40 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED 



The Liuncel doom of the Transvaal is a 

 valuable timber tree for arid regions in 

 the warm Temperate Zone, according to 

 .1. Burtt Davy, formerly director of the 

 Burtt-Davy seed farms at Burttholm, Ve- 

 reeniging. Transvaal. The ripe pods are 

 greedily eaten by stock. The tree thrives 

 in sandy soil, attains a large size, and the 

 dark reddish brown wood is used by the 

 natives in making spoons, knife handles, 

 etc. 



64216. Gabica papaya L. 



Papayaceae. 

 Papaya. 



From Santiago de las Vegas, Cuba. Seeds 

 presented by Gonzalo M. Fortun, director, 

 Estaci6n Experimental Agronomica. Re- 

 ceived June 13, 1925. 



One of the larger papaya types, sent to 

 me by Mario Escobar y Ferrer, of Colonia 

 " Bellamar " Jagueyal. (Fortun.) 



64217. Meibomia leiocarpa (Spreng.) 

 Kuntze (Desmodium leiocarpum 

 Don.). Fabaceae. 



From Buenos Aires, Argentina. Seeds pre- 

 sented by Carlos D. Girola, Museo Agri- 

 cola de la Sociedad Rural Argentina. 

 Received June 12, 1925. 



In northern Argentina and southern 

 Brazil this native leguminous plant is eaten 

 readily by stock, according to Senor 

 Girola (Boletin del Ministerio de Agricul- 

 tura, Buenos Aires, vol. 25, p. 375). The 

 plant becomes 6 feet or more in height, 

 more or less branched, with trifoliolate 

 leaves 2 inches or more long. For use as 

 forage the plants are cut at the level of 

 the ground, just before flowering ; this 

 practice causes the plants to renew their 

 growth most rapidly. 



64218. Panicum laevifoltum Hack. 

 Poaceae. Grass. 



From Pretoria, Transvaal, Union of South 

 Africa. Seeds presented by H. A. Melle, 

 Department of Agriculture, through C. V. 

 Piper, Bureau of Plant Industry. Re- 

 ceived June 17, 1925. 



Sweet grass is an annual, widely dis- 

 tributed over the Transvaal and the Orange 

 Free State. Owing to its rapid growth in 

 cultivated lands, it is regarded as a trouble- 

 some weed. It is a very rapid grower, 

 heading within six weeks after the seed has 

 germinated, and has a remarkably heavy 

 yield. The mown grass, if properly cured, 

 makes excellent hay of the best palatability, 

 which during the winter months is eaten 

 greedily by stock. [Melle.) 



64219 and 64220. Sacchartjm officina- 

 rum L. Poaceae. Sugar cane. 



From Fortuna, Porto Rico. Cuttings pre- 

 sented by J. Matz, through E. W. 

 Brandes, Bureau of Plant Industry. Re- 

 ceived June 24, 1925. 



64219. B. 6032. 64220. B. 6308. 



64221 and 64222. 



From Chingkangsan, Hupeh, China. Seeds 

 presented by Rev. A. S. Cooper. Received 

 June 15, 1925. 



Malaceae. 



Firethorn. 



64221. Pyracantha sp. 



The firethorns are ornamental shrubs 

 grown chiefly for their bright-red fruits. 

 This Chinese species is as yet unidentified. 



64221 and 64222— Continued. 



. LlLIUM UEUCANTHUM CHLORASTER 



(Baker) Wilson. Liliaceae. Lily. 



An unidentified Chinese lily. To be 

 grown to ascertain its horticultural value. 



64223 to 64230. Pyrus spp. Malaceae. 



Pear. 



The following seedlings, grown at the 

 Plant Introduction Garden, Chico, Calif., 

 are from hybrids between one of the Pyrus 

 communis types and a Chinese pear, raised 

 by the late Walter Van Fleet in 1907 and 

 hitherto carried collectively at the Chico 

 garden under the S. P. I. No. 28497. Num- 

 bered in April, 1925, for convenience in 

 distribution. 



64223. Pyrus sp. 



A medium-sized pear, 3% inches long 

 and 2% inches wide, which is obovate- 

 acute-pyriform, some specimens tending 

 to oblong-pyriform. The thick, tough 

 skin is light yellow overlain with bronze 

 or light pink on the exposed surface and 

 is slightly roughened by numerous large 

 conspicuous russet dots. The flesh is 

 white, fairly juicy and firm, sweet hut 

 insipid. The tree is very prolific and 

 ripens its fruits at Chico from the mid- 

 dle of August to the middle of Septem- 

 ber. (Row 42, tree 3, and row 44, 

 tree 3.) 



64224. Pyrus sp. 



Fruits medium to large, averaging 3 

 inches long and 2% inches wide ; acute- 

 obovate-pyriform in shape with unequal 

 sides. When ripe the skin is lemon 

 yellow with a smooth waxy surface and 

 numerous russet dots. The flesh is quite 

 firm and juicy, slightly sweet, but lack- 

 ing in flavor. Possibly of use for can- 

 ning purposes. The fruits ripen at Chico 

 from late in September to late in Octo- 

 ber. Row 26, tree 4, old test orchard.) 



64225. Pyrus sp. 



A medium-sized pear, yellowish green 

 and rather rough. The flesh is light 

 colored, rather coarse in texture, but 

 juicy, sweet, and of fair quality. The 

 tree is small and rather slow growing, 

 bearing an average crop and showing no 

 evidence of disease. Evidently a fair 

 winter pear. The fruits ripen at Chico 

 about the middle of August. (Row 26, 

 tree 8, old test orchard.) 



64226. Pyrus sp. 



A medium-sized drooping vigorous tree, 

 bearing an average crop of medium-sized 

 pears. The fruits are greenish yellow 

 and smooth. The flesh is juicy and 

 slightly acid with a trace of astrin- 

 gency. This has a possible value as a 

 late winter pear. (Row 26, tree 11, old 

 test orchard.) 



64227. Pyrus sp. 



Fruits large and coarse, averaging 12 

 to 16 ounces in weight, with greenish 

 yellow skin, slightly colored where ex- 

 posed to the vsun. The flesh is juicy and 

 fairly sweet, but lacking in flavor. The 

 tree is vigorous, free from blight, and 

 bears a heavy crop of fruit which ripens 

 late in September or early in October at 

 Chico, Calif. (Row 28, tree 8, old test 

 orchard.) 



64228. Pyrus sp. 



A very vigorous tree showing as yet 

 no evidence of blight and bearing a heavy 



