﻿8 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



Bambos tulda, a species of Burmese bamboo, which was intro- 

 duced in 1907 from the Royal Botanic Garden, Sibpur, Calcutta 

 (No. 21002), has been so successful both in the Canal Zone and in 

 Porto Rico that the introduction by Dr. Proschowsky of what ap- 

 pears to be a hardier variety of this species from the Riviera {Bam- 

 bos tulda longispiculata, No. 40936) is of unusual interest. No bam- 

 boo yet introduced has produced a quality of wood so suitable for 

 split-bamboo fishing rods and talking-machine needles as the tulda, 

 and there appears to be a strong demand for its culms. 



The Para grass and Carib grass, both remarkable rank-growing 

 foliage grasses from the Tropics, have grown successfully in southern 

 Texas and in the Everglades and are yielding forage for cattle- 

 raising purposes there; and the molasses grass (Melinis minuti flora, 

 No. 41148), sent in by Mr. T. R. Day, of Macuco, Brazil, may succeed 

 equally well and will at least be interesting to test in comparison 

 with them. 



Whether the elephant grass {Saccharum ciliare, No. 40989), which 

 covers large areas in the Punjab, British India, and is frequently 

 planted in lines or dividing hedges in low-lying places subject to 

 periodic inundation, can be utilized in this country is a question 

 worthy of investigation. 



Mr. I. B. Pole Evans has sent in from British East Africa a grass 

 (Pennisetum longistylum, No. 41055) which cattle eat greedily and 

 which he reports to be one of the most promising in the country. 

 Rhodes grass and Sudan grass have both been such distinctly profit- 

 able introductions from this general region that this new introduction 

 will be watched with unusual interest. 



Chinese names in this inventory have been brought, as far as possi- 

 ble, into accord with the best authorities, the geographic names (ex- 

 cept when fixed by decisions of the United States Geographic Board) 

 being given in the form accepted by the Chinese Ministry of Com- 

 munications Postal Guide. Many of the names of the smaller vil- 

 lages, however, are not listed therein, and in all such cases the loca- 

 tion of the village is given with reference to the nearest town men- 

 tioned in that work. 



This inventory has been prepared by Miss May Riley and the 

 botanical determinations of seeds introduced made by Mr. H. C. 

 Skeels, while the descriptive and botanical notes have been arranged 

 by Mr. G. P. Van Eseltine under the supervision of Mr. S. C. Stuntz, 

 in charge of all the publications of this office. 



David Faiechild, 

 Agricultural Explorer in Charge. 



Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction, 



Washington, D. C, April 9, 1917. 



