1186 



bloom, but set a good crop in 1917, and there should 

 be a fine lot of fruits to ripen next year (1918). 

 Judging from accounts given me, the tree usually does 

 not carry a great many fruits, but this would be ex- 

 pected of a variety of such large size. The season of 

 ripening is said by the owner to be from February to 

 April, most of the crop being picked in March. The 

 fruits, as indicated by young ones now on the tree 

 (June 12, 1917), are long and slender, best termed 

 slender pyriform, perhaps, but not markedly swollen 

 at the lower end. The surface is nearly smooth, and 

 the skin rather thin for this race. When ripe the 

 color is said to be deep purple, and the flesh is said 

 to be of excellent flavor. An' American who has known 

 the variety for some time tells me he has weighed 

 specimens which tipped the beam at 3 pounds. This is 

 a larger fruit than any other included in the collec- 

 tion and, so far as I am aware, the largest yet seen 

 in Guatemala. Since it has not been possible for me 

 to examine the mature fruit, it is recommended that 

 budded plants be distributed with the understanding 

 that the variety is a very large-fruited one highly 

 recommended by several people who are familar with it, 

 but not tested by me." (Popenoe.) 



Polygonum tinctorium Loureiro. (Polygonaceae . ) 44805. 

 Seeds from Yihsien, Shantung, China. Presented by 

 Rev. Ralph G. Coonradt. "The 'Blue plant 1 may be com- 

 mon in America. When mature, it is put through a pro- 

 cess to obtain the dye with which all of our blue 

 clothes are colored." (Coonradt.) An annual herb com- 

 monly cultivated in dry fields in China and Japan, 

 growing to a height of 1 to 2 feet. The leaves are 

 variable in shape, ranging from long and narrow to 

 short and oval, and the pink flowers are borne in 

 spikes. The dried leaves are made into "indigo balls" 

 from which the dye is obtained. (Adapted from Useful 

 Plants of Japan, p. 101, 1895.) 



Prunus salicifolia H.B.K. ( Amygdalae eae. ) 44885 . Cherry 

 seeds from Guatemala City, Guatemala. Collected by Mr. 

 Wilson Popenoe, of this Bureau. "(No. 128a. May 16, 

 1917.) The wild cherry of the Guatemalan highlands, 

 called cereza in Spanish and capulin in the Quiche Indian 

 dialect. The tree is found both wild and cultivated in 

 the mountains of Guatemala, from elevations of about 

 4000 feet up to 9000 feet or perhaps higher. As com- 

 monly seen, the tree is erect, often somewhat slender, 



