﻿APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1917. 53 



44708 and 44709— Continued. 



broadly rounded at the base, obtusely pointed at the apex. The fresh 

 olives are packed in leaves in crates (holding about 3 pecks each) made 

 from the ribs of the date leaf and are pickled by the people of the valley 

 according to their fancy. Pickled Tafahi olives were seen by the writer 

 both at Fedimine and in Cairo. 



"At present no oil is manufactured from the Fayum olives, but in one 

 of the villages were seen stones of ancient oil mills of beautiful red 

 Aswan granite and no doubt of Roman origin. Their purpose was un- 

 known to the present inhabitants. From this it may be conjectured that 

 the present olive trees of Fayum, as well as those of Dakhleh Oasis, have 

 come down from the time of the Roman occupation during the first 

 century A. D." 



44710. Phaseolus vulgaris L. Fabacese. Common bean. 



From Bahia, Brazil. Presented by Dr. V. A. Argollo Ferrao. Received 

 May 4, 1917. 



Mulatinho (little mulatto). A Brazilian bush variety of the common kidney 

 bean, cultivated in the coastal States, especially in Sao Paulo, where it matures 

 in 60 days, thus allowing two crops a year. The beans contain a large amount 

 (36 per cent) of starch and are used for human food in much the same manner 

 as the kidney bean. (Adapted from Journal of Commerce, New York, January 

 27,1917.) 



44711. Carapa guianensis Aubl. Meliacese. Crabwood tree. 



From Trinidad, British West Indies. Obtained from Mr. R. O. Williams, 

 curator, St. Clair Experiment Station. Received May 4, 1917. 



A tall tree, with compound leaves 11 feet long, small axillary flowers, and 

 thick-shelled, russet-brown fruits about 3 inches in diameter, containing two to 

 six chestnutlike seeds. The native name in Guiana is andirooa (bitter oil), re- 

 ferring to the oil expressed from the seeds. This oil is used by the natives, who 

 rub it into their skin to protect themselves from noxious insects ; it is also 

 made into a varnish or lacquer for iron objects, protecting these from rust. 

 From the bark and leaves a decoction is prepared which is a remedy for skin 

 disease; the bark contains an alkaloid termed carapina. The tree should be 

 tried as an ornamental in southern Florida and southern California. (Adapted 

 from J. B. Rodrigues, Hortus Fluminensis, p. 73, and note of Dorsett, Shamel, 

 and Popenoe, under S. P. I. No. 36715.) 



Introduced for trial as an insecticide. 



44712. Cannabis sativa L. Moracese. Hemp. 

 From Manchuria. Presented by Mr. M. Toyonaga, director, Central Experi- 

 ment Station, Keijo, Chosen (Korea). Received May 4, 1917. 



In Manchuria, where this plant is grown for the oil, the seeds are crushed 

 and steamed, and subjected to great pressure, yielding the oil which the Chi- 

 nese call ma tzu yu (hemp-seed oil). (Adapted from A. Hosie, Manchuria, p. 

 188, 1901.) 



Introduced for the Office of Drug, Poisonous, and Oil Plant Investigations. 



