2 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED 



undoubtedly be of great interest to agronomists attempting to develop strains 

 of forage plants suitable for parts of the Southern States. 



Among the shipments sent from northern China by Mr. Dorsett, whose work 

 is mentioned above, were tubers of Stachys sieboldi (No. 61897). This species 

 has been introduced a number of times previously and has been grown with 

 satisfactory results. However, its tubers are small, and for this reason it 

 does not have the appeal to growers that it might otherwise. It resembles 

 closely our native Stachys floridana of the South, and should be given serious 

 attention by plant breeders along with the latter species. 



Seeds of Arachis nambyquarae (No. 62099), introduced in 1924, have since 

 been grown at several of our southern experiment stations, where the plants 

 have proved to be well adapted for growing in their new environment. The 

 large seeds of this Brazilian relative of our common peanut make it of special 

 interest for general experimental work. 



Actinidia venosa (No. 61803) may be of value only as an ornamental, but 

 it is a welcome addition to the Actinidias now grown in this country. These 

 include A. arguta, which is hardy as far north as Massachusetts and which 

 bears an edible fruit about an inch long, and A. chinensis, which bears a much 

 larger edible fruit but which is adapted for growing only in the southern half 

 of the United States. 



The present popularity of the Japanese flowering cherries in this country 

 is due in large measure to the fact that this office has been introducing, for 

 several years, promising varieties from the Orient. Capt. Collingwood Ingram., 

 of Benenden, Kent, England, who has a large private collection of flowering 

 cherries, has presented plants of a variety which he has called Kojima (Prunus 

 serrulata, No. 62101). This variety, which originated in his garden, has very 

 large, semidouble, pure white flowers borne in drooping corymbs, and should 

 prove a real addition to our present collection. 



Specialists in the United States working with strawberries and potatoes 

 will be interested in a collection of wild strawberry plants (Fragaria sp., No. 

 61885) and types of wild potatoes (Solatium spp., Nos. 61886 to 61892) made by 

 Elbert E. Reed, of the Instituto Agricola Bunster, on the island of Chiloe, off 

 the coast of Chile. Many of the cultivated strawberries of the American 

 trade are derived in part from the Chiloe strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis), 

 which is native to this region. 



The botanical determinations of seeds introduced have been made and the 

 nomenclature determined by H. C. Skeels, and the descriptive notes have 

 been prepared under the direction of Paul Russell, who has had general super- 

 vision of this inventory. 



Roland McKee, 

 Acting Senior Agricultural Explorer in Charge. 



Office of Foreign Plant Introduction, 



Washington, D. C. September 17, 1926 



