APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1908. 51 



22972 and 22973. Medicago sativa L. Alfalfa. 



From Chile. Presented by Mr. Rea Hanna, American consul, Iquique. Re- 

 ceived June 19, 190S. 

 22972. 



From Pica, Tarapaca, Chile. " The man from whom I procured it says 

 that the alfalfa from wlich it was obtained has been planted 12 years 

 and produces from six to eight crops per year." (Hanna.) 



22973. 



From Matilla, Chile. " I do not know that there is any difference be- 

 tween this and the above (S. P. I. No. 22972), except that it comes from 

 another small oasis near Pica. Many of these fields have been planted 

 for nearly 100 years without reseeding and give remarkable crops, and 

 the plants may have acquired some new qualities of virility from the 

 wonderful soil and atmosphere." (Hanna.) 



22974 to 23038. 



From China. Received through Mr. Frank N. Meyer, agricultural ex- 

 plorer, and brought by him to the Plant Introduction Garden, Chico, Cal., 

 June, 1908. 

 The following plants: 



22974. Sophora japonica L. 



From Fengtai, near Peking. Chihli, China. "(No. 331, Mar. 31, 1908.) 

 The well-known Pagoda tree, of which there are two varieties in China, 

 one with a whitish bark and the other with black. Both varieties are 

 supposed to be among this lot, but it is not until after a few years that 

 one is able to see the difference between the trees ; when young they all 

 look alike. Chinese name Huai shit." (Meyer.) 



22975. Ulmtjs pumila L. Elm. 

 From Fengtai, near Peking, Chihli, China. "(No. 332, Mar. 31, 1908.) 



The Chinese elm, used all over northern China and Manchuria as an 

 avenue, shade, and timber tree. Resists droughts, extremes of heat and 

 cold, and neglect remarkably well ; will be a good shade tree for the 

 semiarid northern regions of the United States. The Chinese carts are 

 mainly constructed from the wood of this tree. Chinese name Dja yii 

 shu, meaning family elm tree." (Meyer.) 



22976. Eeiobotrya japonica (Thunb) Lindl. Loquat. 

 From Tangsi, Chehkiang, China. "(No. 333, Mar., 1907, and Apr., 



1908.) A loquat said to bear white or at least very pale yellow colored 

 fruits, which have a very fine flavor. A rare variety. Chinese name Pai 

 Mbaw." (Meyer.) 



22977. Myrica nagi Thunb. 



From Tangsi, Chehkiang, China. "(No. 334, Mar., 1907.) The so-called 

 ' strawberry tree ' of central China ; produces nice edible fruits which 

 can be preserved or used in pastries, fruit sirups, etc. Chinese name 

 Yang mae." (Meyer.) 



22978. Viburnum macrocephalum Fortune. 



From Soochow. Kiangsu, China. "(No. 335, Apr. 26, 1908.) The 

 giant Chinese snowball. A tall bush bearing enormous umbels of white 

 flowers, sometimes over 1 foot in diameter. The plants are mostly used 

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