1295 



only in the general appearance of the fruit, but also 

 in flavor. The jaboticaba prefers a soil that is rich and 

 deep, and is rather slow of growth, coming into bear- 

 ing after 6 or 8 years. It withstands slight frosts, 

 and gives promise of being successful in South Flori- 

 da, and perhaps also in sheltered locations through- 

 out Southern California. At the present time seed 

 propagation is the only means of multiplication which 

 is commonly employed, but inarching or some other 

 means of propagation should be utilized to perpetuate 

 good varieties." (Wilson Popenoe.) "The jaboticaba in 

 South Florida was not killed by a temperature of + 26 

 F. and appears to be semihardy at least." (Fair- 

 child.) 



Oryza barthii (Poaceae), 45717. From Algiers, Al- 

 geria. Presented by Dr. L. Trabut . An interesting 

 African species, used both for human food and for 

 forage. In habit it differs markedly from the culti- 

 vated rices, throwing out rootstocks to a length of 

 several decimeters, with scattering stems rising from 

 them. The foliage remains green for 2 or 3 months, 

 and converts many swampy lands into excellent pas- 

 tures. The stems rise to a height of 1 to 1.5 meters, 

 even more in deep water. The panicle is short; and 

 the ripe grain, which is small, falls out of the husk 

 very easily. For this reason it is impossible to cut 

 the heads for thrashing without losing most of the 

 grain. To obviate this difficulty, the aborigines, 

 in those regions where the plant is common, paddle 

 among the ripe grain in their canoes, shaking the 

 panicles over a small calabash or basket held in one 

 hand. Most of the grain falls into the basket and is 

 saved. If it is late in the season, the ripe grain 

 will float on the surface of the water, and that which 

 falls outside of the basket may be recovered. This 

 species is not cultivated; and in fact, the grain has 

 very limited use, due to the difficulty of harvesting 

 it. It is sold at a very high price, however, and is 

 considered a product of unusually choice quality. The 

 grain is not so important, from an economic stand- 

 point, as the forage which the plant furnishes. It is 

 considered one of the very best forages of West Afri- 

 ca. (Adapted from Chevalier in Bulletin du Museum 

 National D'Histoire Naturelle, No. 7, pp. 406-407, 

 1910. ) 



