56 



3916. SOLANUM BETACEUM. 



From Italy. Presented by Commodore T. Hanbury, of La Mortola, Ventimiglia. 



3917. Viola glabella. Violet. 



From Botanic Gardens, Berkeley, Cal. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and 

 Fairchild (No. 1), December 3, 1898. 



A native of California, said to be very beautiful. Distributed. 



3918. ISOMERIS ARBOREA, GLOBOSA. 



From Botanic Gardens, Berkeley, Cal. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and 

 Fairchild (No. 2) , December 3, 1898. 

 A caper from the region of Death Valley; a curious and rather decorative shrub 

 suitable for gardens in Florida and other frost-proof regions. 



3919. SOLANUM LACINIATUM. 



From Botanic Gardens, Berkeley, Cal. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and 

 Fairchild (No. 3), December 3, 1898. 



Purple-flowered Solanum with small globular edible fruit; small shrub. Intro- 

 duced from New Zealand. Distributed. 



3920. Tacsonia mollissima. 



From Botanic Gardens, Berkeley, Cal. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and 

 Fairchild, December 3, 1898. 



Fruit edible; a reasonably hardy and vigorous vine, growing wherever Eucalyptus 

 trees do in California. This is a promising species, and should be grown in Florida. 



3921. Vitis viNiFERA. GJ-rape. 



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

 ber 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 apprecia- 

 tion from raisin growers. The story of the mother plant from which these were 

 taken is that a certain Signor Santonetti, a wealthy Roman gentleman, formerly 

 major-domo of the Pope, gave a friend several plants ten years ago, taken from speci- 

 mens 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 introduced from Smyrna by the Armenian 

 monks, who have a large monastery near Saonara, and are constantly going and com- 

 ing between Asia Minor and Italy. My attention was called to the grape by Father 

 Giacomo Issanerdeus, an Armenian 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 12 to 

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

 less 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 September, 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." (Fairchild.) (Distributed.) (Reprinted from Inventory No. 6.) 



