1305 



Acacia pycnantha (Mimosaceae) , 45867. Golden Wattle. 



From Richmond, Australia. Presented by Mr. F. H. Baker. 

 A rapid-growing tree, attaining a height of about 30 

 feet, the bark of which is used for tanning. The 

 flowers which are borne in clusters are yellow, hence 

 the name, golden wattle. The tree has no soil preference, 

 but is usually found on the poor sandy soil near the 

 seacoast; here it serves also as a sand binder. The 

 wood is tough and close-grained, having a specific 

 gravity of 0.83. The bark contains as high as 33.5 

 per cent of tannin, and the dried leaves have yielded 

 as much as 15.16 per cent of tannic acid. The range 

 is South Australia, Victoria, and southern New South 

 Wales. (From Maiden, Useful Plants of Australia, p. 

 312-313, and p. 365. ) 



Aetinidia chinensis (Dilleniaceae) , 45946. From 

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

 Explorer for this Department. "(No. 2456a. Near Lung 

 to ping, Hupeh, China. November 23, 1917.) A variety 

 of yang tao bearing smooth fruits of various sizes rang- 

 ing from that of a gooseberry to a good-sized plum. 

 It possesses a good flavor though it sets one's teeth 

 on edge as does the use of non-select pineapples and 

 wild blueberries. This fruit really is of high prom- 

 ise for the United States, and especially so for the 

 mild-wintered sections. It should preferably be grown 

 as an arbor vine. In its native habitat one finds it 

 bearing most heavily when crawling over low scrub and 

 rocks on northeast exposures, where the plants are 

 subjected occasionally to strong twisting winds which 

 seem to check their tendency to excessive vegetative 

 growth. Where this yang tao occurs one also finds a- 

 round the farmsteads coir palms, loquats, bamboo 

 clumps, tea plants, tung-oil trees, etc. The fruits 

 when properly handled keep fresh fora long time; they 

 ship and keep especially well after having been sub- 

 jected to a slight frost. As to their uses, -they can 

 be eaten out of hand or as a desert when skinned, 

 sliced and sprinkled over with sugar; excellent pre- 

 serves can also be made from them. The Chinese with 

 their excessive vegetable diet and their abhorrence 

 of sou.r fruits do not care for this fruit and let it 

 waste mostly. However, Caucasians universally seem to 

 enjoy this unique berry which in flavor combines that 

 of gooseberry, strawberry, guava, and rhubarb. Pos- 

 sibly in some of the southern states new industries 

 could be built up by cultivating this fruit for the 



