886 



China. "A beautiful and characteristic Chinese pistache 

 tree, having graceful, pinnate foliage, which, when just 

 coming out is of wine-red color, then becomes glossy 

 green, while toward fall it turns into flaming scarlet, 

 purple and yellow hues. The tree is dioecious and the 

 males become larger and taller than the females. It lives 

 to be several centuries old and can reach truly enormous 

 sizes when very old and when located in a good situation. 

 A tree near the village of Tsai chia pu, Shensi province, 

 has a girth of 16 feet, five feet above ground. Of value 

 as a graceful park and avenue tree, especially for the 

 milder semi-arid sections of the United States ." (Meyer ' s 

 introduction and description.) Persons subject to poison- 

 ivy poisoning should exercise care in handling this tree 

 as one or two cases of severe poisoning similar to that of 

 ivy have been reported. 



Prunus sargentii Rehder. ( Amygdalae eae. ) 40623. Plants of 

 the Sargent cherry from the Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica 

 Plain, Mass. "The first of the Japanese cherries to flow- 

 er is Prunus sargentii. This is a tall tree in the native 

 forests of the northern island of Japan where it is valued 

 as a timber tree. There are six specimens of different 

 sizes on the Forest Hill Road, Arnold Arboretum, and they 

 are now covered with clusters of large pink or rose-color- 

 ed single flowers, for the color of the flowers of this 

 tree varies considerably on different individuals. The 

 small black fruits which ripen in June are almost hidden 

 by the large dark-green leaves, which in the autumn turn 

 to shades of orange and red; the smooth shining, reddish 

 bark adds to the beauty of this tree. Travelers who have 

 seen cherry blossoms in many lands declare that Prunus 

 sargentii should become a common tree if nurserymen will 

 recognize its value and make a business of making it known 

 to the public ." (Arnold Arboretum Bulletin of Popular In- 

 formation, no. 20.) 



Psoralea corylifolia L. (Fabaceae . ) 40744. Seeds from near 

 Kwei hsien, Shensi, China. "An annual herb, growing from 

 5 to 8 feet tall, cultivated here and there in patches, on 

 rich bottom lands. Said to be utilized for medicinal pur- 

 poses, only, the seeds being ground up and forming the 

 main ingredient in Chinese kidney plasters. Of value pos- 

 sibly as a fodder plant for the warmer sections of the 

 United States. Chinese name Po ku chih, meaning 'great ill- 

 ness medicine. '" (Meyer 1 s introduction and description.) 



Pyrus spp. (Malaceae. ) 40724-728. Seeds of pears from 

 Kansu, China. Five species or varieties of pears, some 



