3921. Vitis vinifera. Grape. 



From Italy. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 269), 

 November 18, 1899. 



The Sultanina rosea Seedless Raisin Grape was procured at Saonara, near 

 Padua. 



"This grape, though a fairly good table sort, and worthy of cultivation for 

 this purpose, is primarily for raisin production, and will meet with the keenest 

 appreciation from raisin growers. The story of the mother plant from which 

 these were taken is that a certain Signor Santonetti, a wealthy Roman gentle- 

 man, formerly Major Domo of the Pope, gave a friend several plants ten years 

 ago, taken from specimens in the gardens of the Vatican. The truth of this 

 story I do not vouch for, and think it more probable that the grape was intro- 

 duced from Smyrna by the Armenian monks, who have a large monastery near 

 Saonara, and are constantly going and coming between Asia Minor and Italy. 

 My attention was called to the grape by Father Giacomo Issanerdeus, an Arme- 

 nian monk of San Lazare. The grape is a vigorous grower, and a moderately 

 heavy producer, I am told. Like certain Riessling varieties, it often flowers two 

 or three times a year. On the old mother plant I saw at Saonara there were 

 blossoms, young grapes, and matured bunches. The bunches are twelve to six- 

 teen inches long, loose, with ovate or elliptical, rose-colored berries, which are 

 seedless so far as my observation goes, only occasional rudimentary seeds being 

 met with. Regarding the flavor, I can report from hearsay that it is excellent, 

 very sweet and juicy. From personal experience with unripe bunches, it does 

 not appear to be superior to many other sorts. The fruit ripens here in Septem- 

 ber, and by the 20th all the ripe bunches had been picked, and only a few green 

 ones in the deep shade were obtainable. The young plants sent are grafted on 

 resistant American stocks, and when seen in the nursery were not in a rapidly 

 growing condition, too large grafting wood having been taken. This grape 

 should be given the most serious attention, both by raisin growers and breeders 

 of new varieties, as it has remarkable possibilities. That it has not become more 

 generally known in Italy may be explained by the fact that no raisins to speak 

 of are made in this part of the country and the Italian vine grower is bound by 

 tradition and will plant no new sorts. The Sultanina vines thrive in rich, sandy 

 soil, receive only stable manure, resist drought very well, and are pruned and 

 trimmed in the ordinary ways. An abundance of sunlight is required." (Dis- 

 tributed. ) 



3971. Lactuca. . Lettuce. 



From Ed'fu, Egypt. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 290), December 28, 1899. 

 Arabic "Khass." "A sample of seed of a lettuce used for the preparation of 

 oil. The culture is extensive in Egypt and the method of making the oil is quite 

 similar to that for the sesame oil. (See description under No. 3972.) The oil is 

 considered by the natives as inferior to sesame, whether in quality or yield I 

 was unable to make out. Mr. George Bonaparte of the Agricultural College of 

 Cairo says it is an excellent table oil. " 



3972. Sesamum indictjm. Sesame. 



From Edfu, Egypt. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 291), December 28, 1899. 

 " Simsim." "The seed is sown in rotation with sorghum, often while the sor- 

 ghum is ripening, between the rows. The land is irrigated once, immediately 

 after sowing, and a second time when two inches high. No more water is then 

 applied to the crop. The plants thrive on poor land. Planted here in Novem- 

 ber, the crop ripens in four months. The plants are cut green and exposed to 

 the sun until dry. The seed is threshed with flails, ground fine, and put in col- 

 lapsable baskets of matting, 1 foot in diameter. These baskets, full of sesame 

 meal, are piled up one on the other under a screw press, and vertical pressure is 

 applied until the oil flows out and is collected in a small pit below the press. 

 The oil sells in Egypt for about $8.50 per 100 pounds. It is used as a table oil, 

 but is considered inferior to olive oil." 



