which Mr. Meyer suggests may be of value in the breeding of bushy 

 forms of the almond or as a stock for the almond in dry regions. 

 Possibly the suggestion of an economic bush cherry may be realized 

 by American breeders and Mr. Meyer's Prunus frostrata (No. 28945) 

 and Prunus microcarpa (No. 28946) be utilized in the creation of 

 such a fruit, while the various forms of Prunus cerasifera divaricata 

 (Nos. 28948 to 28951 and No. 29224), called "Alitcha" in Turkestan, 

 may be of distinct value to the plum breeders because of their early- 

 fruiting character, their remarkable productiveness, and their resist- 

 ance to drought and heat. 



The apricot growers of Turkestan grow varieties which have sweet 

 instead of bitter kernels, which they use for confectionery purposes 

 just as we do the kernels of the almond. Mr. Meyer has imported 11 

 varieties of these (Nos. 28953 to 28962 and No. 29223) and recom- 

 mends that the whole subject of the utilization of apricot kernels be 

 studied. This may resolve itself into a comparison between the price 

 of the kernels as a source of prussic acid and their price as a table 

 delicacy. 



1933°— Bui. 227—11 2 7 



