61 



can be secured that will mature in ninety days, but cold weather is destructive to 

 rice during the period of bloom and later. I think the north of China, somewhat 

 in the interior, would be the place to secure such seed rice." Distributed. 



3951. Rhizophoka mangle. Mangrove. 



From Florida. Received through Mr. Frank Dean, Miami, Fla., December 13, 

 1899. 



This is the characteristic tree of the coastal swamps and mud flats in southern 

 Florida. Distributed. 



3952. Vicia faba, equina. Horse bean. 



From Algeria. Presented by Dr. L. Trabut, government botanist, Mustapha- 

 Alger; received December 1, 1899. 



"The horse bean (called feverole by the French) is frequently cultivated in north 

 Africa both as a forage plant and for green manure. According to Dr. Trabut, the 

 small seeded varieties are much better for forage plants, inasmuch as they produce 

 taller and more leafy plants. In north Africa the horse beans are sown in autumn, 

 and on account of their having stiff steins are often used to support more slender 

 forage plants, such as the climbing Narbonne vetch (Vicia narbonensis) . When so 

 grown together 1 kilogram of vetch is sown to 4 kilograms of the horse bean. 

 The Fenugrec (THgonella fcenum-graecum) is also cultivated in north Africa in con- 

 nection with the horse beans." (Swingle.) Distributed. 



3953. Phalaeis nodosa. 



From Algeria. Donated by Dr. L. Trabut, government botanist. Received 



December, 1899. 



A perennial grass which bears swollen root stocks or tubers just below the surface 



of the ground. It is propagated principally by means of these tubers. The variety 



hirtiglumis has proved to be a valuable forage plant at Rouiba. It should be tested in 



Washington and other regions where Phalaris arundinacea has succeeded. Distributed. 



3954. Vicia bengalensis. Bengal vetch. 



From Algeria. Presented by Dr. L. Trabut, government botanist, Mustapha- 

 Alger. Received December 1, 1899. 



"A vigorous vetch which does very well at the Rouiba experiment station. It 

 somewhat resembles the native Algerian scarlfet vetch." (Swingle. ) 



3955. Albizzia lebbek. Lebbek. 



From Egypt. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild, December 12, 

 1899. (See No. 3988; also Div. Bot. Circ. 23. ) 



3956. Melilotus macrostachys. Sweet clover. 



From Algeria. Presented by Dr. L. Trabut, government botanist of Algeria. 

 Received December, 1899. 



"This sweet clover, unlike most of the others of this genus, has no discernible odor 

 and is readily eaten by stock. It is a native north African species, which may be 

 readily cultivated. It grows irregularly, is early, and yields from 16 to 24 tons of 

 green forage to the acre. It grows from -i to 6 feet high." (Swingle.) Distributed. 



3957. Pennisetum rupellianum. 



From Algeria. Presented by Dr. L. Trabut, government botanist, Mustapha- 

 Alger. Received December 1, 1899. 



"This grass, recently introduced into north Africa from Abyssinia, grows larger 

 than Pennisetum villosum and is a better forage plant. This plant, which does not suf- 

 fer from drought, yields seed which may prove valuable. It shows a tendency to 

 become wild in north Africa. ' ' ( Trabut. ) Distributed. 



