﻿6 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



proaches most nearly that of the Peruvian region of any in the United 

 States. Of the collections listed in this inventory, the following 

 deserve special mention here : 



A cultivated variety of Canna edulis (Nos. 41100 and 41187) with 

 green and white tubers and scarlet flowers, which deserves trial as a 

 crop for the production of arrowroot; a wild strawberry (No. 41102) 

 from an altitude of 8,000 feet, near Tocontoy, in which strawberry 

 breeders may be interested; two species of Escallonia (Nos. 41105 

 and 41112), ornamental trees likely to thrive on the Pacific coast; 

 a large tree species of Solanum, which in winter, when frosts are of 

 almost nightly occurrence, produces large clusters of attractive pend- 

 ent bell-shaped flowers, yellowish outside and rich violet within (No. 

 41106) ; an undescribed species of Eugenia, forming an extremely 

 beautiful tree with fine glossy foliage contrasting with its light- 

 colored, graceful trunk and branches (No. 41110) ; a handsome 

 species of Malacese (Hesperomeles) having hollylike evergreen foliage 

 and clusters of red berries (No. 41111) ; the Quita naranjo, a shrub 

 bearing clusters of white flowers followed by orange-yellow fruits, 

 which give it a remarkable resemblance to the orange tree and may 

 make it valuable as an outdoor shrub and for greenhouse use as well 

 (No. 41113) ; a shrub of the genus Solanum, producing clusters of 

 attractive blue flowers, which it holds throughout the winter, even 

 in dry exposed places where frosts occur every night (No. 41117). 



The three varieties of Manihot which Mr. Cook has secured from 

 the high altitudes (3,000 to 6,000 feet) in Peru and from the tem- 

 perate region of Lima may prove so early maturing as to be of 

 commercial importance in Mississippi and Louisiana, where the 

 varieties that require a longer season are generally unsuccessful 

 fNos. 41103, 41121, and 41122). 



The oca (Oxalis tuherosa, Nos. 41168 to 41176) is a tuber-bearing 

 crop which in some districts of Peru stands second only to the potato 

 in economic importance. There are many varieties of it, and it is 

 eaten raw, cooked, or after being frozen and dried. It might become 

 popular for salads or pickles, and, since its native habitat indicates 

 that it may prove adapted to acid soils, it may possess certain distinct 

 advantages for cultivation on soils not now occupied by any crop in 

 this country. 



The ullucu (Ullucus tuherosus, Nos. 41177 to 41184) is another 

 tuber-bearing plant which is grown in the highlands of Peru and 

 Bolivia and is represented by many varieties and is employed ex- 

 tensively in soups. It is a relative of the well-known Madeira vine, 

 but the cultivated varieties do not grow so rankly as this species, 

 resembling more in habit the sweet-potato vine. 



Still another Andean tuber is the anyu (Tropaeolum tuberosum, 

 Nos. 41185, 41186, and 41195) , which is inferior to those already men- 



