46 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



55465. Oncoba echinata Oliver. Flacourtiaceae. GorlL 



From Sierra Leone. Africa. Purchased from L. A. King-Church, con- 

 servator of forests, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Received June 1, 1922. 



" The commercial sources of chaulmoogra oil and some closely related prod- 

 ucts which yield chaulmoogric and hydnocarpic acids have always been and 

 still are the seeds of forest trees (Taraktogenos kurzii, Sydnocarpus anthel- 

 minthica, and H. tcightiana, and possibly others) growing in the rain-forest 

 regions of British India and Siam. It has. however, been observed by Gould- 

 ing and Akers that the seeds of a West African shrub, Oncoba echinata, yield 

 an oil which contains a large proportion of chaulmoogr.'c acid. 



" Through the explorations of J. F. Rock, of this office, seeds of the forest 

 trees {Taraktogenos kurzii, Hydnocarpus anthelminthica, H. wightiana, and 

 H. castanea) have been secured and plants obtained from them are now being 

 grown in various countries. Inasmuch as these are all tall trees, considerable 

 time would doubtless be required for the production of fruit. On account of 

 this fact a search has been made for more rapidly maturing plants which yield 

 chaulmoogric acid, and through the kindness of L. A. King-Church, conservator 

 of forests of Sierra Leone, a considerable quantity of seeds of the gorli shrub 

 (Oncoba echinata) has been secured. 



" Since the investigations of Goulding and Akers (see Proceedings of the 

 Chemical Society of London, vol. 29, No. 417. p. 197) of the Imperial Institute, 

 have established the fact that gorli seeds yield 45.6 per cent of fat and that 

 the mixed fatty acids obtained from this consist to the extent of 87.5 per cent of 

 chaulmoogric acid, the importance of making an attempt to get the plant and 

 cultivating it was pointed out by Dr. Frederick B. Power in his chapter in Mr. 

 Rock's bulletin entitled : ' The Chaulmoogra Tree and Some Related Species,' 

 p. 8 (U. S. Department of Agriculture Bulletin No. 1057). 



" From the literature relating to the genus Oncoba it appears that it is com- 

 posed of shrubs or small trees : that there are several species, all of them 

 African, and that they bear fruits of considerable size. Oncoba echinata, for 

 example, has fruits remembling in size and shape an unopened chestnut bur. 

 That these shrubs are precocious is indicated by the fact that one species, 

 Oncoba routledgii, flowered in England two years from seed. This won a cer- 

 tificate from the horticultural society on account of the conspicuous beauty of 

 its large white flowers, which are 2 or 3 inches in diameter. 



"Whether Oncoba echinata is especially particular as to its soil requirements 

 remains to be determined, but, judging from the experience which we have had 

 with other trees and shrubs from Natal and other portions of Africa, there 

 would seem to be a fair chance that it might thrive even on the limestone soils 

 of southern Florida." {David Fairchild.) 



55466 and 55467. Avena sattva L. Poacese. Oats. 



From Cambridge, England. Seeds presented by Prof. R. H. Biffen, Cam- 

 bridge School of Agriculture. Received May 24, 1922. 



These two new hybrid varieties of white winter oats were originated at the 

 Plant-Breeding Institute, Cambridge, England, and are introduced for the use 

 of oat breeders in this country. 



55466. A. 69. 55467. A. Iff. 



55468 and 55469. 



From Oxkutzcab, Yucatan, Mexico. Seeds presented by Sr. Moises Vasquez 

 Vega. Received May 29, 1922. 



55468. Caeica papaya L. Papayaceae. Papaya. 

 " The fruits are very large, weighing from 17 to 22 pounds." {Vega.) 

 For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 52620. 



55469. Jacaratia mexicana A. DC. Papayacea?. 



A relative of the papaya (Carica papaya L.), introduced for breeding 

 experiments. 



"A tree with a smooth, tapering trunk and many slender branches. 

 The leaves are palmately seven parted and the fruits, about 6 inches 



