65 



3981. Eruca sativa. Rocket salad. 



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

 300) , December 28, 1899. 



Seed broadcasted. Forty days until harvest. Said to be an excellent Egyptian 

 variety. 



"A low-growing plant with leaves like those of the radish. Stem erect, smooth, 

 and branching; flowers rather large, white or yellow, veined with violet; seed 

 vessels cylindrical, with three not very prominent ribs on each side; seeds brown, 

 smooth, and somewhat flattened. The seed is sown in the open ground from April 

 to the end of summer, and the leaves may be cut in about six weeks or two months. 

 In spring or autumn fresh leaves are abundantly produced after cutting, but in 

 midsummer the plants run to seed rapidly. Frequent waterings are useful in keep- 

 ing the leaves tender, and in modifying the flavor, which is very strong and some- 

 what like that of horse-radish. The young leaves are eaten as salad." ( Vilmorin.) 

 (Reprinted from Inventory No. 6.) 



3982. Luffa cylindrica (?). Sponge gourd. 



From Cairo, Egvpt. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 301) , December 28, 1899. 



This is a very pretty perennial creeper for trees or trellises. It requires little 

 care and forms a luxuriant foliage. The blossoms are much sought by honey bees. 

 When sown in March in France it yielded fruits in July. When young the fruits 

 are pickled like cucumbers, or fried. The mature fruits contain a tough skeleton 

 of the greatest convenience, when dried and split open, as a scrubbing brush for bath 

 or kitchen. Although a perennial, it is grown as an annual preferably, as the fruits 

 which are grown the first year are larger. It is very profitable as a small crop in 

 Egypt. The plant requires plenty of water and is easily propagated by layering. 

 Most native houses are provided with the skeletons of this gourd for domestic pur- 

 poses. Hats and various other articles of apparel are manufactured from Luffa fiber. 

 (Reprinted from Inventory No. 6.) 



3983. Lactuca sativa. Lettuce. 



From Cairo, Egvpt. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 302), December 28, 1899. 



Grown in Upper Egypt exclusively for oil production. Sown broadcast in beds 

 and left to seed. Oil is pressed from the ground seed precisely as from cotton seed. 

 The yield of oil is 200 kilos per 4,200 square meters, or from 9 to 11 pounds per 

 bushel of seed. The oil is an excellent substitute for olive oil. (Reprinted from 

 Inventory No. 6.) 



3984. Brassica rapa (?). Strawberry spinach. 



From Cairo, Egypt. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 303), 

 December 28, 1899. 



Leaves of the Strawberry spiuach are used as a salad, especially on account of the 

 green coloring matter, which is easily extracted and gives a brilliant color to vege- 

 table dishes. The seed is sown broadcast. Five to ten cuttings of leaves may be 

 made. The scientific name is doubtful. This is reported as an Egyptian variety. 

 (Reprinted from Inventory No. 6.) 



3985. Cucurbita maxima. Pumpkin. 



From Cairo, Egypt. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 304), 

 December 28, 1899. 



A yellow, oblong variety, If feet long. Both this variety and No. 4265 were com- 

 pared with 15 European sorts grown ir> Egypt and found superior, both in amount 

 of flesh and in sweetness. The trials were made by Mr. George Bonaparte, Gizeh, 

 near Cairo. (Reprinted from Inventory No. 6.) 



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