APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1908. 37 



22833. Panicum maximum Jacq. 



From Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa. Presented by Mr. J. Burtt Davy, 

 government agrostologist and botanist, Transvaal Department of Agri- 

 culture. Received May 11, 1908. 

 " Bush-Buffel grass, one of our best perennial pasture and bay grasses. In 

 the ' Flora Capensis,' Stapf refers this to Panicum maximum, but cultivated 

 side by side with the latter for several years at my experiment station it shows 

 marked and constant differences; these may not prove to be other than va- 

 rietal, but are sufficient for cultural purposes. Our Buff el grass is finer in 

 texture than Guinea grass and is not so tropical in its requirements. It is 

 found in very dry country at an altitude of about 2,500 to 2,600 feet; it is 

 somewhat sensitive to frost, the tops dying but the roots not being killed in 

 winter. It may prove a useful grass on light soils in the Southern States and 

 is worth trial also in Arizona and southern California. This is the principal 

 feed of stock which trek down to the ' Winter's veld ' in winter, and it is said 

 to have great fattening properties even when dry. Seed does not ripen evenly." 

 (Davy.) 



22834. Medicago sativa L. Alfalfa. 

 From near San Pedro, near Pacasmayo, Peru. Purchased in Peru by 



Wessel, Duval & Co., New York, N. Y. Secured from them by Mr. C. J. 

 Brand. Received May 12, 190S. 



Andean. " This alfalfa was secured through the same firm as was the Peru- 

 vian alfalfa, S. P. I. No. 9303, described in Bulletin 118, Bureau of Plant 

 Industry." (Brand.) 



" The parties in Peru who secured the seed state : ' The price to-day (June 9) 

 is about 75 soles per 100 pounds Spanish, on board, Pacasmayo, packed in 

 double bags. San Pedro seed is considered the best on the coast, but in our 

 opinion that harvested in other parts of the province is just as good. 



"'Alfalfa is generally sown (when there is water) in the months of June to 

 September (the winter months), when the pasture grows highest, for in the 

 summer months the alfalfa does not flourish and remains small. In general, 

 the alfalfa fields last for four or more years, being cut down every 45 days. 

 Alfalfa is sown in all kinds of earth, except in that containing saltpeter, which 

 kills the plant. (Loose, sandy soil with moist subsoil is the best.) 



" 'As to harvesting the seed, this is uncertain. Very often the alfalfa fields 

 flower in the best way, but with one or two nights of low temperature, all the 

 flowers fall off and consequently the harvest of seed is bad. It is not possible 

 to state the quantity of seed which can be gathered in this province in one year, 

 for this depends on the abundance of alfalfa and the number of fields which 

 are left for seed. The older the alfalfa fields the better seed they yield. Dur- 

 ing this year many of the fields which were left for seed have failed, for the 

 reasons given above: still we consider that about 2,000 quintals of seed will 

 have been gathered.' " (Wessel, Duval £ Co.) 



22835 to 22860. Phoenix dactylifera L. Date. 



From the Persian Gulf region. Received through Mr. William C. Magelssen, 

 American consul, Bagdad, Turkey, May 14, 190S. 



22835. Maktum (Asfar). 22838. Khastawi. 



22836. Maktum (Ahmar). 22839. Halaivi. 



22837. Ascherasi. 22840. Khadrawi. 

 142 



