APKIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1909. 29 



25533 and 25534— Continued. 



The following seeds: 



25533. Pritchaedia pacipica Seem. & Wendl. 



A spineless fan palm, remarkable for its fibrous, fluffy leafstalks. 

 Distribution. — A native of the Fiji and the Samoa Islands. 



25534. Caeludovica sp. 



25535 and 25536. Belou marmelos (L.) W. F. Wight. Bael. 



From India. Presented by Mr. A. Howard, Imperial Department of Agriculture, 

 Pusa, Bengal. Received April 30, 1909. 

 Seed of each of the following: 



25535. A variety from Madhaipore, near Dalsing Serai. 



25536. A small variety from Dalsing Serai, Tirhoot, which is considered to 

 have a good flavor. 



See Nos. 22957 and 24450 for general descriptive notes. 



Distribution.- — A small tree, native of India, being found on dry hills from Jhelum 

 to Assam and south to Travancor. 



25537. Medicago sativa L. Alfalfa. 



From Mitchell, S. Dak. Presented by Prof. W. A. Wheeler. Received May 



29, 1909. 



Baltic. "Grown from S. D. No. 167. This strain, which was originally secured 



near Baltic, S. Dak., has proved extremely hardy and drought resistant; it possesses 



the same variegated flowers that are to be observed in the Grimm alfalfa and the 



commercial sand lucern." (/. M. Westgate.) 



25538 to 25540. Cucumis melo L. Muskmelon. 



From Spain. Presented by J. Lapoulide & Co., Madrid, at the request of Hon. 

 Maddin Summers, American vice-consul. Received May 20, 1909. 



"Three varieties, as follows: From Anover, large and sweet. From Valencia, 

 early and very productive. From Villaconejo, valuable for its keeping qualities." 

 ( Lapoulide & Co. ) 



"I frankly believe that the introduction of these muskmelons in the United States 

 is a most important matter. The fact is I know of no plant that can equal this one 

 in intrinsic value to the farmer. To say that a successful cultivation of it may mean 

 millions is very little. It means hundreds of millions in time and will be a boon to 

 our farmers entirely unexpected. 



"It has been a mania of mine for years, but I have had difficulty in getting some 

 one interested in the matter. In my humble opinion if we can introduce this 

 product, my work as consul here will be well crowned, as the results will be 

 incalculable. 



"I do not know if you exactly appreciate the magnificence of this fruit. Our 

 cantaloupes and other classes of melons are common as compared with a first-class 

 Spanish 'melon.' During the month of January and February I had a large lot 

 hanging in my cellars suspended by hemp coverings. Several very prominent New 

 York club men, who were very particular about their menus and criticised the Hotel 

 de la Paix and the Hotel de Paris for their food, dined with us. It appears that 

 their great complaint came from the fact that in Spain, a country famous for its 

 fruits, they could find nothing that warranted this 'fama.' 



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