292 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



9603. Dracuncultjs canariensis. 



From Monte, Grand Canary, Canary Islands. Received through Messrs. 

 Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 1176, April 17, 1903), May 4, 1908. 



"A giant aroid with spathes sometimes 14 to 16 inches long. Yellowish or green- 

 ish in color. Leaves deeply lobed and ornamental. Grows 6 to 8 feet in height in 

 moist places in the mountains of Grand Canary. Might prove useful for breeders of 

 the calla lily because of its large size. This was called to our attention by Mr. A. 

 Delmard, of Monte." (Fairchild.) 



9604. PoRTULACARiA afra. Spek-boom. 



From Cape Town, South Africa. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fair- 

 child (No. 1130, March 8, 1903), May 6, 1903. 



Spek-boom. "This bush, which grows sometimes 12 to 15 feet high, forms one of 

 the most valuable fodder elements of the northeastern Karroo, in Cape Colony. It 

 is a succulent-leaved species, greedily eaten by horned stock, and well worth thorough 

 trial in the frostless, dry lands of our southwestern States. The cuttings should be 

 placed in the hands of the gardeners of a few interested ranch owners and at the 

 experiment stations in the States where the plant is likely to prove of value, with the 

 understanding that they are to be grown and multiplied and small patches of mother 

 plants started from which cuttings can be taken. The cuttings and young plants 

 must be protected from gophers, rats, mice, or prairie dogs until several years old. 

 At least the mother plantations should be so protected. This is not a desert plant, 

 but simply a species which has the power to withstand a long, dry season, and 

 because of the avidity with which live stock eat its leaves and stems it is worth 

 acclimatizing in the frostless regions of America. It thrives best on rocky slopes 

 and needs protection from the wind by wind-breaks. These cuttings were made 

 from a tree growing in the grounds of the South African Museum, in Cape Town, 

 which tree was planted many years ago by Professor MacOwan. They are a gift to 

 the American ranchman from this veteran Cape botanist who has done so much to 

 call attention to the good qualities of the Spek-boom. The climate of the region in 

 which the tree lives is illustrated bv these figures: Absolute maximum temperature 

 for ten years (1881-1890), 108° F., absolute minimum, 21° F. Rainfall average for 

 ten years, 18.76 inches per annum, occurring in the warm season." (Fairchild. ) 



9605. PORTULACARIA AFRA. 



From Oatlands, South Africa. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild 

 (No. 1155, March 16, 1903), May 6, 1903. 



Spek-boom. "These cuttings came from the typical Karroo, where the plant is 

 highly prized for fodder purposes. It may prove slightly different from those taken 

 from a tree in Cape Town, No. 9604. These cuttings were collected by Mr. Nash, of 

 the Cape department of agriculture, and secured through Mr. Davison, chief sheep 

 inspector of the department." ( Fairchild. ) (For description see No. 9604. ) 



9606. Ananas sativus. Pineapple. 



From Lower Albany, Trapps Valley, South Africa. Received through Messrs. 

 Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 1154, March 16, 1903), May 6, 1903. 



Natal. "This is evidently the same variety of pineapple as No. 9485. Fresh pine- 

 apples from this region which we tested were not as fine flavored as those we ate in 

 Xatal, but the fact that they had been picked green should be taken into considera- 

 tion. Should it grow as well in Florida as it does here it would prove a great suc- 

 cess. Secured through the kindness of Mr. Eustace Pillans, agricultural assistant of 

 Cape department of agriculture, from C. J. Anslev, Trapps Vallev, Cape Colon v." 

 (Fairchild.) " ' * 



9607. Vitis rupestris var. metallica. G-rape. 



From Cape Town, South Africa. Presented by the Cape department of agri- 

 culture through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 1137, March 10, 1903). 

 Received May 6, 1903. 



" A resistant American stock of South African origin, which has proved itself most 

 admirably suited to the conditions at the Cape, and especially adapted to 'any loose 



