﻿8 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



saved by Mr. Rock. This tree, which is related to the cotton plant, 

 had become almost extinct — was reduced to a single tree, in fact — 

 but now its progeny, a single tree on Mr. C. C. Conradt's place at 

 Pukoo in Molokai, has borne its first crop, consisting of five seeds. 

 Two of these have been sent to us (No. 47223). To have prevented 

 a tree of such possibilities from becoming extinct may win us more 

 praise from succeeding generations than now seems probable. 



It seems almost incredible that no tropical horticulturist has made 

 a real collection anywhere of the anonas for the purpose of their 

 improvement by hybridization. The abo (Annona senegalensis, No. 

 47214), with dark-red flesh, would make possible most remarkable 

 color combinations should some one take up in earnest a study 

 of this fascinating group. 



Mr. Benjamin Hunnicutt, of Lavras, Brazil, is convinced of the 

 forage value of the " capim gordura roxa," or molasses grass 

 (Melinis minutiflora^ No. 47162), and has sent in a quantity of seed. 

 At Lake Alfred, Fla., Mr. John Morley, who has a 2-acre patch of it 

 on which he keeps two dairy cows, finds that if cows are put on the 

 young grass they quickly learn to like it, whereas if the grass is 

 allowed to get coarse they refuse to touch it, perhaps because of its 

 heavy nature. 



The brilliancy and grace of the Chorizemas (Nos. 47186 and 47187) 

 as potted plants should make them much better known. They are 

 West Australian shrubs with brilliant orange-red pea-shaped flowers. 



A Formosan fir {Abies mariesii kawakamii, No. 47198), from the 

 Arnold Arboretum, which grows to 80 feet in height — one of the 

 rarest of the silver firs — and a spruce {Picea morHsonicola, No. 

 47199) from the same interesting region will find their way into our 

 Southern States. 



Dr. A. H. Graves, of New Haven, has located a number of chest- 

 nut trees (Nos. 47330-47348) which are not dying out but growing 

 well in the area infested by the bark disease. The circumstantial 

 evidence is strong that they have descended from disease-resistant 

 ancestors, and as such may have in them the possibilities of being 

 closely interbred to form a resistant race of the American chestnut. 



"Konyaku" {Amorphophallus Jconjac, No. 47226) is an interest- 

 ing aroid which furnishes a peculiar starch used, as Mr. Swingle 

 discovers, by the manufacturers of aeroplanes and also as a food in 

 Japan. It is grown in the shade of orange trees there and should be 

 tried as a source of starch in America. 



Nuts from five selected African oil-palm seedlings {Elaeis guineen- 

 sis, Nos. 47304-47308), coming from Dr. P. J. S. Cramer, of the 

 Buitenzorg Plant-Breeding Station, show that selection is going to 

 mean as much in this important tropical crop as it has in the grains 

 and fruits of the temperate zone. 



