﻿52 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



" Collected in open land, Chekiang, November 14 to 30, 1916. Chinese name 

 Hsiang chang (fragrant camphor)." {Bailie.) 



A moderate-sized, much-branched tree with an enlarged base, up to 40 feet 

 in height. It has alternate, ovate-elliptic leaves which are pinkish on the 

 young growths, and small, yellow flowers. The fruits are drupes about the 

 size of a large pea. It is native to China and Japan, but is cultivated in Florida, 

 the Gulf States, and southern California. From the wood is extracted the 

 commercial camphor. (Adapted from Bailey, Standard Cyclopedia of Horti- 

 culture, vol. 2, p. 773.) 



Introduced for comparison with the camphor trees already growing in the 

 South. 



44706 and 44707. Kibes vulgare Lam. Grossulariacese. 



Garden currant. 



From Lowdham, Nottingham, England. Plants purchased from J. R. Pear- 

 son & Sons. Received April 30, 1917. Notes adapted from catalogue of 

 J. R. Pearson & Sons. 



44706. Knight's Sioeet Red. A very prolific currant with large fruits in 

 evenly ripening bunches. It is less acid than other red currants. 



44707. Wentworth Leviathan. A vigorous, prolific variety with very 

 large white fruits. 



44708 and 44709. 



From Cairo, Egypt. Plants presented by Mr. Thomas W. Brown, director, 

 horticultural division, Gizeh Branch, Ministry of Agriculture. Received 

 May 1, 1917. Quoted notes by Prof. S. C. Mason, of the Bureau of Plant 

 Industry. 



44708. Ficus sycomorus L. Moraceae. Sycamore fig". 

 Var. Roanvi. " The variety Roumi is the large-fruited sort, cultivated 



for its fruits, as distinguished from the Kalabi, or ' dog figs,' having small 

 and worthless fruits. In different parts of Egypt Balady, Sultany, and 

 AraM are varietal terms synonymous with Roumi." 



44709. Olea europaea L. Oleacese. Olive. 

 " Tafahi. From the omda of the village of Fedimine Mr. Brown secured 



the promise of some rooted sprouts of the Fayum olive varieties for me. 

 These he afterwards obtained and grew in the gardens at Gizeh. The 

 above specimen is one of them. 



" The Tafahi, or apple olive, is held in the highest repute of the three 

 varieties grown in Fayum, the industry centering around the village of 

 Fedimine. Though reputed as only moderately productive, its large size 

 and fine appearance cause it to be in great demand throughout the 

 Egyptian delta. As the flesh is very soft and buttery when fully ripe it 

 is marketed about November 1, when it begins to color. From the largest 

 ripe fruit found at Fedimine November 20, I made the following descrip- 

 tion : Fruit deep purplish black with lilac bloom, 4.5 cm. long, 3 cm. 

 broad, broadly ovate with blunt apex terminating in a short, acute tip. 

 There is a rather deep cavity around the stalk, and some fruits show a 

 slight fold. The flesh is about 1 cm. in thickness; the pit is large and 

 rough, with deep longitudinal furrows, about 2 cm. long and 1 cm. broad, 



