228 REEDS AND TLANTS IMPORTED. 



a Idwcr price tliaii I In- Kurdislan ami Kinoon wlicats, because it is soft and has not 

 the 'strength' of tin; latter, which is necessary in the making of the Arabic ' Hubus' 

 or paneake-hke bread. Tt is worth a trial in dry regions." {Fairchild.) 



8813. TiiiTicuM DURUM. Wheat. 



From Bagdad, Arabia. Received through Messrs. T^athrop and Fairchild (No. 

 877, March 9, 1902), June 7, 1902. 



Kurd. "A wheat grown in Kurdistan and brought down to the Bagdad market. 

 It is used for bread making and V)rings good ]irices, being, in fact, one of the highest 

 priced wheats in the Bagdad market. Bread from this wheat is made in thin sheets 

 like German i)ancakes and has a decideil nuxture of the macaroni wheat iiour in it. 

 This wheat is harder than No. 8812. The Kurd wheats and the Karnn or Karoon 

 wheats are considered the best sorts sold in Bagdad and 1 understand they are grown 

 without irrigation, depending only upon the scanty rains. They should ])e tested to 

 show their resistance to rust and drought." {FairchUd. ) 



8814. Phaseolus viridissimus. Bean, 



From Bassorah, Arabia. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 864, March 3, 1902), Jnne 7, 1902. 



Maash. This is grown in Mesopotamia and used as food. It is employed with rice 

 and even boiled and eaten alone. It is planted in drills or hills, like ordinary string 

 beans, and grows to a lieight of 2 feet or more. This resembles, I am informed, the 

 Merjemek of Turkey. I think this is the same species as No. 6430 sent in 1901 as 

 Phnseolus viridissimnK, secured in Athens, Greece. This bean should be tested in the 

 irrigated lands of the Southwest, and as a A'egetable throughout the Southern States 

 of America." {Fairchild.) 



8815. Andropogon sorghum. Sorghum. 



From Bassorah, Arabia. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 863, February 25, 1902), June 7, 1902. 



Edra. "A kind of sorghum like the Dura of the Egyptians. This is a white 

 variety grown in this hot region where the temperature often goes to 117° F. and 

 during the summer ranges between 85° and 99° F. day and night. No other irriga- 

 tion than that of the rains is received by the plants, and yet it is said that it can be 

 relied upon generally to give a fair crop. It is worth trying on the scorching deserts 

 of California. The grain makes excellent second-class food." (Fairchild.) 



8816 to 8819. Triticum. Wheat. 



From Bassorah, Arabia. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (Nos. 

 857 to 861, February 25, 1902), June 7, 1902. 



"A collection of wheats from the Euphrates, Tigris, and Karun river valleys, 

 which are the three great wheat growing regions of Mesopotamia. These wheats 

 are not generally grown by irrigation but depend upon the rains for their water, and 

 as the climate is a dry and excessively hot one and the soil an adobe, inclined to be 

 alkaline, these wheats deserve trial in similar excessively hot regions in America. 

 Their rust-resisting qualities I know nothing about. With the exception of the 

 Karun variety they are not especially fine wheats, but from their very long culture 

 here in Mesopotamia they should be tried in the Colorado Desert region and on any 

 stiff soil which is subject to droughts. Larger quantities may be had by correspond- 

 ing with Mr. H. P. Chalk, of Bassorah, referring to the varieties by name. These are 

 exposed two months to a summer shade temperature of 117° to 120° F. and stand it 

 well. The wheats are as follows." {Fairchild.) 



8816. Triticum durum. 



Buelha. A hard wheat from Arag, on the Euphrates River. (No. 858.) 



8817. Triticum vulgare. 



Bagdad. A soft variety from Bagdad . (No. 859. ) 



