58 SEEDS AND PLANTS [MPORTED. 



25087— Continued. 



be easier to cultivate than the Mazzard or Mahaleb seedlings which are now in use 

 and the propagating work done in the winter on the bench instead of in the field? 

 The difficulties in getting a stock large enough to bud in regions where the leaf-blight 

 is bad has suggested the trial <>f this Japanese wild cherry as a possible way out of 

 this difficulty. By recent tests I have shown that this wild form strikes very easily 

 in sand." (Fairchih/. | 



25088. Vigna QNGUicrrLATA (L.) Walp. Cowpea. 

 From Muskegon, Mich. Presented l>y Mr. C. I>. McLouth. Received March 



15, 1909. 

 Red Ripper (?). "My seed of tins variety has been developed from a solitary plant 

 found in a field of Whippoorwill cowpeas grown in 1905. This seed was purchased 

 from a local dealer. It is by far the besl variety 1 have grown in its earliness and 

 abundant pod production.' 1 i ifcLouih.) 



25089. Belou glutinosa (Blanco) Skeels. 



From Philippine Islands. Presented by Mr. William S. Lyon, Manila, P. I. 

 Received March 22, L909. 

 Seed. See IN" o. --'i.")!! i for description. 



Distribution. A small tree, native of the Philippine Islands. 

 25090 and 25091. 



From Strasbun,', (ierinany. Presented by Mr. (Joorge Wintz, Benson, Minn., 

 through Mr. J. M. West-ate. Received March L5, 1909. 

 Seeds of each of the following: 



25090. Tuiioi.n m ikaiknse L. Red clover. 



25091. Medicago nativa L. Alfalfa. 

 ''This seed was received under the name Spitzeklee, which is said to be hardier 



than ordinary alfalfa." (Westgate.) 



25094. Ficus stcomorus L. 



From Cairo, Egypt. Presented by Mr. W. Lawrence Balls, botanist, Khedivial 

 Agricultural Society. Received March 22, 1909. 



"This species' of fig is grown largely along the north coast of Africa as a shade tree. 

 Giant specimens are to be found in Alexandria and Cairo and at Biskra. The trees 

 are beautiful shade trees, and make wonderful avenues in these dry climates where 

 irrigation is practiced. The fruits are small, about the size of a pigeon's egg, and are 

 sometimes eaten by the Algerian Arabs. They are, however, of no commercial 

 importance. 



"As the plants are grown easily from cuttings and make very rapid growth this 

 tree may be expected to thrive well in the practically frostless regions of California 

 and Florida. I do not know how low temperatures it will stand, but probably not 

 more than a temperature of 18° or 20° F. 



"Like many valuable things, it has its drawbacks. The Europeans in Egypt com- 

 plain of a bad odor exhaled by the tree during the fruiting season." (Fairchild.) 



' ' This tree will probably not fruit in the absence of its peculiar fig insect, which is 

 in this case not a Blastophaga at all but belongs to another genus. Probably this will 

 solve the malodorus fruit problem. I fear you will find it rather tender." (Walter T. 

 Swingle.) 



Distribution. — A large tree found in Egypt and the adjacent countries of the north- 

 eastern part of Africa. 

 162 



