2 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED 



gions of the globe, however, it is difficult to obtain edible fruits unknown to horti- 

 culture. Pomological varieties of real merit may be introduced, and it is worthy 

 of note that in recent years more and more of these are coming from the newly 

 developed regions of the globe rather than from Europe, as was the case in the 

 early days of American horticulture. Salvador Izquierdo, of Chile, who has 

 assembled at his place near Santiago one of the finest collections of fruit trees in 

 South America, sends seven new peaches (Amygdalus persica; Nos. 57686 to 

 57692) which he thinks worthy of cultivation in the United States. H. R. 

 Wright, whose New Zealand fruits have already shown much promise in this 

 country, sends from Auckland seven new peaches (Amygdalus persica; Nos. 57912 

 to 57918), several interesting plums (Prunus spp.; Nos. 57919 to 57926), and a 

 new pear (Pyrus communis; No. 57927) , obtained as a seedling of the Bon Chre- 

 tien. The King Cole apple (Malus sylvestris; No. 57937), sent by its originator, 

 C. F. Cole, of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, is recommended as resistant to the 

 woolly aphis, and its fruit is of good quality and excellent for shipping. Speci- 

 mens which Mr. Cole sent from Melbourne by parcel post reached Washington 

 after a journey of six weeks in excellent condition for eating. 



In the field of tropical and subtropical fruits this inventory contains a number of 

 promising acquisitions. From Shanghai, China, Col. Clyde S. Ford has sent trees 

 of the large, loose-skinned Swatow orange (Citrus sp.; No. 57693), well known 

 and highly appreciated in China. In line with the effort to obtain good stock 

 plants on which to graft the best varieties of the Japanese persimmon cultivated in 

 the United States, Rev. A. S. Cooper has sent from Hupeh Province in central Ctiina 

 seeds of the wild Diospyros kaki (No. 57733). Attention was directed to this 

 plant three years ago by E. H. Wilson, of the Arnold Arboretum, who believes, 

 from having observed its habits and requirements in its native home, that it will 

 prove one of the best stock plants for the cultivated varieties of the same species 



Nos. 57701 and 57771 represent two lots of plants of the true breadfruit (Arto- 

 carpus communis) , the first lot coming from the Hawaiian Islands and the seconc 

 from the Canal Zone. Efforts to establish this classic tree of Polynesia in south 

 ern Florida have not been successful up to the present, but they will be continued 

 Its congener, the jack fruit (A. integra), has in recent years come into bearing at 

 Coconut Grove, near Miami, Fla. 



It seems strange that we should be introducing superior varieties of the cheri- 

 moya (Annona cherimola) , a native American fruit, from a region as distant as 

 Australia. It appears, however, that this tree has found a congenial home in 

 Queensland and that seedling forms of superior merit have originated there. 

 Pink's Mammoth (No. 57799), from the description given by A. H. Benson, 

 seems to be a finer variety than any which has been grown either in California 

 or Florida. 



The giant raspberry of Hawaii (Rubus macraei; No. 57849), to which attention 

 was called by Mr. Rock several years ago, has been reintroduced for the benefit of 

 North American plant breeders. Experience indicates that this species may not 

 prove adapted for open-air culture in any part of the continental United States. 

 Like numerous other species of Rubus which we have introduced from tropical 

 and subtropical regions, it is exacting in its requirements and withstands little 

 cold. 



From the Philippines P. J. Wester sends a rare citrus fruit, the tizon (Citrus 

 nobilis papillaris; No. 57854) , believed to be a natural hybrid between the man- 

 darin and the pomelo. Dr. A. Robertson Proschowsky forwards from Nice seeds of 

 a primitive form of the plantain (Musa paradisiaca seminifera; No. 57859), de- 

 sired by plant breeders in the American Tropics for use in connection with the 

 attempt to breed new forms of bananas resistant to the Panama disease (Fusarium 

 cubense). Henry Pittier's peculiar variety of avocado (Persea americana; No. 

 58019) from Venezuela and Frere J. Gillet's wild Strychnos from the Belgian 

 Congo (Strychnos gilletii; No. 58020) will both be interesting for trial in southern 

 Florida and the West Indies. 



The introduction of Manila hemp, or abaca (Musa textilis; Nos. 57694 to 57696) 

 is in line with the department's attempt to establish this valuable fiber plant in 

 tropical America. From western Java Carl Hartley has sent an edible chestnut 

 (Castanopsis argentea; No. 57732) which will be tested alongside the other sub- 

 tropical species of Castanopsis and Castanea which Mr. Rock has recently obtained 

 in Yunnan. Sefior Tamayo, of Ecuador, who has done much to advance the work 

 of plant introduction in that country, sends seeds of several ornamental plants; 

 a tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum; No. 57744) which will be tested by breeders 



