854 



Mies spp. (Pinaceae.) 39860, 39983-987. Seeds of Jap- 

 anese firs received through the Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica 

 Plain, Mass., from the collections of Mr. E. H. Wilson. 

 Abies mariesii Masters, one of the rarest of silver firs, A. 

 sachalinensis (Schmidt) Masters, attaining 130 feet in height, 

 and probably very hardy, A. uiribellata Mayr, a beautiful 

 hardy tree, and a variety of A. veitchii Lindl., with olive 

 yellow cones, an especially handsome small conifer. 



Acer capillipes Maxim. (Aceraceae.) 39988. Seed of a 

 Japanese maple received through the Arnold Arboretum from 

 the collections of Mr. E. H. Wilson. A handsome maple 

 closely allied to A. pennsylvanicwm , which it resembles in 

 the shape of its leaf, but is distinguished by its lack of 

 down on leaves and young wood. 



Amygdalus tanguticadSab&l . )Korsh. (Amygdalaceae . )39898 . 

 Cuttings of the Tangutian almond from the village of Lan 

 tsai, Kansu, China. "A bush almond found in rocks and 

 cliffs along the right bank of the Siku river, collected 

 at an elevation of 4200 feet. Shrubs from 4-10 feet high, 

 In sheltered places reaching even a height of 20 to 25 

 feet, densely branched, branches often running zigzag, and 

 ending in spines. Foliage small and of a glaucous green 

 color. Fruits very variable in size, looks and shape; skin 

 downy and thin, stones ranging in size from a cherry stone 

 up to a good-sized apricot stone, of many forms, some 

 round and quite smooth, others pointed or heartshaped and 

 grooved like peach stones, shells moderately thin, kernels 

 small on the average and quite bitter; they are, however, 

 eagerly collected by ground squirrels. Here and there 

 local Chinese also collect them and express a clear oil 

 from the kernels for culinary purposes. These kernels are 

 also sparingly eaten after having been boiled first so as 

 to remove part of the bitter flavor. This Tangutian alm- 

 ond occurs in many places in the province of Kansu, grow- 

 ing at elevations from 4000 to 10000 feet. It is able to 

 withstand a great amount of drought, cold and dry heat. 

 It is recommended as a factor in certain hybridization ex- 

 periments, to create hardy bush almonds. As a stock for 

 almonds it might be tested, but since it throws up so many 

 shoots from the base it may not have any commercial value 

 for this purpose. As a hedge plant for dry regions it al- 

 so possesses value, while as an ornamental spring flower- 

 ing shrub it possibly could be employed in gardens and 

 parks in the cooler parts of the semi-arid United States. 

 Chinese name Yeh hsiao Using, meaning 'wild small apricot,' 

 also Mao tao'r meaning 'hairy peach.'" (Frank N. Meyer's 

 introduction and description.) 



