52 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



55504. Telfairia pedata (J. E. Smith) Hook. Cucurbitacese. 



Koume vine* 



From Nairobi, Kenia, Africa. Seeds presented by A. Holm, director, Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. Received June 6, 1922. 



"A perennial climber, indigenous to eastern Africa, which grows very lux- 

 uriantly in this colony. The kernels of the seeds are used by the natives both 

 as a foodstuff and as a source of edible oil. 



"The following analysis of the seeds has been published by Gilbert (see 

 Sadebeck, Die Kulturgewachse der Deutschen Kolonien und Ihre Erzeugnisse, 



Jena, 1899, p. 245) : 



Per cent. 



Moisture 6. 54 



Ash 2. 04 



Oil 36. 02 



Protein 19.63 



Woody fiber 7.30 



Nitrogen-free extractive matter 28. 45 



" These seeds are flat, irregularly circular in shape, and about l-£ to 1£ inches 

 in diameter. The single seeds average 4.9 grams in weight. 



" The Imperial Institute of London has reported as follows : 



" ' The seeds consist approximately of fibrous husk 11 per cent, shell 38 per 

 cent, and kernel 51 per cent.' 



" The kernel yields 56.9 per cent of slightly reddish brown oil. 



" The oil from seeds from Zanzibar gave the following analysis : 



Specific gravity at 15° C 0. 919 



Acid value 2.6 



Saponification 196 



Iodin value 89 



" This is a nondrying oil and has a pleasant, slightly sweet taste. It would 

 be suitable for soap manufacture and also as an edible oil. The seed is used 

 by Europeans in this colony both as a nut and as a flavoring for cakes. 



" The reason that these seeds are not more used is due to the hardness of the 

 shell and the difficulty of removing it, as well as to the intensely bitter, green 

 skin which separates the kernel from the shell. If a method could be found 

 of removing the tough fibrous husks and this bitter skin, it would appear that 

 the seed would be of considerable commercial value, both for its edible oil and 

 for the manufacture of soap, as well as for the resultant oil cake, which would 

 probably make a good cattle feed. It would be impossible, however, to use the 

 cake after pressing the unhusked seeds, on account of the skin mentioned above. 



"A German syndicate of soap and candle manufacturers at Mannheim has 

 investigated the possibilities of these seeds, but expressed the opinion that it 

 would be inadvisable to place consignments of the seeds on the European market 

 until a machine had been invented for rapidly and cheaply shelling them. 



" These seeds grow very rapidly in any place which is not touched by frost. 

 The pod containing the seeds is about a foot in diameter when ripe. The vine 

 climbs over neighboring trees and requires no care." (S. W. Eels, American 

 consul, Nairobi, Kenia.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 52450. 



55505 to 55508. Rubus spp. Rosaceae. Raspberry* 



From Slough, England. Plants purchased from Charles Turner, The Royal 

 Nurseries. Received June 2, 1922. 



55505. Rubus sp. 



Carter's Prolific. A moderately vigorous variety with spiny canes 

 about 3 feet high and very small leaves; it is a good cropper, and the 

 berries are medium sized, deep red, and nearly round, firm, and of good 

 flavor. (Adapted from Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, vol. 

 47, P. 47.) 



55506. Rubus sp. 



"Northumberland Fillbasket. Large, deep-red fruits of good flavor." 



(Dicksons's 1921-22 Catalogue.) 



