﻿JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1915. 27 



" Since this cactus is of rapid growth and comparatively free of spines, it is 

 worthy of attention as an ornamental hedge and as a fodder plant." (Report 

 of the Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station, 1911/, p. 11 and 32.) 



39854 and 39855. Cucumis melo L. Cucurbitaceae. 



Muskmelon. 



From Madrid, Spain. Presented by Senor Gregorio Cruz Valero. Received 



January 14, 1915. Quoted notes by Senor Valero. 



89854. " Seeds of a single winter melon. This is cultivated here alter- 

 nately with cereals in dry lands. It does especially well in dry farm- 

 ing. The earth is argillaceous, calcareous, and silicate to a great depth. 

 In Tunis, after the cereal which precedes it is harvested, it receives in 

 September or October a good working to a depth of 30 cm., to receive 

 the water from the autumn rains. In February it is given another more 

 superficial working, and at the coming of spring, the first of March or 

 April, it is given a third working, preparatory to sowing. Sowing re- 

 quires the opening of holes to a depth of 25 cm. or less. After this a 

 layer of manure is placed in the holes to a depth of 4 cm., and then 

 loose earth. On this four or five seeds are sown and covered with 

 loose earth. The successive operations consist of continuous efforts to 

 prevent the dust mulch from being lost and to avoid evaporation. 

 During the growing season there is little rain and storms are rare. 

 The distance between the hills is 2 to 2.25 meters, according to the con- 

 dition of the earth, and about the same between the rows. The har- 

 vesting is done in September. The degree of ripeness at which the 

 fruit should be separated from the plant is known by the fact that it is 

 quite white and has reached the highest development, and before the 

 odor is noticed. I have said that four or five seeds should be placed 

 in each hill, but after germination, when they have reached a develop- 

 ment of 25 to 30 cm., the two strongest, or the strongest plant, is left 

 and the distance between the plants is made accordingly." 



39855. " Mixed winter melon seed, selected from the same variety as 

 S. P. I. No. 39854." 



39856 to 39858. 



From Cairo, Egypt. Presented by Mr. Thomas W. Brown, director, Horti- 

 cultural Division, Gizeh Branch, Ministry of Agriculture. Cuttings re- 

 ceived February 3, 1915. Quoted notes by Mr. Brown. 

 89856. Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karsten. Taniaricaceae. Tamarisk. 



" This is by far the best of the Egyptian species for cultivation as a 

 timber tree on desert land. We have employed it largely as a wind and 

 sand break, at the sewage farm at Khanka, which is situated on what 

 was unreclaimed desert land. The cuttings were planted along shallow 

 water channels, containing in one case chlorine equivalent to sodium 

 chloride to the extent of 1,272 parts per million and in another case to 

 the extent of 2.02S parts per million. Tamarix aphylla very rarely pro- 



.duces seed here." 



Distribution. — A tree 20 to 30 feet high, found in Algeria and Egypt in 

 northern Africa, and from Persia and Arabia eastward to India. 



;89857 and 39858. Ficus sycomorus L. Moraeeaa. Fig. 



39857. " Var. Roumi ; usually eaten at Cairo." 



39858. "Var. Kilabi; never eaten." 



For an illustration of this remarkable tree, see Plate II. 



