48 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



24876— Continued. 



"Properties and uses. — Although the titoki does not afford a durable timber under 

 exposure, it is justly valued on account of its great strength, toughness, and elastic- 

 ity, while it is straight in the grain, even, compact, and easily worked; it is of light 

 reddish color and destitute of figure. 



"It is suitable for purposes which demand great strength and elasticity, but do 

 not involve any great amount of exposure to the weather. It is highly valued for 

 bullock yokes; with the exception of mangiao it is perhaps the best of all New 

 Zealand timbers for that purpose; it is excellent for ax handles and for the handles 

 of carpenters' tools, for singletrees, for light framing for machinery, and for some 

 purposes of the cabinetmaker; but is most highly esteemed by the wheelwright and 

 coach builder, being used for light spokes, fellies, hubs, panels, and bent ware. It 

 is also suitable for the manufacture of the woodwork of many kinds of agricultural 

 implements. 



"Distribution. — Alectryon comprises only a single species, which is endemic in 

 New Zealand. It is common in lowland woods or on their margins throughout the 

 North Island, and, crossing Cook Strait, finds its southern limit on Banks Peninsula, 

 on the east coast, and between Hokitika and Ross, on the west coast. 



"Although essentially a lowland plant, it ascends from the sea level to upward of 

 2,000 feet." (" The Forest Flora of New Zealand," by Thomas W. Kirk, F. L. S.) 



"It may be of interest to know that this was introduced from New Zealand to 

 California at least thirty-five years ago, and there are trees bearing regularly at 

 Berkeley and elsewhere in northern California; but it is such a slow grower that 

 nobody ever paid much attention to it." (Extract from letter of Dr. F. Franceschi, 

 April 14, 1909.) 



24878. Andropogon sorghum (L.) Brot. Milo. 



From Liberal, Kans. Purchased from Mr. John L. Boles. Received March 8, 

 1909. 

 "Grown from G. I. No. 235, selected originally for earliness, dwarfness, uniformity, 

 and productiveness." (Carleton R. Ball.) 



24879. Paxicum divaricatum L. (?) 



From Surinam, Dutch Guiana. Presented by Mr. J. R. Wigman, director, 

 Botanic Garden, Paramaribo, Surinam. Received March 9, 1909. 



24880 to 24911. 



From Abyssinia. Presented by Mr. Hubert S. Smiley, Drumalis, Larne, Antrim 

 County, Ireland. Received March 2, 1909. 

 The following seeds: 



24880. Hordeum distichon L. Barley. 

 Two rowed, white. "Grown in January on any ground; irrigation necessary." 



24881. Hordeum sp. Barley. 

 Two rowed, white. "Grown in June on any ground except black earth." 



24882. Hordeum sp. Barley. 

 Two rowed, black. "Grown in June on high land." 



24883. Triticum sp. Wheat. 

 Black. " Grown in June and August on high and low land." 



24884. Triticum aestivum L. Wheat. 

 White. "Grown in July on the plateau." 



162 



