1251 



Polygonum tinctorium (Polygonaceae) , 45605. From 

 China. Collected by Mr. Frank N. Meyer, Agricultural 

 Explorer for this Department. "(No. 2443a. Hankow, 

 China. June 14, 1917.) An annual herb, much cultivated 

 throughout northern and central China for the blue 

 dye it produces, which however, fades easily. It is 

 sown on rich lands towards the end of February, and 

 the first cutting is made during June, and a much 

 smaller one during August. Further north the sowing 

 takes place later and but one cutting can be obtained. 

 To procure the dye-material the plants are deposited 

 in plastered pits, water is poured over them and they 

 are allowed to decay for several weeks; then the stems 

 are taken out and the water is allowed to evaporate. 

 When at last the slimy mass in the pit has become 

 sufficiently dry, quicklime is added and thoroughly 

 mixed and the material is allowed to dry out until it 

 can be well worked. It is then taken out and kept In 

 tubs, barrels, and other vessels until needed for 

 dyeing. The freshly dyed cloth posseses a most un- 

 pleasant odor, which can often be detected for a con- 

 siderable distance. Slowly, however, the wind takes 

 away the odor and garments can then be made from it. 

 The dye seems to be used almost exclusively for the 

 dyeing of coarse cotton cloth. Chinese name of the 

 plant Liao Ian." (Meyer.) 



Saeeharum offieinarum (Poaceae), 45519. Sugar cane. 

 From Reduit, Mauritius. Presented by the Director, 

 Department of Agriculture. White Tanna. This is the 

 widest grown of all the sugar cane varieties on the 

 Island of Mauritius, occupying forty-seven per cent 

 of all the land given over to sugar cane raising. It 

 is a variety which is grown equally well on the high- 

 lands or lowlands. There are two sources from which 

 this variety came. It arose as a sport on several 

 estates of the Colony, and has since been widely cul- 

 tivated. It was also received from the Department of 

 Agriculture of New South Wales in 1895. The present 

 variety is probably decended in part from each of the 

 sources mentioned above. (Adapted from Henri Robert, 

 Sugar-Cane, Varieties in Mauritius.) 



