﻿10 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



There is a place for a peach in the southern part of Florida, if 

 only the tree suited to that region of tropical southern rains can be 

 found. A freestone variety (No. 45662) of the peen-to type from the 

 French West Indies, which is said to resist decay, may furnish this 

 southern peach. 



It has seemed a little strange that so excellent a fruit as that of 

 the- passion vine, which ranks among the best fruits of Australia, 

 should still be practically an unknown fruit on our markets. The 

 hard-shelled sweet granadilla of Guatemala (Passifiora ligularis, No. 

 45614), which instead of being purple in color is a deep orange- 

 yellow and instead of shriveling keeps its plump form, may attract 

 people more than the commoner species, P. edulis. 



Mr. Frank N. Meyer's introduction of the grafted varieties of the 

 Chinese jujube has resulted in the development of that very heat- 

 resistant fruit in Texas and California. The introduction of 34 

 distinct varieties of jujubes from the island of Mauritius, which be- 

 long to a different botanical species (Ziziphus mauritiana, Nos. 

 45625 to 45658), may make the creation of new forms possible. This 

 Mauritian fruit is said to be sold in the villages of the island in 

 large quantities and to be appreciated by the Europeans as well as 

 by the native inhabitants of the island. This inventory announces 

 also the introduction of a third species from Argentina (Ziziphus 

 mistol, No. 45227). Since no breeding has ever been done in this 

 genus, it will be interesting to see what can be done in the crossing 

 of these different species. News comes of the existence in the Punjab 

 of jujubes of large size, whether of one of these species is not yet 

 definitely known here. 



The wide use of Casuarina equisetif olia as a street tree in southern 

 Florida has engendered considerable discussion as to its benefits. It 

 is possible that the Sumatra species (C. sumatrana. No. 45659), which 

 is more handsome, may prove hardy enough and beautiful enough 

 to warrant its substitution for the "Australian pine." 



The breeders who are working with the genus Ribes will be glad 

 to get the Chinese form, Ribes fasciculatum chinense (No. 45689), 

 which is unique in that it ripens its bright-red fruits in the fall of 

 the year instead of in the summer. 



The Smyrna fig industry is an established thing in California, 

 but apparently much work remains to be done in getting the best 

 series of caprifig varieties which will harbor the Blastophaga. 

 Dr. Trabut's hybrid (No. 45235) between the Abyssinian or Ery- 

 threan fig (Ficus palmata) and the common fig (F. carica) may play 

 a role in this respect, since the Abyssinian species makes excellent 

 caprifigs. 



