OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1924 



61762 to 61766— Continued. 



61766. Toona ciliata Roemer (Cedrela 

 toona Roxb.). Meliaeese. Toon tree. 

 A large Himalayan tree, 50 to 80 

 feet high, with nearly evergreen foliage 

 and white, honey-scented flowers. The 

 wood, which is used for furniture, carv- 

 ings, and for making cigar boxes, is very 

 durable and is not attacked by termites. 



61767. Cokdeauxia edulis H e m s 1 . 

 Cresalpiniacese. Yeheb nut. 



From Kew, Surrey, England. Plants pre- 

 sented by Dr. Arthur W. Hill, director, 

 Roval Botanic Gardens. Received Octo- 

 ber 3, 1924. 



The Yeheb nut is a leguminous shrub 

 or small tree which grows wild in the 

 great semiarid region of Italian Somali- 

 land, known as the " Haud," where its 

 highly nutritious nuts are a staple food 

 of the Somali tribes who inhabit the 

 region, and are offered in the markets 

 on the Somali coast. The thick, evergreen 

 leaves of this shrub are about 4 inches 

 long, with usually four pairs of leaflets, 

 and the crisp, leathery pod is slightly 

 over 2 inches long. In composition the 

 Yeheb nut closely resembles the chestnut 

 and is comparable to it in food value. 

 The region where the shrub is found indi- 

 cates that while it should prove very 

 drought resistant it is not likely that it 

 will stand frost, although tests are neces- 

 sary to determine this point. 



61768. Medicago sativa L. Fabacese. 



Alfalfa. 



From Cuenca, Ecuador. Seeds presented by 

 E. Malo A.. British vice consulate. Re- 

 ceived October 7, 1924. 

 This is a sample of the alfalfa we grow 

 in this district ; we have known single 

 plants to become over 3 feet high. We 

 believe this may be Peruvian alfalfa. 

 (Malo.) 



61769. Psidium guajava L. Myrtacese. 



Guava. 



From Holguin, Cuba. Seeds presented by 

 Thomas R. Towns. Received October 7, 

 1924. 



A very fine large guava with golden-green 

 skin and yellow pulp. The flavor is so 

 sweet that the addition of sugar is un- 

 necessary. The plant is vigorous and pro- 

 lific. (Towns.) 



61770. ECHINOGHLOA HOLCIFORMIS (H. 



B. K.) Chase. Poacese. Grass. 



From the city of Mexico, Mexico. Seeds 

 presented by Arthur Stockdale. Received 

 October 7, 1924. 



An erect perennial grass, 6 feet or more 

 high, from humid, mountainous regions of 

 Mexico. Introduced for testing as forage. 



61771. Magnolia campbellii Hook. f. 

 and Thorns. Magnoliacese. 



From Darjiling, India. Seeds presented by 

 G. H. Cave, curator, Lloyd Botanic Gar- 

 den. Received October 7, 1924. 



According to Curtis's Botanical Maga- 

 zine (pi. 6793), this is a beautiful, decidu- 

 ous magnolia from the Himalayas, where 

 it ascends to 8,000 feet above sea level. 

 It reaches a height of 80 feet, has very 

 dark bark, large elliptical dark-green leaves, 

 and white to purple flowers 10 inches in 

 diameter. This magnolia has flowered 

 freely in southern France and Italy. 



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

 55688. 



61772. Akachis hypogaea L. Fabacese. 



Peanut. 



From Potchefstroom, Union of South Af- 

 rica. Seeds presented by F. C. Fellschop, 

 School of Agriculture, Potchefstroom, 

 through J. H. Beattie, Bureau of Plant 

 Industry. Received October 9, 1924. 



Locally grown seeds introduced for cul- 

 tural tests and comparison with American- 

 grown varieties. 



61773. Solanum opaci t m A. Br. and 

 Bouche. Solanacea?. 



From Sydney, New South Wales. Seeds 

 presented by George Valder, undersecre- 

 tary and director, Department of Agri- 

 culture. Received October 9, 1924. 



An annual Australian Solanum which is 

 closely related to the nightshade (8. ni- 

 grum) and appears to have shown some 

 value as a fodder plant, according to 

 the Agricultural Gazette of New South 

 Wales for October 31, 1921. No harmful 

 effects on stock were observed after nu- 

 merous feeding tests. 



61774. Afzelia breiyi Wildem. Caasal- 

 piniacese. 



From Brussels, Belgium. Seeds presented 

 by Dr. Esmond Leplae, Director General 

 of Agriculture. Received October 1, 

 1924. 



Among the recent additions to the flora 

 of the Belgian Congo is a leguminous 

 tree whose seeds contain an oil promising 

 both as an edible oil and for illumination. 

 The tree is described (Bulletin Agricole 

 du Congo Beige, March, 1923) as having 

 an ultimate height of 100 feet, with finely 

 cracked bark and handsome, bluish-green 

 pinnate foliage. The kidney-shaped pods, 

 about 8 inches long and 5 inches wide. 

 contain reddish-brown seeds iy 2 inches long. 

 The oil obtained from these seeds is light 

 brownish yellow, with a sweet, agreeable 

 flavor resembling that of some types of 

 olive oil. 



61775. Cornus controversa H e m s 1 . 

 Cornacese. Giant dogwood. 



From Jamaica Plain, Mass, Seeds collected 

 by B. Y. Morrison, Bureau of Plant 

 Industry. Received October 17, 1924. 



This Chinese dogwood is one of the most 

 striking of the genus ; in its native home it 

 sometimes becomes a tree 60 feet in height 

 with a trunk 7 feet in girth. The nu- 

 merous long branches extend at right angles 

 to the trunk, with the lowest sometimes 

 touching the ground. The white or 

 slightly yellowish flowers are in flat clus- 

 ters 6 or 7 inches in diameter, appearing 

 from late May to early June. The black 

 shining fruits which follow are eaten by 

 the birds as fast as they ripen. 



61776 and 61777. 



From Nairobi, Kenya Colony, Africa. Seeds 

 presented by S. Battiscombe, conserva- 

 tor of forests, Forest Department.. Re- 

 ceived October 17, 1924. 



61776. Brachtlaena hdtchinsii Hutchin- 

 son. Asteracese. 



The hard, white timber of this tall 

 East African tree is durable, easily 

 worked, and not subject to attack by 

 termites. In height the tree reaches 90 

 to 100 feet ; the branches are upright 

 and are confined to the upper fourth of 

 the trunk. 



