18 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



25847. Protea grandiflora Thunb. 



From Grahamstown, Cape Colony, South Africa. Presented by Mr. J. Medley 

 Wood, director, Botanic Gardens. Received July 31, 1909. 

 A shrub or small tree, 3 to 10 feet high, with oblong, sessile, shining leaves, and 

 large, white (Lower heads, which resemble a globe artichoke in appearance. 



25848. Schleichera TRUUGA Willd. Kussum. 



From Dhamtari, Raipur, India. Presented by A. E. Lowrie, esq., Deputy Con- 

 servator of Forests. Received August 12, 1909. 



"This seed ought to be sown in fairly rich sandy loam, in boxes, to begin with. 

 When the young plants are about 9 inches high they should be planted out in a well- 

 drained sandy soil." (Laurie. | 



"This Indian tree, known as the lac tree or Ceylon oak, is one of the sources of shel- 

 lac. The wingless female of the lac insect (Tachardia lacea Kerr) with its piercing 

 mouth parts punctures the bark of the young, tender twigs, from which the shellac 

 flows down the stems and hardens. The seeds yield a fatty oil, the so-called 'Macassar ' 

 oil, which contains free hydrocyanic acid, as well as the glycerides of oleic, palmitic, 

 and arachidic acids. The wood, which is much used, is hard and durable and takes 

 a polish. The sapwood is white, the heartwood is reddish brown. *' (R. H. True.) 



Distribution. — A large tree, native throughout central and southern India, and 

 extending through the Malay Archipelago to the Philippines. 



25849 to 25856. Avena sativa L. Oat. 



From Madrid, Spain. Presented by Mr. A. Ramirez, El Hogar Espanol. Re- 

 ceived August 13, 190!l. 

 Seeds of the following: 



25849. Open, white, panicle. 



25850. Large, white. 



25851. Common. 



25852. Large, white, panicle. 



25853. Black, open, panicle. 



25854. Black. 



25855. Black oat with pendent panicle. 



25856. Yellow. 



25857. Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. Cowpea. 



From Venice, Italy. Presented by Dr. Angelo Sullam, of Portotolle, Taglia di 

 Po, Italy, through Mr. Haven Metcalf. Received August 14, 1909. 



Black-Eye. 



25858 to 25860. 



From the Philippine Islands. Presented by Mr. William S. Lyon, Manila. Re- 

 ceived August 16, 1909. 

 Plants of- the following: 



25858 and 25859. Calamus sp. 



25858. From Batanes Islands. 



25859. From Palawan Island. 



. "Palasan". 

 "All the good rattans I know are strictly equatorial and not to be thought of 

 in any of our occidental possessions other than the Canal Zone. I have crossed 

 170 



