12 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



24437. Asparagus filicinus Hamil. 



From Nocera Inferiore, Italy. Presented by Mr. Willy Muller. Received Jan- 

 uary 5, 1909. 

 "This species was originally collected by Buchanan-Hamilton in Nepaul, but has 

 since been found in many localities extending from Burma to the western Himalaya, 

 and thence northward to Mongolia. It is erect in habit and attains a height of nearly 

 4 feet, having horizontally spreading branches. The slender, flattened phylloclades 

 are about one-third of an inch long and are borne in clusters of about five. The 

 greenish white flowers are seated on slender pedicels about twice as long as the 

 phylloclades." (Gardener's Chronicle, August 15, 1908.) 



24438 to 24440. 



From Kingston, Jamaica. Received through Mr. William Harris, superintendent 

 of public gardens, Department of Agriculture, Hope Gardens, January 5, 1909. 



24438. Zinziber officinale Rose. Ginger. 

 Rhizomes. Procured for Dr. R. H. True's experiments at Orange City, Fla. 



24439. Persea gratissima Gaertn. f. Avocado. 



24440. Indigofera anil L. 



' ' Seeds of a leguminous shrub reaching a height of several feet and distin- 

 guished from the common indigo (Indigofera tinctoria) by having short, com- 

 pressed, sickle-shaped pods and by its capability of being propagated by means 

 of cuttings. Indigenous in Tropical America, and occurring from the Carolinas 

 to Brazil. Formerly widely cultivated in both the eastern and the western hemi- 

 spheres, and together with /. tinctoria an important source of indigo. Now, too, 

 found in waste places from North Carolina to Florida and Louisiana. It is no 

 longer cultivated commercially in the United States, since the introduction 

 of substitutes has rendered indigo production unprofitable." (W. W. Stock- 

 berg er.) 



24441. Oryza sativa L. Rice. 



From Honolulu, Hawaii. Presented by Mr. F. G. Krauss, in charge of rice inves- 

 tigations, Hawaii Experiment Station. Received January 6, 1909. 

 "Variety No. 164, 34 to 40 inches tall. A strong, erect grower, tillers well, and 

 bears heavily a kernel of good quality. Mature in 120 days. One of the best Japan 

 rices grown at the Hawaii station. We give preference to this variety, which promises 

 to supersede other Japan types in Hawaii." (Krauss.) 



24442 to 24447. 



From Sholapur, India. Presented by M. A. Peacock, esq., treasurer, the Ameri- 

 can Marathi Mission. Received December 26, 1908. 

 The following seeds, native names, and notes by Mr. Peacock: 



24442 and 24443. Andropogon sorghum (L.) Brot. Durra. 



24442. Jowar Sholapuri. Stalks often grow 10 feet tall; heads mam- 

 moth. 



"White. This is a medium-sized head, rather compact, with a rather 

 small, flattened, white seed inclosed in transversely wrinkled, mostly 

 pale, glumes; florets awned. Apparently represents a group not hereto- 

 fore introduced." (Carleton R. Ball.) 



