SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED 



grasses that grow in the interior of Aus- 

 tralia. When allowed to remain undis- 

 turbed for a time this grass produces an 

 abundance of seeds, which usually ripen in 

 Slimmer and autumn. Although' its natu- 

 ral habitat is in the arid interior, I have 

 successfully cultivated it in the warmer 

 districts on the eastern side of the Divid- 

 ing Range. When cut just as the flower 

 spikes appear it makes capital hay. 



As you purpose distributing them in the 

 hotter and drier tropical colonies of the 

 British Empire, I should perhaps mention 

 that under natural conditions seeds of the 

 Mitchell grass germinate readily during 

 summer and early autumn after thunder- 

 storms or heavy rains. If sown under 

 similar natural conditions in other parts 

 of the world, the seeds should germinate 

 readily. Failing that, artificial watering 

 at the time of sowing will facilitate ger- 

 mination. Once the grass is established it 

 luxuriates in deep, rich land during very 

 dry and hot weather. 



62274. Peroyskia atriplicifolia Benth. 

 Menthaceae. 



From Chester, England. Plants purchased 

 from the Dickson Nurseries. Received 

 February 12, 1925. 



A handsome, shrubby plant, allied to the 

 sages (Salvia spp.) which is indigenous to 

 the mountainous regions of Afghanistan. 

 It is of erect habit, about 5 feet high, and 

 emits an aromatic sagelike odor when 

 bruised. Its chief ornamental value lies in 

 the terminal panicles of blue flowers which 

 appear in early autumn, forming a pleas- 

 ing contrast with the silvery gray stems. 



62275 and 62276. Pisum sativum L. 

 Fabaceae. Pea. 



From Trier, Germany. Seeds purchased 

 from J. Lambert & Son. Received Feb- 

 ruary 10, 1925. 



Tall, medium late, round-seeded varieties. 

 Pods very long, slender, slightly curved. 

 Both, prolific varieties, classed as field peas 

 by American users, but are used in Ger- 

 many as green shelling peas. (D. N. Shoe- 

 maker, Bureau of Plant Industry.) 



62275. Grosser Victoria. Larger than 

 the following [S. P. I. No. 62276], 

 otherwise very similar. 



62276. Griinefolger. 



62277. Citrus sp. Rutaceae. 



From Johannesburg, Transvaal. Fruits 

 presented by Col. A. J. Bester. Received 

 February 7, 1925. 



When I visited the great Symbabian 

 ruins in central Africa in 1911 I discov- 

 ered a new citrus fruit ; I collected seeds 

 and brought them back, and now the va- 

 riety is distributed all over the Transvaal. 

 The smooth-skinned fruits are much like a 

 big lime in shape, and the abundant, fine- 

 flavored juice is very sweet. (Bester.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. 

 No. 55624. 



62278. Avena SATiVA L. Poaceae. 



Oats. 



From Edinburgh, Scotland. Seeds presented 

 by Thomas Young, Edinburgh and East 

 of Scotland College of Agriculture. Re- 

 ceived February 12, 1925. 



This is a black oat which has done very 

 well in Scotland as a winter oat. (Young".) 



62279 and 62280. 



From Verrieres le Buisson. Seine et Oise. 

 France. Plants presented by A. Meu- 

 nissier. Received February 17, 1925. 



62279. Cryptomeria japonica (L. f.) D. 

 Don. Pinaceae. 



Var. Vilmoriniana. A horticultural 

 variety of the well-known Japanese 

 conifer which is described (The Garden, 

 vol. 88, p. 310) as a dwarf form of com- 

 pact, bushy habit. It was discovered in 

 1923 in the Vilmorin nursery at Ver- 

 rieres le Buisson, near Paris. France, 

 where it makes a striking appearance in 

 the rock garden. 



62280. Schizophragma ixtegrifolia Oli- 

 ver. Hydrangeaceae. 



A climbing shrub, closely related to 

 the hydrangeas, which is native to rocky 

 places in central China. It reaches 

 about 15 feet in height, and has broadly 

 oval, bright-green leaves about 5 inches 

 long. The inflorescence consists of loose 

 terminal clusters of small, white flowers, 

 with large and showy sterile flowers at 

 the margins of these clusters. This shrub 

 is hardy as far north as southern Massa- 

 chusetts. 



62281. Hibiscus sabdaritfa L. Malva- 

 ceae. Roselle. 



From Manila, Philippine Islands. Seeds 

 presented by P. J. Wester, Bureau of 

 Agriculture.' Received February 16, 1925. 



Rizel. A new variety that has originated 

 on the hacienda of R. M. McCrory, Nova- 

 liches, Riza Province, and which I have 

 named after the province in which it orig- 

 inated. This new variety is apparently a 

 spontaneous hybrid between either the Rico 

 or Victor and the Archer. The calyces are 

 white at the base, the claws of the epicalyx 

 green, and the remainder of the calyx is 

 tinged with pink to light red, giving the 

 " fruit " a waxy pink appearance somewhat 

 like the fruit of the makpoa, Eugenia 

 javanica. Jelly made from the fruit prob- 

 ably would be pink in color. Because of 

 the pretty coloring of the fruit, the plants 

 of the Rizal make a more attractive or- 

 namental than the ordinary kinds, and it 

 ought to become popular, especially with 

 hunters of novelties. (Wester.) 



62282. Citrus sp. Rutaceae. 



From Fukuoka, Japan. Seeds presented by 

 Dr. Tyozaburo Tanaka, in charge, Horti- 

 cultural Institute, Department of Agri- 

 culture, Kyushu Imperial University. Re- 

 ceived February 18, 1925. 



Sweequasaa. A species of Citrus native 

 to Nuchu Island. It is closely related to 

 our Koji variety, hut differs in its greater 

 amount of pectin and in the puffiness and 

 deep color of the rind. It is possibly a 

 good citrus stock. Provisionally I have 

 named it Citrus pectinifera, but I shall 

 make further observations of the flowers be- 

 fore describing the species. (Tanaka.) 



62283 to 62285. 



From Orleans, France. Plants presented 

 by Leon Chenault, . through David Fair- 

 child, agricultural explorer. Bureau of 

 Plant Industry. Received February 21, 

 1925. 



62283. Buddleia alterxifolia Maxim. 

 Loganiaceae. Butterfly bush. 



