1420 



Callitris cupressiformis (Pinaceae), 47151. From Rich- 

 mond, Victoria, Australia. Seeds presented by Mr. P. 

 H. Baker. "Grows in sand ridges where there is a small 

 rainfall. It is a fine tree." (Baker.) 



"This pine is described by Col. W. V. Legge in a 

 report on 'The Tasmanian Cypress Pine, 1 (published 

 in 1911). According to this paper, the tree is confined 

 mainly to the coast where it does well on poor soils. 

 It seems to have a slow growth but .in time reaches a 

 height of 100 feet and a diameter of about 2| feet. In 

 spite of the fact that it is chiefly a warm climate 

 tree it also thrives in some of the colder parts of 

 Tasmania where there is considerable frost. It has 

 a plain whitish wood without figure and with little 

 difference in color between the sapwood and the heart- 

 wood. Its grain is hard and close; and the wood is 

 exceedingly durable. It is largely used for piles, 

 telegraph poles, and in general construction work. It 

 not infrequently grows in mixture with eucalyptus and 

 when grown in the forest under moderate light con- 

 ditions its form is that of a sharp cane which is 

 tall in proportion to both the diameter and the spread 

 of the lateral branches. There are all gradations from 

 this form to the spreading, bushy tree found in the 

 open. Since Florida is apparently the region in the 

 United States best adapted to this species, I would 

 advise growing some at Miami for experimental planting 

 by the Service on the Florida National Forest. Although 

 the tree is widely used for a great variety of purposes 

 in Tasmania, I doubt if it would prove superior to our 

 own conifers, and believe that the chief advantage in 

 introducing It into Florida would probably be to furnish 

 a comparatively soft, light wood for local use. " (Zon.) 



Elaeis guineensis (Phoenicaceae), 47124. African oil palm. 



From Java. Seeds presented by the Director, Botanic 

 Gardens, Buitenzorg. The value, extent, and importance 

 of the palm and palm-kernel oil industry of West Africa 

 Is but faintly realized by persons other than those 

 directly interested in the trade. The amount of oil 

 annually exported from British West Africa alone in 

 1915 was about 110,000 tons, and of kernels, 220,000 

 tons. The average price in Liverpool for kernels during 

 the months preceding the war was about $100.00 per 

 ton, and for palm oil $145.00 per ton. The palm tree 

 from which the fruits are obtained is indigenous to 

 the western coast of tropical Africa , and grows in enor- 

 mous quantities from 300 to 400 miles into the interior . 



