68 



3996. Allium cepa. Onion. 



From islands of Upper Nile, Egypt. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and 

 Fairchild, (No. 315), December 28, 1899. 

 The onions from the islands of the Upper Nile are exported in very large quanti- 

 ties to England. They are said to be an unusually sweet variety, of medium size 

 and irregular form. They are yellowish pink. For trial in warm, dry regions of 

 the South. Plant in the usual way. Recommended for irrigated Western lands. 

 (Reprinted from Inventory No. 5.) 



3997. Vicia faba. Horse bean. 



From Cairo, Egypt. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 316) , 

 December 28, 1899. 

 Selected seed of the Egyptian fodder bean from 'Saidi' or Upper Egypt. 'This 

 plant produces the principal cattle and horse food of Egypt, ' according to Mr. George 

 Foaden, secretary of the Khedivial Agricultural Society. The seed is sown in 

 November at the rate of 3 bushels per acre, and if on soil which has been overflowed 

 by the Nile, receives no water during the season. If sown on irrigated land, it is 

 watered when sown and once when the crop is half grown. Matures in from five 

 to six months. Harvested with scythe or knife. Stalks dried in field and beans 

 thrashed out; yields 50 bushels per acre. Fed to cattle ground and mixed with 

 chopped straw. A ration is 8 to 10 pounds of beans to 26 pounds of straw per day. 

 (Reprinted from Inventory No. 6. ) Distributed. 



3998. Zea mays. Corn. 



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

 317), December 28, 1899. 



A variety which yields heavy crops, and from comparison with introduced varie- 

 ties is a heavier bearer and much preferred by cultivators. According to Mr. George 

 P. Foaden, secretary of the Khedivial Agricultural Society, the yield is often 40 or 

 50 bushels per acre. Receives five waterings during the season. This is a field variety, 

 said to be superior to any variety grown in Egypt from European seed. (Reprinted 

 from Inventory No. 6. ) Distributed. 



3999. Zea mays. Corn. 



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

 318), December 28, 1899. 



Used by Europeans and natives for roasting ears. Matures in sixty days from 

 planting. Doubtful if superior to our varieties of sweet corn, but should be tested. 

 Sown in April here as a catch crop. ( Reprinted from Inventory No. 6. ) 



4000. Zea mays. Corn. 



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

 319), December 18, 1899. 



A variety of Egyptian corn used for roasting by the natives. Matures in seventy 

 days. Recommended for the drier regions of the South. (Reprinted from Inven- 

 tory No. 6.) 



4001 to 4136. 



The following 136 numbers comprise part of a collection of native North American 

 plants offered for foreign exchange. A descriptive account will be given in a special 

 publication. 



4001. Vicia leavenworthii. Vetch. 

 From Burnet, Tex. Received through Mr. George Stolley, October 10, 



1899. 



4002. Atriplex pabularis. Saltbush. 

 From Laramie, Wyo. Received through Prof. Aven Nelson, November, 



1899. 



