548 



MATTER IN THIS BULLETIN IS NOT TO BE PUBLISHED WITHOUT 



SPECIAL PERMISSION. 



AGAVE CANTULA. ( Amaryllidaceae . ) 33508. From Manila. 

 Presented by Mr. M. M. Saleeby, fiber expert, Philippine Bureau 

 of Agriculture, through Mr. L. H. Dewey of this Bureau. "Manila 

 maguey is cultivated in the Philippines and to a limited extent 

 in India, where it produces the fiber known as Bombay aloe. It 

 is cultivated on a large scale in Java, producing a very ex- 

 cellent quality of fiber which has heretofore been placed on 

 the market under the misleading name 'Java sisal 1 . The Java- 

 nese growers now propose that this fiber shall be called 

 'cantala'. It grows well in Java on rich loamy soils, where 

 the heavy rainfall and lack of lime make it impossible to 

 cultivate sisal or henequen to good advantage. This plant 

 would grow well in the eastern part of Porto Rico." (Dewey.) 

 For distribution later. 



AMMOPHILA SP. (Poaceae.) 33320. Seed of a grass from 

 St. Petersburg, Russia. "A perennial, tall grass, found grow- 

 ing in sand-dunes in northern Mongolia. Its seeds are collect- 

 ed by the Mongols and a coarse bread made from them. This 

 grass seems to possess excellent sand-binding qualities and 

 might be tested for this purpose in cold and dry sections of 

 the United States. Obtained from Mr. J. W. Palibin, St. 

 Petersburg Botanic Garden, who received these seeds from the 

 neighborhood of Lake Ubsa, northwestern Mongolia." (Meyer's 

 irtroduction. ) For distribution later. 



AMYGDALUS SPP. (Amygdalaceae. ) 33311-312. Seeds of wild 

 almonds, from St. Petersburg Botanic Garden. "Wild almonds 

 occurring in the hot and dry mountain regions of Russian Tur- 

 kestan. May be experimented with for the following purposes: 

 as a drough resistant stock for almonds and peaches; as a pos- 

 sible drough resistant nut tree; as an ornamental small tree in 

 desert regions and as a hybridization factor. The second may 

 also prove of value as a hedge material for desert regions." 

 (Meyer's introductions.) For distribution later. 



ARRACACIA SPP. (Apiaceae.) 33467-468. Tubers of arra- 

 cacia from La Guaira, Venezuela. Procured by Mr. Thomas W. 

 Voetter, America consul. "Apio. It is known by this name in 

 Caracas, ana it is much appreciated for use in chicken or beef 

 soups. It is produced in the heights of the mountains from 

 5000 feet upwards at a temperature of 20 C. (68 P.). The 

 method of sowing it here is the ordinary way. The workman 

 makes a hill of earth a half a yard high and two yards 1n 

 diameter, well pulverized, and the seed is sown. Or the cut- 

 ting which comes from the trunk or head of the plant is cut 



