38 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPOKTED 



59643 to 59848— Continued. 



59645. "Mulgo-fil. Originated by H. A. Van 

 Hermann, at Finca Mulgoba, Rancho Boy- 

 eros, Cuba, about 1917, by crossing the 

 Mulgoba and the 'Philippine' mango. The 

 fruit is pink, yellow, and red, resembling 

 the Mulgoba, but with the long, flat shape 

 of the Philippine variety, with a depression 

 on one side. The fruits are borne in clusters. 

 The seed is flat, and the quality of the flesh 

 good. The name, applied by Mr. Van Her- 

 mann, indicates the hybrid origin of the 

 variety." 



59646. Van Hermann. An improved Chinese 

 mango discovered by Mr. Van Hermann. 

 Unlike most other varieties it does not harbor 

 the black fly, because of its open habit of 

 growth and comparatively scanty foliage. 

 Furthermore, the fruits do not spot with 

 Colletotrichum as do ordinary mangos. The 

 flesh is free from fiber and of good quality, and 

 the tree is a regular bearer at Finca Mulgoba. 

 It is named in honor of its discoverer, Mr. 

 Van Hermann. 



59647. Plumeria rubra L. Apocynaceae. 



This strain of Plumeria rubra blooms in April in 

 Cuba and may flower earlier in Florida than the 

 white-flowered species, P. alba. Its flowers are 

 superb. 



59648. Punica granatum L. Punicaceae. 



Pomegranate. 



An attractive double-flowered white variety, 

 which might be useful as a pot plant. 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 55923. 



59649. Litchi chinensis Sonner. Sap- 

 indacese. Lychee. 



From Santiago de las Vegas, Cuba. Fruits pre- 

 sented by H. A. Van Hermann, Finca Mulgoba. 

 Received May 19, 1924. 



In the hope of establishing the lychee in Florida, 

 the Office of Foreign Plant Introduction has 

 from time to time distributed young plants to 

 experimenters in that State. Many of these plants 

 have succumbed to cold winters, and at Miami the 

 soil does not seem altogether satisfactory. On the 

 western coast conditions are better in this last- 

 named respect; when planted far enough south to 

 be out of danger from severe frosts, the tree should 

 have a good chance of success. Judging from the 

 conditions under which the lychee is cultivated in 

 southern China, we would expect the banks of the 

 Caloosahatchee, below Fort Myers, to prove better 

 suited to it than most other sections of Florida. 



At Santa Barbara, Calif., the behavior of a single 

 specimen planted 20 years ago or more has shown 

 that the lychee can be grown there with a fair 

 degree of success, provided a location practically 

 free from danger of frost is selected. Most attempts 

 to cultivate it in California, however, have resulted 

 in failure. It does not seem likely that it will ever 

 be feasible to grow it commercially in that State. 



The excellent quality of the lychee as a fresh fruit 

 and its ability to stand shipment suggest the desir- 

 ability of establishing lychee orchards somewhere in 

 the Western Hemisphere, so as to supply the North 

 American markets. It may be practicable to 

 develop these in southern Florida. Certainly they 

 would succeed in Cuba, Porto Rico, and tropical 

 America generally. ( Wilson Popenoe, Bureau of 

 Plant Industry.) 



59650. Allium cepa L. 



Liliaceae. 



Onion. 



From Ankober, Abyssinia. Bulbs collected by 

 H. V. Harlan, Bureau of Plant Industry. Re- 

 ceived June 3, 1924. 



Introduced for onion-breeding tests. 



No. 430. December 11, 1923. Purchased in 

 Allu Amba. (Harlan.) 



59651 to 59671. 



From Nice, France. Seeds presented by Dr. A. 

 Robertson Proschowsky. Received May 2, 1924. 



59651. Acacia seyal Delile. Mimosaceae. 



A small and rather slender acacia with reddish 

 brown bark, ivory-white spines about 2 inches 

 long, and heads of very fragrant flowers. The 

 tree is common in tropical Africa north of the 

 Equator, and is one of the principal gum-yielding 

 acacias of the Nile region. This gum becomes 

 white and brittle when dry, and has a relatively 

 high viscosity and strong adhesive power. 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 44923. 



59652. Acacia suma (Roxb.) Kurz. Mimosaceae. 



A medium-sized tree, native to the East Indies, 

 with light-colored bark and branchlets armed 

 with pairs of short, hooked spines. The heart- 

 wood is said to yield gum catechu, and the bark 

 is used for tanning. 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 52281. 



59653. Astragalus sp. Fabaceae. 



59654. Betula sp. Betulaceae. Birch. 



59655. Centaurea canariensis Willd. Aster- 

 acese. 



A rather large bush which is very drought 

 resistant. When covered with its large purple 

 flowers, it is very ornamental. (Proschowsky.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 53910. 



59656. Cupressus sp. Pinacese. 



A very handsome species with drooping, glau- 

 cous branches. (Proschowsky.) 



59657. Diospyros sp. Diospyraceae. 



59658. Entelea palmata Lindl. Tiliacese. 



The native home of this greenhouse shrub 

 appears to be unknown. It grows about 4 feet 

 high with heart-shaped, palmate leaves and um- 

 bels of rather small white flowers. 



59659. Gaultheria fragrantissima Wall. Eri- 

 caceae. 



An Asiatic relative of the wintergreen which 

 grows wild in the mountains of eastern India. 

 It is a fragrant evergreen shrub or small tree 

 which is loaded in summer with white or pinkish 

 flowers; these are succeeded by racemes of hand- 

 some bluish purple berries. 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 48309. 



59660. Hydrangea heteromalla D. Don. 

 Hydrangeaceae. 



A Himalayan hydrangea, about 10 feet high, 

 with red stems, oval, sharp-pointed leaves, white 

 hairy beneath, and white flowers borne in clus- 

 ters about 6 inches wide. 



59661. Leucosceptrum canum J. E. Smith. 

 Menthaceae. 



A stout-branched, densely hairy tree, com- 

 monly about 30 feet in height, with large, nar- 

 rowly ovate leaves, silvery hairy beneath and 

 at times a foot long. The small white or pinkish 

 flowers are in spikes. 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 57888. 



59662. Passiflora alba Link and Otto. Passi- 

 floraceae. 



A tropical American passiflora with broadly 

 oval, somewhat heart shaped, shallowly 3-lobed 

 leaves, clear-white flowers over 2 inches across, 

 and yellowish fruits about the size and shape 

 of a hen's egg. 



