642 



second or third year from seed when grown under glass, in 

 Michigan, and the experiment is worth repeating. (Pair- 

 child.) For distribution later. 



DinSPYROS KAKI. (Diospyraceae . ) 34973. Cuttings of 

 persimmon from Hiroshima, Japan. Presented by Rev. H. 

 Loomis, American Bible Society, Yokohama. "Giombo. This 

 is the variety that produces the best dried persimmons in 

 Japan." (Loomis.) For distribution later. 



HARPEPHYLLUM CAFFRUM. ( Anacardiaceae . ) 34943. Seeds 

 from Cape Town. Presented by the Chief Conservator of 

 Forests. "One of the prettiest evergreen shade trees to be 

 seen in the gardens of Cape Town. Suitable for very windy 

 situations and forms a very dense shade. The timber is said 

 to resemble mahogany and is used for wagon making. The red 

 showy drupes have a pleasant acid taste, but little pulp, 

 and are suitable for making preserves. The tree will stand 

 some drought and is suitable for frost-free regions. Has 

 done well in California, and particularly well in South 

 Florida, where trees introduced in 1902 are now 20 feet 

 high. (Fairchild.) For distribution later. 



KERSTINGIELLA GEOCARPA. (Fabaceae.) 34916-919. Seeds 

 of the kandela from Togoland, Africa. Presented by Dr. A. 

 Engler, Director, Botanic Garden, Dahlem, Germany. "Three 

 years ago Professor H. Harms described a new genus of 

 Leguminosae which he called Kerstingiella after its dis- 

 coverer, Dr. Kersting of Sokode, Togoland. Apart from the 

 strictly botanical interest attaching to it, it was remark- 

 able as the source of a ground bean or nut which had been 

 until then unnoticed, although its cultivation in Upper 

 Guinea as we now know extends over a fairly large area. 

 In 1910 Dr. A. Chevalier recorded the same plant from 

 Dahomey, describing it as a new species of Voandzeia under 

 the name V. poissonii. Since then it has been in cultiva- 

 tion and under observation in the Botanic Gardens at Dahlem 

 and Jena, and last year Professor Harms published a short 

 article in which he summarized briefly what was then known 

 about this ground bean, adding some valuable information 

 concerning the conditions of its cultivation. 



"Chevalier states that Hausa traders assured him of the 

 existence of the bean in British Nigeria. This statement is 

 confirmed by specimens of Kerstingiella communicated to Kew 

 by Mr. W. R. Elliot, who came across it as a field crop in 

 Nupe . The plant is undoubtedly of some economic importance 

 and it seems desirable to call the attention of British 

 residents and travelers in Nigeria to the occurence 



