﻿JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1919. 9 



The clovers represent a group of such great agricultural im- 

 I portance that a new species like the one introduced from Natal 

 | (Trifolium africanum glabellum, No. 47321) is certain to attract its 

 | full share of attention. According to Mr. John Fisher, who sends 

 ! it from Cedara, it has proved more vigorous than any imported 

 | species yet tried at Natal. 



Job's-tears have commonly attracted only the attention of those 

 ! who were looking for seeds from which beads can be made, but the 

 j ma-yuen (Nos. 47325 and 47326), a variety from Mindanao, has thin- 

 walled seeds which, according to Mr. Wester, are used for food by the 

 | natives. 



A relative of the chayote, the tacaco (Polakowskia tacaco, No. 

 | 47329) of Costa Eica, is a small fruit with a single large seed in it. 

 | Unlike the chayote, the fruits refuse to grow if put in the ground, 

 \ whereas if put on top of the ground and covered with leaves they 

 , will sprout. Is there here a clue to some peculiarity worth investi- 

 | gation ? 



The botanical determinations of seeds introduced have been made 



and the nomenclature determined by Mr. H. C. Skeels, and the 



I descriptive and botanical notes have been arranged by Mr. G. P. 



Van Eseltine, who has had general supervision of this inventory, 



j The manuscript has been prepared by Miss Esther A. Celander. 



David Fairchild, 

 Agricultural Explorer in Charge. 



Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction, 



Washington, D. C, October 1, 1921. 

 72727—22 2 



