254 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPOETED. 



9147 to 9160— Continued. 



9160. 



Siguino. "A second-class bean, used a great deal. For trial in New Mexico, 

 Arizona, and southern California." (Palmer.) 



9161. Pyrtts longipes. 



From Mustapha, Algiers, Algeria. Presented by Dr. L. Trabut, Government Bota- 

 nist. Received December 23, 1902. 



9162. Edgeworthia gardneri. Paper plant. 



From Shizuoka, Japan. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 



1008, August, 1902), January 6, 1903. 



Mitsumata. "The paper plant, from which some of the finest Japanese paper is 

 made. This fine paper is imported in large and increasing quantities into America, 

 where it is used for legal paper, stocks and bonds, deeds, diplomas, etc. This plant 

 requires especial attention, and a bulletin on its culture has appeared — B. P. I. Bulle- 

 tin No. 42. In Japan the seeds are kept in bags of palm sheath fiber in a shallow 

 hole in the floor of a house or shed, which is covered with boards to keep it dark. 

 In planting in the spring, sow in rows in rich garden soil, and when several inches 

 high transplant to nursery rows, and cultivate until large enough to plant out in per- 

 manent locations. It may, however, be planted out when only 8 to 9 inches high. 

 The plant is semihardy, but is often given protection, even in Japan. A frost of 6 

 or more degrees will not kill it, as it is a deciduous plant. It seems to adapt itself 

 to a variety of soils, and I believe it can be grown in arid regions by irrigation; at 

 least it is worthy of trial in them. The paper pulp yielded by the bark is four times 

 as valuable as ordinary wood pulp in Japan, and makes a quality of paper which for 

 many uses is immeasurably superior to our wood pulp or even rag papers. This 

 whole question of producing a bast paper in America is one worthy the serious con- 

 sideration of our cultivators in the South. In Japan the cultivation of this species is 

 increasing rapidly, I am told, and the consumption by foreigners of these fine Mitsu- 

 mata papers is larger every year. The attempt to find out where the plant will grow 

 should be made by the distribution of small potted plants rather than of seeds, and 

 one of the main objects of this first importation of seeds is to discover how far north 

 the plant will prove hardy. The bush grows about 6 feet high, is decorative, and is 

 sometimes planted for its pretty yellow flowers." (Fairchild.) 



9163. Edgeworthia gardneri. Paper plant. 



From Yokohama, Japan. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 1011, August, 1902), January 6, 1903, and February 28, 1903. 



(See No. 9162 for description.) 



9164. Myrica nagi. 



From Yokohama, Japan. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 



1009, August, 1902), January 6, 1903. 



Yama momo. ' ' Plants of the best variety of this fruit species. ( See No. 9314. ) The 

 best kind, i. e., that producing the largest fruit, has serrated leaves, I am informed. 

 Entire leaved forms produce smaller, scarcely edible fruits. This is a very slow- 

 growing tree, which will not produce fruit for six or seven years. Possibly a few 

 fruits will be produced in four years from these trees." (Fairchild.) 



9165. Wickstroemia canescens. Paper plant. 



From Yokohama, Japan. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild 

 (No. 1012, August, 1902), January 6, 1903. 



Gampi. ' ' A species of tree from which the noted Gampi paper is made. This 

 plant has never been cultivated in Japan, but grows wild in the mountains of the 

 provinces of Yainato, Ise, Mino, etc. The demand for the bark is so great that the 

 plant is being killed out. The paper made from its bark is the toughest, finest, silkiest 

 paper in the world, and is used for the manufacture of letter press-copying books, etc. 

 In America many of these Japanese letter books are in use, and the export of this Gampi 



