DECEMBER, 1903, TO DECEMBER, 1905. 183 



14995. Dahlia tmperialis. Dahlia. 



From Quei-nstown, Cape Colony. Received thru ]Mr. F. lieswii-k, s^ecretary of 

 the (.iueenstown PubUc Gardens, August 14, 1905. 



14996 to 14998. 



From :\Iexico. Received thru Dr. ,1. X. Rose, of the United States National 

 Museum, August 14, 1905. 



14996. ScHOENOCAUi.oN sp. 14998. riN<;riCLi..\ sp. 



14997. JiGL.\NS+ip. 



14999. EuPATORiuM i'ortoricp:nse. " G-uerrero." 



From Mayaguez, P. R. Received thru Mi-. O. W. Barrett, from the Agricul- 

 tural Experiment Station, August 15, 1905. 

 "A shrub, 1 to 3 meters high, found in a semicultivated state in the western part 

 of Porto Rico. The dried leaves have a strong vanilla-like fragrance and are used in 

 scenting the better grade.i of Porto Rican tobacco. Tho a perennial, this plant will 

 probably fruit in the latitude of Connecticut; it is a very rapid grower." {Barrett.) 



15000 to 15210. FiiOENix dactylifera. Date. 



From Tuni.s, North Africa. Received thru Mr. Thomas H. Kearney, agricultural 



explorer, who secured them during his explorations in the winter of 1904-5 



in the oases of southern Tunis. 



"The nomenclature is that secured by Mr. Kearney from the Arabs from whom he 



bouglit the suckers, and the description's were made partly in Tunis and partly after 



his return to this country. See his bulletin on the date i)alms of Tunis." {Fuir- 



child. ) 



15000. Ammanj. 



A third-class "soft" variety; fruit 1} to a little over \\ inches long, about 

 one-half as wide, generally obovoid, square at the base, rounded at the apex, 

 keeping its shape fairly well when i)reserved, dark-brown purple when ripe; 

 the flesh LI lines thick, very soft and dark colored; the seed about two-thirds 

 as long as the fruit, about t\Vo-tiftlis as wide as long, blunt at both ends. The 

 stalks and branches of the fruit clusters are orange colored. 



The earliest maturing variety in Tunis, ripening in August and September. 

 Said to give a very good crop every year and to be very productive. 



15001. Angoo. 



A second-class "dry" variety; fruit barely 1 inch long, ab(jut seven-tenths as 

 wide, sometimes broadest below, sometimes above the middle; bright l)ay- 

 colored when rijie, much of the skin becoming loosened in large blisters, the 

 flesh a little over 1 line thick, becoming Arm and dry, the white central ])ortion 

 thicker than the dark-colored outer zone; the seed about two-thirds as long as 

 the fruit, about one-half as wide as long, light-drab brown. The stalks of the 

 fruit clusteis are lemon yellow. • 



The smallest fruited of the Tunisian varieties. Despite its diminutive size 

 and tliin flesh, this little date is one of tlie most attractive of the " dry" tyjie. 

 Because of its moderately sweet, wholesome, nutty flavor it can be eateji in 

 large quantities without cloying, and should be a healthful food. Ripens in 

 midseason. 



15002. Areshtij. 



A first-class "soft" variety; fruit Iji to 21 inches long, one-half to two-thirds 

 as wide, slightly larger above than below the middle, broad and rounded at 

 the a])ex, light "bay or hazel brown when ripe; the flesh 2\ to 3 lines thick, 

 firm but tender; the seed about one-half as long as the fruit, rather thick, 

 irregularly roughened. The stalks and brandies of the fruit clusters are light 

 orange. The foliage of this varietv is rather liglit and the leaves drooi)ing. 



One of the largest dates grown in Tunis. The fruit is generally egg-shaped, 

 ripening about the middle of October. The flavor of the thoroly ripe fruit is 

 agreealjle, altho not very remarkable, wholesome, nut-like, and not easily 

 cloying. The flesh becomes quite firm and the ripe fruit keeps its shape well 

 when preserved. 



