865 



Prunus armeniaca L . (Amygdalaceae. ) 40012-013. Seeds of 

 wild apricots, from near Lan Tsai, and Kwa Tsa, Kansu, 

 China. "Wild apricots occur very commonly in the moun- 

 tains at altitudes from 5000 to 9000 feet. The natives 

 collect the stones, crack them, take the kernels out and 

 eat them, after having boiled them. They still taste bit- 

 ter, however. Of use possibly in extending apricot cul- 

 ture farther north; also as stocks for stone fruits In 

 semi-arid regions and as hardy spring-flowering park trees 

 for the cooler parts of the United States." (F. N. Meyer's 

 introductions and descriptions.) 



Prunus spp. (Amygdalaceae.) 40014-015. Seeds of wild 

 plums from near Kwan yin tang, Shensi, and Kagoba, China. 

 40014, "a wild plum,, found on somewhat stony mountain 

 slopes at elevations between 4000 and 5000 feet. Grows up 

 into a tall bush, densely branched, and often spiny on the 

 young shoots. Fruits the size of a large marble, of yel- 

 lowish green color, flavor very spicy, although sour near 

 the skin and the stone. Of value possibly to supply com- 

 potes and for breeding purposes." 40015, "a wild plum 

 growing into a tall bush or even a small tree, found on 

 sloping stretches of loess land at the foot of mountains 

 near the Tibetan frontier at elevations of from 6000-8000 

 feet." (F. N. Meyer's introductions and descrlptipns . ) 



Pyrus sp. (Malaceae.) 40019. Seeds of a wild pear from 

 near Tchen ya tan, Kansu, China. "A species of wild pear, 

 growing to be a large tree, with a wide-spreading, dense 

 head of branches. Bark of dark color and in the main 

 trunk even blackish and deeply furrowed in old specimens. 

 Young branches often fiercely spiny and especially so In 

 suckers. Leaves small and with much shorter petioles than 

 in Pyrus chinensis . Fruits globose, flattened. Calyx per- 

 sistent, peduncle generally short; much variation exists 

 as regards size, but the fruits of this species of pear are 

 generally small; the flesh is also acrid and often quite 

 hard, though some of the larger ones are edible after 

 having been frozen. This pear is not found in the warm 

 valleys, but it thrives best at elevations of about 8000 

 feet, in company with such hardy trees and shrubs as Picea 

 oborata , Populus tremula , Malus baccata , Hippophae rhamnoides , 

 Syriiiga amurensis , Rlicunnus dahurica, Sorbai^ia sorbifolia, and 

 others. This pear has apparently given rise to some lo- 

 cally cultivated forms bearing small, sour fruits, which 

 are juicy, however, and melting, and not hard and gritty 

 like the poorer strains of P. chinensis. Of undoubted value 

 as a stock for pears in cold sections and as a factor in 

 breeding experiments in trying to extend successful pear 



