282 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



9483. 



From Johannesburg, Transvaal. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fair- 

 child (No. 1108, February 18, 1903), March 24, 1903. 



"An undetermined species of the sunflower family which, according to Mr. R. W. 

 Odlam, superintendent of the Municipal Garden at Johannesburg, bears very pretty 

 pale-yellow flowers and is worthy of being brought into cultivation. These seeds 

 were collected by him on the high veld for the purpose of planting in his garden. 

 They should be sown immediately upon arrival." (Fairchild.) 



9484. Gerbera jamesoni. Barberton or Transvaal daisy. 



From Johannesburg, Transvaal. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fair- 

 child (No. 1106, February 18, 1903), March 24, 1903. 



"This showy perennial is half hardy and can be grown in the open in California 

 and the Southwest but will probably succeed as a potted plant, if set out in the 

 summer time, even as far north as Chicago. Its flowers, which are daisy-like in 

 shape and very large, are of a beautiful scarlet color. They are not borne in great 

 abundance but are nevertheless very showy. The foliage, resembling slightly that 

 of the dandelion in shape, is a deep, dark green, and the flower scapes, which rise 

 out of a dense mass of it, are long and slender. The flower is a brilliant, attractive 

 thing and well worthy of attention. The seeds are very short lived and should be 

 planted at once in rich, sandy potting soil. Should germinate in ten to twelve days. 

 The plants require plenty of water and sunshine." (Fairchild.) 



9485. Ananas sativus. Pineapple. 



From Durban, Natal. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 1109, February 19, 1903), March 30, 1903. 



Natal. "Sets taken from the tops of two most delicious pineapples of the common 

 cultivated variety of Natal. More sets w r ould be sent were it not for a disease which 

 is prevalent among the Natal pines and which we fear to introduce into America. 

 This disease is said to be fungous in character and to be caused by a species of Mucor 

 which gets into the fruit through places attacked by a red mite. These two plants 

 should be watched closely and the sets carefully examined before planting, for 

 although they came from perfectly sound fruit they may harbor this Mucor. The 

 Natal pineapple is a small sort of most unusual uniformity of flavor and texture and 

 surpasses in sweetness, crispness, and freedom from fiber or seeds any other pine- 

 apple which we have ever eaten. Its small, convenient size and tenderness of flesh 

 suit it better than any variety w r e have ever seen for general table use, and its excellent 

 shipping qualities must recommend it to American growers. It has scarcely any 

 core, and from the standpoint of the consumer it is a great pineapple. It is said to 

 thrive with very little attention in Natal." (Fairchild. ) 



9486. Mangifera indica. Mango. 



From Beira, Portuguese East Africa. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and 

 Fairchild (No. 1091, January 28, 1903), April 2, 1903. 



Lathrop. "The single fruit from which one of these two seeds came, and from 

 which the following description is made, was the only one obtainable during our 

 short stop in Beira. It was 15 T \ inches in largest circumference and of a peculiar, 

 characteristic shape; being in outline (seen from the stem end) very broadly ellipti- 

 cal (14 inches in circumference at base) while, seen in profile, it was heart shaped 

 with a decided oblique tendency. It resembled in shape a Sour Sop and was nearly 

 as large as a medium-sized specimen of this species of Anona. The skin was, when 

 ripe, a light golden yellow and of a peculiar texture, not common to other varieties 

 of mangoes that I have seen. It was not quite smooth but suggested the roughness 

 of a pomelo skin. It was about one-eighth inch thick and quite tough, and on the 

 inside it was lined with a number of long, strong fibers which did not penetrate into 

 the flesh but adhered closely to the skin. The flesh, irom this skin quite down to 

 the short libers attached to the seed, was entirely devoid of stringiness of any kind 

 and had the texture of a firm custard and was of a deep golden color. In aroma it 

 lacked very little of being as pronounced and agreeable as that of the best Alphonse 

 variety of Bombay and its flesh had the indescribably rich flavor which character- 

 izes the best varieties of this tropical fruit. The seed was small (3f by 2:] by 1 \ ) in 



