37 



2164. Capparis spinosa. Caper. 



From France. Received through Mr. "W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 



The pickled flower buds are known as capers. The plaut is a shrubby, trailing 

 perennial, with handsome flowers. It is extremely drought resistant and. with- 

 stands some frost. A profitable industry might be developed in sheltered valleys 

 in southern New Mexico, Arizona, and California, where the conditions as to soil and 

 climate approach those of the Mediterranean countries, where capers are grown 

 commercially. The shrubs commence to bear in five years from seed or in two years 

 from suckers. About 2,000 plants are set per acre. Full-grown bushes may be 6 

 feet high and bear 12 to 15 pounds of capers, which are worth, when pickled, from 

 10 to 15 cents per pound wholesale in France. The principal obstacle to the suc- 

 cessful culture of capers in the Southwest is the high price of labor, it being neces- 

 sary to pick the buds by hand. It has been suggested as a suitable shru b for planting 

 on deforested semiarid mountain slopes. 



2165. Lonicera caprifolium. Honeysuckle. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 189.). 



An ornamental, hardy vine, with sweet, glutinous berries, which might perhaps be 

 improved by selection or crossing. The upper leaves are cup-shaped, being united 

 around the stem. 



2166. Zanthoxylum americanum. Prickly ash. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 

 A small tree, native in northeastern United States. The bark is used in medicine. 



2167. Cornus mas. Cornelian cherry. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 



A small tree, 10 to 20 feet high, with edible fruits suitable for jellies and preserves; 

 hardy. The wood is hard, flexible, tough, and exceedingly durable, and. is much 

 used in Germany for the handles of forks, hoes, and other agricultural implements. 



2168. Cotoneaster "integerrima. Cotoneaster. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 

 An ornamental shrub with bright-red berries; from Europe. 



2169. Aralia mandschurioa. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 



A low shrub, uative of northern China, valuable for ornamental landscape work; 

 hardy. 



2170. Crataegus oxyacantha. White thorn. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 



The hawthorn is to be found on dry soils in Europe, northern Africa, and western 

 Asia. It varies greatly with soil and climate. The flowers are generally white and 

 fragrant, but vary in color, some being tinged with red, or, in cultivated varieties, a 

 full pink or crimson. The fruit is edible. Most of the varieties blossom in the 

 month of May. 



2171. Crataegus azarolus. Azarole. 



From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, February 13, 1899. 



A deciduous tree, 20 to 30 feet high, a native of the Mediterranean regions. It 

 bears small fruits, ripening early in autumn, which are much prized in southern 

 France, both for eating fresh because of their pleasant acidity, and for making pre- 

 serves and jellies. For preserving they are picked before completely ripe. They 

 appear in the Marseilles markets early in September and remain until into October. 

 The improved varieties (see Nos. 2547 and 2548) are propagated by grafting on haw- 

 thorn, pear, or more rarely on seedliug azaroles. 



