JULY, 1906, TO DECEMBEE, 1907. 123 



20809 to 20812. 



From Buenos Aires, Argentina. Presented by the Buenos Aires Botanical 

 Garden, through Mr. C. V. Piper, April 6, 1907. 



Lathyrus nervosus. 20811. Paspalum paranense. 



20810. Lathyrus sericeus. 20812. Stipa ichu. 



20814. Cucuebita maxima. Squash. 



From Venice, Italy. Received through Dr. Erwin F. Smith, of this De- 

 partment, April 5, 1907. 



" Collected in September, 1906. A large squash with thick flesh and small 

 cavity; of good quality and the best variety seen in the streets of Venice, 

 where it is sold baked in halves." (Smith.) 



20837. Cucumis melo. Muskmelon. 



From Chios, Turkey. Presented by Mr. N. J. Pantelides. Received Feb- 

 ruary, 1907. 

 Khios. 



20838 to 20842. 



From Shanghai, China. Received through Mr. Frank N. Meyer, agricul- 

 tural explorer, April 9, 1907. 



A collection of cuttings and plants. 



20838 and 20839. Viburnum odoratissimum. 



" Nos. 646 and 647. Cuttings of a beautiful, large-leaved, evergreen 

 shrub, growing to a height of 15 feet, bearing many clusters of white 

 flowers. A very fine shrub for the mild-wintered regions of the United 

 States. Especially good for cemeteries and parks. Obtained from Mr. 

 D. MacGregor, superintendent of the parks of Shanghai." (Meyer.) 



20840 and 20841. Osterdamia pungens. 



" Nos. 648 and 649. A grass used for lawns in the parks and open 

 places in Shanghai. It is the only grass that can be kept green during 

 the heat and drought of midsummer. It might be an excellent grass for 

 gardens and parks in the southern United States. Obtained from Mr. 

 D. MacGregor, superintendent of the parks of Shanghai." (Meyer.) 



20842. Bambusa sp. Bamboo. 



" No. 650. Shoots purchased in the vegetable market at Shanghai. 

 where the plant is a favorite food with the Chinese. It is generally eaten 

 boiled and sliced with rice, or in soups, although it is even better if fried 

 in pork fat." (Meyer.) 



20846. Xanthosoma sagittifolium. Yautia. 



From Bahama Islands, British West Indies. Received through Mr. P. J. 

 Wester, special agent, April 12, 1907. 



" Eddie, the name by which this large variety is known in the Bahamas." 

 (Wester.) 



20854 to 20862. 



From Harbin, Manchuria. Received through Mr. F. N. Meyer, agricultural 

 explorer, April 11, 1907. 



A miscellaneous collection of seeds. 



20854. Glycine hisfida. Soy bean. 



"(No. 675a, Dec. 15, 1906.) Green soy beans; Chinese name Ta shing 

 toa. These are boiled and used as food, and the sprouts of the germinated 

 beans are also used as a vegetable throughout the winter months." 

 (Meyer.) 

 132 



