1126 



Psyehotria bacteriophila Valeton. (Rubiaceae.) 44119. 

 One root from Buitenzorg, Java. Presented by Mr. P. 

 J. S. Cramer, Chief, Plant Breeding Station. A shrub, 

 2 to 3 meters (7 to 10 feet) high, native of the Co- 

 moro Islands, Madagascar. The elliptic or ovate-ob- 

 long, fleshy, dark green leaves are short-petioled , 

 and usually thickly covered with the remarkable bac- 

 terial knots which, according to the researches of 

 Zimmerman and Faber (See Plant Immigrants No. 121 p. 

 1003, S. P. I. 42767, for fuller description) play a 

 similar role in the existence of the plant to that 

 played by the root tubercles of the Leguminosae. These 

 bacterial leaf knots gather nitrogen from the air. 



Pyrus lindleyi Rehder. (Malaceae.) 44164-44168-44170- 

 44174. Seeds and cuttings of Chinese pears from China. 

 Collected by Mr. Frank N. Meyer. Among these are some 

 of the best cultivated pears of northern China; most 

 of them excellent keepers and all of value in breeding 

 experiments . 



Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim. (Malaceae.) 44151-44163. 

 Pear seeds from Malanyii, Chihli province, China. Col- 

 lected by Mr. Frank N. Meyer. Suan li, meaning 'Sour 

 pear'. A medium-sized Chinese pear, of globose form 

 and of green color. Calyx persistent, length of pe- 

 duncles varies considerably in different specimens. 

 Flesh somewhat gritty and quite sour. These pears 

 cannot be eaten raw, except after having been frozen, 

 when they become melting. By cooking them, however, 

 a sour sauce can be obtained which missionaries found 

 acceptable as a substitute for sour apple sauce. Pos- 

 sibly these may also prove to be blight-resistant." 

 (Meyer. ) 







Rhynchosia sp. (Fabaceae.) 44118. Seeds from El 

 Coyolar, Costa Rica. Presented by Mr. Carlos Werckle. 

 "Yellow vetch. Small blooming annual forage plant, grow- 

 ing now in the dry season, while the yellow sensitiva 

 (Aeschynomene sp.) (No. 44113) is completely dried up. 

 After the yellow sensitiva, it is our best soil en- 

 richer." (Werckle.) 



Saechamm officinarum L. (Poaceae.) 44099. Sugarcane 

 seeds from Cienfuegos, Cuba. Presented by Mr. Robert 

 M. Grey, Harvard Experiment Station. "Seeds of one of 

 my hybrid canes which is very prolific and germinates 

 freely when sown in the open ground here." (Grey.) 



