11 



1958. Yitis romaneti. Grape. 



From France. Presented by M. Victor Capiat, of Damigny, France, through 

 Mr. W. T. Swingle ; received December, 1898. 



A Chinese grape having curious red silky hairs ending in a gland scattered all 

 over the canes, petioles, and leaves. The leaves are large and cordate. It is from 

 Shen-si. The fruit is edible. 



1959. Yitis. Grape. 



From France. Presented by M. Victor Capiat, of Damigny, France. Received 

 through Mr.W. T. Swingle, December, 1898, under the name " Spinovitis davidi." 



It has spiny branches and heart-shaped leaves. A rapid-growing vine of some 

 value for ornament. 



1960. Hedysarum coronarium. Sulla. 



From Italy. Presented by Dammann & Co. ; San Giovanni a Teduccio, near 

 Naples. (1 package.) 



A perennial or biennial legume, native of southern Europe and northern Africa. 

 It is quite extensively cultivated in Algiers, Tunis, Malta, and Sicily. Sulla with- 

 stands slight frosts, but dies when the ground is frozen. It resembles alfalfa in 

 requiring well- drained, deep, and fertile soils, but is a slower grower and of shorter 

 duration. Seed should be sown in autumn, at the rate of 15 to 20 pounds per acre. 

 The plants grow 4 to 6 feet high, and are ready to cut for hay when in full bloom. 

 The hay has about the same feeding value as that of beggar weed. Of possible value 

 for forage in Florida and along the Gulf coast. Sulla is an excellent honey plant. 



1961. Ouotjmis melo. Winter muskmelon. 



From Utah. Seeds of two specimens of the "Eden" variety presented oy Mr. 

 John F. Brown, Elgin, Utah. A winter variety. (See No. 2380.) 



1962. Oryza sativa. Rice. 



From Japan. Secured by Prof. S. A. Knapp from the island of Kiushu. Received 

 January, 1899. 



In sending this importation Professor Knapp made the following brief report to 

 the Secretary of Agriculture : 



"In accordance with your instructions, I went to Japan in September last and 

 commenced ab once to investigate the rice product of that country, to secure the 

 best variety for our purpose. After an inspection of the rice fields and methods of 

 cultivation I spent several days at the Imperial College of Agriculture, examining 

 their experiments in varieties and in fertilizing, and also their large collections of 

 varieties from all portions of the Empire. I then consulted with the principal 

 millers and exporters of rice at the treaty ports. By consensus of opinion it was 

 decided to purchase rice in the island of Kiushu, as furnishing the purest in variety 

 and best in quality. In making the selection the following points were observed : 

 (1) Nutritive and milling qualities ; (2) uniform size of kernel ; (3) strength of straw." 



The whole amount (10 tons) has been distributed in the South. Arrangements 

 have been made to secure additional seed for next year, as the experiment seems to 

 warrant a second distribution. (See Bui. 22, Division of Botany.) 



1963. CORCHORUS CAPSULARIS. Jute. 



Imported from Calcutta by Mr. Charles Richards Dodge, as special agent for fiber 

 investigations. (200 packages.) 



It is an annual shrub, 8 to 15 feet high, native of India, and largely grown there 

 for the well-known and widely used jute fiber. It requires a rich, well-drained soil, 

 with considerable moisture. Suitable for the rich bottom lands in Louisiana, Mis- 

 sissippi, and Texas. The seed should be sown broadcast, in March or April, at the 

 rate of 12 to 15 pounds per acre, and harrowed in. The crop is ready to cut for fiber 

 when the seed pods are formed, usually within about 4 months from the time of 

 seeding. Jute has been successfully grown on rice and cotton lands from North 

 Carolina to Texas. Yields of 1-J tons per acre have been obtained, about three times 

 the average yield in India. The imports of jute into the United States in 1898 

 amounted to over 112,000 tons, valued at $2,500,000. 



