INVENTORY. 11 



very thick and firm. When fully ripe most of them turn a little yellow, some quite 

 yellow, and a spot on the blossom end about the size of a half dollar will be found 

 quite mellow on pressing it. This is an infallible test, and you may be sure the 

 melon is fit to eat, notwithstanding it may still look green, and most of the rind may 

 yet remain very hard. They are excellent feed for milch cows, calves, horses, and 

 poultry. The average weight for salable melons is from 6 to 10 pounds, although I 

 have raised a great many that weighed 12 to 15 pounds each, and one that weighed 

 19i pounds. I have had these melons in my yard entirely exposed to the weather 

 when the temperature was down to 32° and 30° above zero, without being harmed 

 in the least. I plant the seeds of this melon here from the 1st to the 10th of May, 

 in hills 6 feet apart each way, leaving finally two plants in a hill. I cultivate them 

 thoroughly, once a week both ways, until the vines interfere." (Adams.) Dis- 

 tributed. 



4390. Zea mays. Corn. 



From Tennessee. Received February 8, 1900. 

 Wellborn' s Conscience. Seed destroyed. 



4391. Avena sativa. Oat. 



From North Dakota. Received February 1, 1900. 



1Yhite Russian. This is a very hardy oat, prolific and of excellent quality. It is 

 admirably adapted for cultivation in the coldest latitudes of this country, having 

 originated in a similar climate. It is about the most resistant to crown rust of all 

 northern-grown varieties. Should be sown very early — as soon as the opening of 

 spring will permit. 



4392. Triticum compactum. Wheat. 



From Idaho. Received February, 1900. 



Little Club. This variety is one of the club group of wheats, and is commonly 

 grown in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. It may be sown in autumn or spring. 

 The plant is short, with short but very compact, beardless heads, well filled. The 

 grain is white, soft and starchy, rounded, and pointed, somewhat similar in shape to 

 barley grains. It is adapted admirably to all Northwestern mountain States, but 

 might also be tried in the more southern States if sown in October. 



4393. Zea mays. Corn. 



From South Carolina. Received February, 1900. 



Garick's Prolific. A white field corn with medium ears. Stalks stout, leafy, bear- 

 ing two to five ears, which finallv become pendent. An excellent variety for the 

 South. 



4394. Medicago sativa. Alfalfa. 



From northern Utah. Received February 8, 1900. Distributed. 



4395. Medicago sativa. Alfalfa. 



From southern Utah. Received February 8, 1900. Distributed. 



4396. Phleum pratense. Timothy. 



From Utah. Received February 8, 1900. 



4397. Landolphia hendelotii. 



From France. Received February 10, 1900. 



The Landolphias are African rubber plants. They are lianes or vines. Recent 

 experiments indicate that all of the caoutchouc in the plant may be extracted by 

 mechanical means, the stems being first dried and then macerated in warm water. 

 Distributed. 



