﻿APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1918. 29 



46133 to 46135— Continued. 



in the semiarid sections of the United States. Stock eat it with great 

 avidity even when grass is abundant ; and as it is closely related to the 

 sweet-leaf cactus (Opuntia cochinelifera) , its feeding value is much 

 greater than the other varieties commonly used for fodder." (Harrison.) 



46136. Pistacta chinensis Bunge. Anacardiaceae. 



Chinese pistache. 



From Changsha, Hunan, China. Purchased from Mr. J. H. Reisner, Uni- 

 versity of Nanking, Nanking, through Mr. Nelson T. Johnson, American 

 consul. Received at the Plant Introduction Field Station, Chico, Calif., 

 June 20, 1918. 

 "Huang lien shu. A very promising shade tree for those sections of the 

 United States where the summers are warm and the winters but moderately 

 cold. The young leaves are carmine red and the fall foliage gorgeously scarlet 

 and yellow. The wood, which is very heavy and not often attacked by insects, 

 is employed in the manufacture of furniture. From the seeds an oil is ob- 

 tained which is used for illuminating purposes. The young, partly expanded 

 foliage buds are sparingly eaten when boiled, like spinach. The staminate 

 trees invariably grow larger and more symmetrical than the ones that bear the 

 pistillate flowers." (F. N. Meyer.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 45595. 



46137. Deringa canadensis (L.) Kuntze. Apiacese. Mitsuba. 



(Cryptotaenia canadensis DC.) 

 From Yokohama, Japan. Presented by Mr. Barbour Lathrop. Received 

 June 20, 1918. 



This plant, which is allied to celery, parsnips, and carrots, has been culti- 

 vated by the Japanese for many generations. Mr. Lathrop, in sending in seed 

 purchased from the Yokohama Nursery Co., says: " Mitsuba, they say, costs less 

 than udo, and far more of it is consumed by the poor. Every part of the plant 

 is eaten, and its leaves, stems, and roots are cooked as desirable edibles. They 

 say also that the stems, besides being cooked, are eaten as celery is with us. 

 Like udo, it grows in light, rather poor soil ; is planted from seed, but requires 

 less care in growing, and reaches the market at far less expense. To use their 

 own expression, * Mitsuba is popular with everybody from the highest rank 

 to the lowest.' " Mr. Lathrop also procured the following statement from the 

 Yokohama Nursery Co. on its culture and uses : 



" Sow the seed any time from September to about the middle of April in rows 

 about 1£ to 2 feet apart, somewhat thickly in bands 5 to 6 inches wide, and 

 cover lightly with soil. After the seedlings are an inch or so tall, thin out to 2 

 to 3 inches apart; they grow best in partially sheltered moist places. In cen- 

 tral Japan, where the climate is mild, the seed is usually sown in spring, from 

 about March until May, between the furrows of wheat, barley, or beans, which 

 give enough shade to the young seedlings; if the. seed be sown in full exposure 

 after May it will not germinate, so it is essential to sow the seed before the 

 weather gets too warm. After wheat, barley, or beans are harvested the ground 

 should be hoed and manured with liquid oil cake or bone meal, to invigorate 

 the roots. After the leaves and stalks die, from about December, the roots 

 can be dug and brought into the forcing frame or malt bed; or they can be 

 left alone in the field, and just before the new growth begins to show early 

 in spring, heap up 5 to 6 inches of soil, in the same manner as asparagus is cul- 



