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practised in order to obtain the best fruit. The tree 

 is readily propagated by seed if sown fresh. The large 

 fleshy seed is of short vitality, and germinates in 

 seven to eight days. (Adapted from Macmillan, Hand- 

 book of Tropical Gardening and Planting.) 



Garcinia mangostana L. (Clusiaceae. ) 45180. Mangosteen. 



From Dominica, British West Indies. Presented by Mr. 

 Joseph Jones, Curator, Botanic Gardens. A moderate- 

 sized conical tree, with large leathery leaves, in- 

 digenous to Malaya. Its globular purplish brown fruit, 

 about the size of an apple, is famed as one of the 

 most delicious fruits of the tropics. The delicate 

 white juicy pulp surrounding and adhering to the seed 

 is the part eaten. In striking contrast to it is the 

 dense, thick, reddish rind, containing tannic acid 

 and a dye. The tree is of very slow growth and does 

 not usually come into bearing till about nine or ten 

 years old. The essential conditions for it are a hot, 

 moist climate, and deep, rich well-drained soil. Prop- 

 agation is usually by seed, but may also be effected 

 by "gootee" or layering. (Adapted from Macmillan, 

 Handbook of Tropical Gardening and Planting. ) This 

 office has imported several other species of Garcinia 

 with the object of finding a suitable stock for the 

 mangosteen on which will make the culture of this re- 

 markable tree possible over a wide range of soils. 

 Some of these stocks wintered through the Florida 

 freeze of 1917 when the thermometer went to 26 F. 

 and are now growing satisfactory. (Fairchild.) 



Ipomoea reptans (L.)Poiret. (Convolvulaceae. ) 45184. 

 From China. Collected by Mr. Frank N. Meyer, Agri- 

 cultural Explorer for this Department. "(No. 2387a. 

 Wuchang, Hupeh, China. June 15, 1917.) The Kuan ts'ai, 

 an annual herb, is cultivated by the Chinese as a hot 

 weather leaf -vegetable , and is prepared and eaten much 

 like spinach. It is usually sown in rows at intervals 

 during the spring and summer to insure a continuous 

 supply of greens. It thrives best in a rather wet 

 heavy soil, and withstands being submerged (even for 

 several days) without injury. The foliage resembles 

 that of the sweet potato a good deal, but the roots 

 are not fleshy. The young shoots are cut at intervals 

 until the plants become exhausted. The white or pale 

 rose-colored flowers appear in July and August, and 

 shortly after flowering the plants set a good supply 



