INVENTORY 1 



60957. Pruntts canescens Bois. Amyg- 

 dalacese. 



From Loiret, France. Seeds presented by 

 L. Parde\ Directeur des iScoles des Barres, 

 Nogent sur Vernisson. Received Septem- 

 ber 8, 1924. 



A sbrubby cherry from Szechwan, China, 

 with attractive, dark orange-brown bark 

 and very hairy leaves and stems. In habit 

 it is rounded and bushy and about 7 feet 

 high. Tbe clustered rosy white flowers are 

 exceedingly fragrant, but fall quickly from 

 the leafless branches. The smooth, red 

 fruits, half an inch in diameter, have a 

 pleasant, acid flavor. 



60958. Hibiscus cannabinus L. Mal- 

 vaceae. Ambari hemp. 



From Pretoria, Transvaal, Union of South 

 Africa. Seeds presented by I. B. Pole 

 Evans, Division of Botany. Received Sep- 

 tember 8, 1924. 



Introduced for testing by fiber special- 

 ists. 



A prickly-stemmed plant 6 to 8 feet in 

 height, cultivated throughout India and 

 elsewhere in the warmer parts of the world 

 for its fiber, which is used as a substitute 

 for hemp. The fiber is soft, white, and 

 silky and is considered by some authorities 

 to be more durable than jute for coarse tex- 

 tiles. 



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

 55481. 



60959. Andeopogon saccharoides 

 Swartz. Poacese. Silver beard grass. 



From Sucre, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Seeds 

 collected by H. L. Westover, Bureau of 

 Plant Industry. Received July 14, 1924. 



April 5, 1924. This grass is very abun- 

 dant west of Buenos Aires ; it apparently is 

 not relished by stock except when young. 

 (Westover.) 



60960 to 60971. 



From Peking, China. Seeds purchased from 

 Rufus H. Lefever, Presbyterian Mission. 

 Received September 12, 1924. Notes by 

 Mr. Lefever. 



60960. Phaseolus angularis (Willd.) W. 

 F. Wight. Fabacea±. Adsuki bean. 



No. 1. Nay shou do tzu (small black 

 beans). These are boiled soft and sugar 

 added to make a sweet cake. 



60961. Phaseolus aureus 



Roxb. Faba- 

 cese. Mung- bean. 



No. 12. Starch is obtained from this 

 for stiffening clothes and for eating like 

 vermicelli. 



60962 and 60963. 



cese. 



60962. No. 7 



60963. No. 9. 



PlSUM SATIVUM L. 



A local variety. 

 A local variety. 



Faba- 

 Pea. 



60964 to 60970. So J A max (L.) Piper 



Fabacese. 

 Soy bean. 



( Glycine hispida Maxim. ) , 

 Local soy-bean varieties. 

 60964. No. 2. 



No. 3. Nay do. Fed to ani- 



mals. 



60967. 



No. 

 No. 



No. 6. 

 with meat. 



Li lang do. 

 Sprouted and stewed 



food. 



60970. No. 



bean). 



No. 8. Used as flavoring for 



10. Huang do (yellow 

 Used as flavoring for food. 



60971. Vigna sinensis (Tomer) Savi. 

 Fabacese. Cowpea. 



No. 11. Stewed and eaten with rice 

 or millet. 



1 It should be understood that the names of horticultural, varieties of fruits, vegetables, 

 cereals, and other plants used in this inventory are those under which the material was 

 received when introduced by the Office of Foreign Plant Introduction ; further, that the 

 printing of such names here does not constitute their official publication and adoption in 

 this country. As the different varieties are studied, their entrance into the American 

 trade forecast, and the use of varietal names for them in American literature becomes 

 necessary, the foreign varietal designations appearing in this inventory will be subject 

 to change with a view to bringing the forms of the names into harmony with recognized 

 horticultural nomenclature. 



It is a well-known fact that botanical descriptions, both technical and economic, seldom 

 mention the seeds at all and rarely describe them in such a way as to make possible 

 identification from the seeds alone. Many of the unusual plants listed in these inven- 

 tories are appearing in this country for the first time, and there ai'e no seed samples or 

 herbarium specimens with ripe seeds with which the new arrivals may be compared. 

 The only identification possible is to see that the sample received resembles seeds of other 

 species of the same genus or of related genera. The responsibility for the specific 

 identifications therefore must necessarily often rest with the person sending the mate- 

 rial. If there is any question regarding the correctness of the identification of any 

 plant received from, this office, herbarium specimens of leaves and flowers should be 

 sent in so that definite identification can be made. 



