1362 



eaten after prolonged soaking in water. The red, re- 

 ticulated wood is used for joiners' and turners' orna- 

 mental work. (Adapted from This el ton-Dyer, Flora Capensis, 

 vol. 5, p. 504.) 



Cajan indicum (Fabaceae), 46480. Pigeon-pea. From 

 Zacuapam, Mexico. Presented by Dr. C. A. Purpus . Frijolito 

 garbanzo. "The pigeon-pea, or guandu, supposed to be a na- 

 tive of India, is cultivated widely for food in the 

 tropics and subtropics. It is perennial in frostless 

 regions, but is usually cultivated as an annual. The 

 plant develops into a large, semi-woody bush reaching 

 a height of from 5 to 10 feet. Although the skin of 

 the pigeon-pea is a little tough the flavor of the peas 

 is good. In India this vegetable is commonly called 

 dhall or dahl." (Young. ) 



Mr. H. V. Krishnayye, Officiating Director of the 

 Mysore Department of Agriculture, states that in pre- 

 paring dhall for the market it is soaked for twenty-four 

 hours in puddled red earth and then dried. In the re- 

 moval of the dried earth the skin, or husk, of the seed 

 also comes off. The product is then ready for market. 

 This letter contains the following further statement: 

 "The pulse as it is sold in the market is dehusked and 

 split and is ready for cooking without further treat- 

 ment. Dhall enters into the aomposition of many Indian 

 dishes, where it supplies the nitrogenous constituents 

 in a vegetarian ration, but these will probably not be 

 relished by non-Indian palates. However, I think it 

 is safe to say that dhall could be substituted for len- 

 tils in all your dishes wi th satisfactory results." 



"Krauss, of Hawaii, reports that an excellent 

 forage is secured there from pigeon-peas by lopping 

 off the tops and drying them wi th the peas attached 

 and then reducing these tops to meal. He asserts that 

 this rivals alfalfa meal in food value." (Fairchild.) 



Ceiba peniandra (Bombacaceae ) , 46522. Kapok. From 

 Mexico. Presented by Mr. John R. Silliman, American 

 Consul, Guadalajara. "The kapok tree, native in the 

 American tropics, is widely distributed in the tropics 

 of both hemispheres. It attains aheight of from 75 to 

 100 feet with wide-spreading horizontal branches , making 

 an attractive ornamental or shade tree. It is often, 

 planted along the borders of fields for fence posts. 

 It begins to bear seed pods with down, when about 

 five years old and the yield of pods increases with the 

 age of the tree. Well-developed trees under favorable 



