1281 



Vanilla 

 apam, Vera 



pompona (Orchidaceae ) , 45669. 

 Cruz, Mexico. Presented by Dr 



Prom Zacu- 

 C. A. Pur- 



pus. "Wild vanilla 

 half-shady places in 

 the Tierra caliente. 

 small trees or large shrubs in 

 "A native of Mexico, yielding 

 vanilla known by the name of 

 loes 1 . This is claimed to have 

 vanilla, its pods not having a 

 well as being easily cured, 

 to flower and fruit 3 or 4 



which grows in brush-woods, and 

 the low country at the limit of 

 Should be planted at the foot of 

 leaf mold." (Purpus.) 

 an inferior quality of 

 'Vanillon' and 'Vanll- 

 advantages over proper 

 tendency to split, as 

 whilst the vines are said 

 times during tne year." 



(MacMillan, Tropical Gardening and Planting. ) 



Ziziphus mauritiana (Rhamnaceae) , 45625 to 45658. 

 From Port Louis, Mauritius. Presented by Mr. G. Reg- 

 nard . "If the Ziziphus trees are not cultivated in the 

 strict sense of the word, they are, however, found in 

 large numbers in the villages inhabited by Indians 

 and Africans, in the warmer localities of the island, 

 and the fruits are well appreciated not only by those 

 people, but also by Europeans and they are sold in 

 great quantities in the fruit markets during June, 

 July and August (the cold season). On having fruits 

 gathered from different trees, I have noticed that 

 there are many varieties, probably more than one 

 hundred, of different size, shape, taste and color. 

 The fruits on ripening may be green, pink, red or yel- 

 low. The majority is of a certain shade of yellow. 

 When over-ripe, that is when the fruit softens all the 

 fruits have the same uniform yellowish-brown color. 

 The fruits are eaten before they become what I call, 

 "over-ripe", and except for some varieties have a very 

 good taste. Usually those fruits which have the lower 

 extremity slightly pointed are considered to be the 

 best, but this is not always the case. The tree rarely 

 attains more than 20 feet in height, with a trunk 6 to 

 8 inches in diameter. It grows all around the island, 

 from the sea level to 500 to 600 feet elevation, but 

 it appears, with a few exceptions, that the best pro- 

 ducts are obtained from the regions where the heat is 

 more regular, because they are sheltered from the 

 winds which blow during most of the year from the 

 southeast." (Regnard.) 



