﻿JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1915. 43 



41135 to 41141— Continued. (Quoted note by Mr. C. Werckle.) 



41141. Polakowskia tacaco Pittier. Cucurbitacese. Tacaco. 



" The tacaco is not of a perishable nature, as the chayote ; it has a 

 hard skin when ripe and keeps in perfect condition for weeks ; at last 

 it shrivels and in this state it is planted. The fruits for planting are 

 chosen from those which fall off the vine when dead ripe. They can 

 not be planted in the soil ; they do not sprout. The best way is to bury 

 them in rotting leaves on the earth, with a layer of dead leaves on them." 



Fruits. 



41142. Amygdalus persica L. Amygdalacese. Peach. 



(Prunus persica Stokes.) 

 From Swatow, China. Presented by Mr. G. C. Hanson, American consul. 

 Received September 14, 1915. 

 " The two common strains of peaches in the vicinity of Swatow are locally 

 called the cling and the free varieties. There is also a third variety of a hard 

 and bitter nature, not edible except when preserved. This, the free strain, 

 named so because the flesh does not adhere to the stone, ripens about the mid- 

 dle of July. It is a sweet peach and a better fruit than the cling variety. The 

 seeds of this peach are used for medicinal purposes by the Chinese. The 

 peaches grown here are greatly inferior to the American varieties. Peaches 

 raised from the seeds are natural fruits, which are small and tasteless. The 

 trees need to be budded before the edible peach can be produced." (Hanson.) 



41143. Cacara erosa (L.) Kuntze. Fabaceae. Yam bean. 



(Pachyrhizus angulatus Rich.) 

 From Calcutta, India. Presented by Mr. H. G. Carter, economic botanist, 

 Botanical Survey of India Department, Indian Museum. Received Sep- 

 tember 7, 1915. 

 " Sankalu." 

 See S. P. I. No. 38665 for previous introduction and description. 



41144 to 41146. Oryza sattva L. Poacese. Rice. 



From Sao Paulo, Brazil. Presented by the Director de Agriculture e In- 

 dustria Pastoril. Received September 13, 1915. 



41144. No. 1. Arroz Goyano (rice from Guiana). 



41145. No. 2. Arroz Jaguary (rice from Jaguary, Minas Geraes). 



41146. No. 3. Agulha (needle), from the littoral (Iguape). 



41147 and 41148. 



From Macuco, Estado do Rio, Brazil. Presented by Mr. T. R. Day. Re- 

 ceived September 13, 1915. 



41147. Caeica papaya L. Papayacese. Papaya. 

 " Mamdo (pronounced mammong very nearly, with accent on the second 



syllable) appears to be the same as the papaya of India, but the fruit 

 here, like that of the Brazilian mango, is superior to the Indian varieties 

 wo have encountered, although it is not so much esteemed here as it is 

 by the natives in India. These seeds are of an unusually good variety, 

 and we think that if not already introduced or experimented with, it 

 is well worth a trial in the United States in sheltered places where there 

 is practically no winter. It will grow in any soil and fruits within twelve 



