405 



CYDONIA SP. (Pomaceae.) 30059. Cuttings of a quince from 

 Kashgar, Chinese Turkestan. "The quince called in Turkestan 

 'Beeha'. A large variety with ribbed fruits, covered with 

 heavy down, a prolific "bearer. The fruits stewed with sugar, 

 made into a compote or cooked with rice are favorite foods in 

 both Russian and Chinese Turkestan. The plants stand consider- 

 able alkali and drouth and are recommendable as a fruit tree 

 for the home garden in desert regions." (Meyer's introduc- 

 tion.) For distribution later. This shipment of cuttings, con- 

 taining besides this quince, cuttings of elm, grape, willow, 

 poplar and tamarisk, is, so far as can be found, the first im- 

 portation of cuttings from Chinese Turkestan to the United 

 States. The material, which was shipped January 18 from Kash- 

 gar through the American Consul-General in St. Petersburg 

 reached Washington in perfect shape March 9, after exactly 50 

 days. Much of the material however had been collected as early 

 as the latter part of November. 



DIOSPYROS EAKI. (Diospyraceae. ) 30065-066. Cuttings of 

 persimmons from Okitsu, Japan. Presented by Mr. T. Tanakawa, 

 in charge of the Government Horticultural Experiment Station. 

 30055. Fugi. Astringent variety. 30066. Fuyu. Non-astringent 

 variety. For distribution later. 



HELIANTHUS SP. (Asteraceae. ) 29984. Seeds of a sunflow- 

 er from Mexico. Presented by Dr. Edward Palmer, Durango, 

 Mexico, through Dr. R. H. True. "Dr. Palmer in 1896 found a 

 rather good-looking sunflower seed in Mexico which has inter- 

 ested me considerably. It is not a large seed but has a good 

 plump kernel and I think will give a fairly good oil yield. 

 The shuck is much thinner than that of the Russian sort and if 

 it will yield in this country might prove valuable. Doctor 

 Palmer tells me that in Mexico where this sort is grown the 

 black shells yield a purplish dye which is esteemed by some. 

 Five years after collection these seeds gave a germination 

 test of 85#." (True.) For distribution later. 



JUNIPERUS CEDRUS. (Pinaceae.) 30093. Seeds of a juniper 

 from the Island of Palma. Presented by Dr. George V. Perez, 

 Puerto Orotava, Teneriffe, through Mr. S. T. Dana, Acting 

 Chief of Silvics, Forest Service. "A very rare and nearly ex- 

 tinct tree. It comes from the heights of the neighboring Is- 

 land of Palma, where the few specimens that remain are being 

 destroyed without mercy. I am afraid the seed is very bad, 

 most of it being barren, probably coming from isolated female 

 trees, but I hope amongst it there may be some fertile seed. 

 In years to come 1 hope to have some seed myself from a few 

 young trees in my garden here." (Perez.) For distribution 

 later. 



