

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



INVENTORY No. 83 



Washington, D. C. T Issued September, 1927 



SEEDS AND PUNTS IMPORTED BY THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN PLANT 

 INTRODUCTION, BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY, DURING THE PERIOD 

 FROM APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1925 (NOS. 63490 TO 64428) 



CONTENTS 



Page 



Introductory statement 1 



Inventory 3 



Index of common and scientific names 50 



INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT 



For the second, quarter of 1925, the period represented by this inventory, the 

 general situation in respect to foreign agricultural explorations agrees rather 

 closely with the period represented by the preceding inventory, No. 82. Doctor 

 Fairchild was in Algeria and Morocco, Mr. Dorsett spent most of the time in 

 the Province of Chihli, northern China, and Mr. McClure continued his work 

 in the Province of Kwangtung, southeastern China. 



Among the plant material obtained by Doctor Fairchild in Algeria were 

 scions of three varieties of loquats (Eriobotrya japonica, Nos. 63557 to 63559). 

 These were grown at the governor general's garden at Mustapha and are said 

 to be superior types. From Dr. L. Trabut, also at Mustapha, Doctor Fairchild 

 obtained seeds of a hybrid eucalypt (Eucalyptus trabuti, No. 63581). This was 

 discovered by Doctor Trabut in the botanic gardens in Mustapha and is said 

 to be an unusually rapid grower. 



Mr. Dorsett's collections include an interesting series of native Chinese melon 



varieties ( Cucumis melo, Nos. 63702 to 63713 ) , six native cabbagelike vegetables 



(Brassica spp., Nos. 63910 to 63915), and many local types of beans, peas, wheat, 



and barley, obtained largely from the native markets in the villages of Chihli 



Province. 



In 1925, according to the Yearbook of the Department of Agriculture for that 

 year, about 25,000 acres were devoted to the growing of green peas in the 

 United States. In order to assist horticulturists in extending this area by 

 breeding disease-resistant strains and strains adapted to a variety of condi- 

 tions, locally developed varieties were introduced from Germany, France, 

 Sweden, England, and New South Wales. 



One of the best date varieties grown in Lower Egypt is said to be the Samany 

 (Phoenix dactylifera, No. 63975), offshoots of which have been obtained from 

 the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture. Date culture in the southwestern por- 

 tion of the United States is progressing steadily, and Old World varieties are 

 being sought which will be best adapted for growing in the different sections. 



An Australian tree from the semiaricl interior of New South Wales should 

 be of interest for growing in the drier regions of the Southwest. This is the 

 wilga (Geijera parviflora, No. 64000), a low tree resembling the weeping 

 willow. The leaves of this drought-resistant tree are fed to cattle in New 

 South Wales. 



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