SEPTEMBER, 1900, TO DECEMBER, 1903. 227 



8806. Medicago sativa. Alfalfa, 



From Bassorah, Arabia. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 904, March 15, 1902), June 7, 1902. 



Djet. "This is treated like any alfalfa (see No. 8823). This is given a separate 

 number as it comes from 500 mile's south of the locality whence No. 8823 was sent. 

 Secured through the assistance of Mr. Raphael Sayegh, of Bassorah." (Fairchild. ) 



8807. Cicer arietinum. Chick-pea. 



From Bassorah, Arabia. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 903, March 15, 1902), June 7, 1902. 



Humus. "Sold everywhere on the markets of Mesopotamia. It is suited to very 

 hot regions with little water. Sent for trials in California and Arizona. ' ' ( Fairchild. ) 



8808. Triticum durum. Wheat. 



From Bassorah, Arabia. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 902, March 16, 1902), June 7, 1902. 



Karun. "A hard wheat which is grown on the river Karun in Persia. It is 

 reported to be the best wheat coming to the Bassorah market and is grown in a region 

 where scant rains fall and which is exposed to excessive hot weather. Suited for 

 our dry, hot Southwest. ' ' ( Fairchild. ) 



8809. Hordeum tetrastichum. Barley. 



From Bagdad, Arabia. Received through Messrs. Lathroo and Fairchild (No. 

 886, March 10, 1902), June 7, 1902. 



Black. "The native barley of the Tigris Valley above Bagdad. It should be 

 suited to culture in our dry Southwest, as it is a short season variety and depends on 

 the scanty rains in January and February for its moisture. I understand that this 

 barley is sometimes exported to Europe." (Fairchild. ) 



8810. Lathyrus cicer. Pea. 



From Bagdad, Arabia, Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 880, March 9, 1902), June 7, 1902. 



Hortuman. "A species of the pea family, which in the market is called Hortuman, 

 but, according to the dictionaries, Hortuman means oat, and this is evidently one of 

 the Leguminosse. It is cultivated by planting in hills or drills, and grows, according 

 to the very unsatisfactory information which I could pick up, to a height of about 2 

 feet. The grains are produced in a pod and they form the valuable product of the plant. 

 The straw is, however, also said to be fed to cattle, but has not any great value. The 

 grain is exceedingly hard and requires grinding before it can be used. It is then 

 cooked with rice or boiled and eaten alone. It is grown without much water, but 

 generally on irrigated lands. It is suitable for trial in the extremely hot regions of 

 the Colorado Desert. Its use as a soiling crop is quite unknown, but it may be of 

 considerable value, nevertheless, for people here are evidently quite ignorant of soil- 

 ing crops. Bought in the bazar at Bagdad, where it is not at this season a very 

 common grain . " ( Fairchild. ) 



8811. Triticum durum. Wheat. 



From Bagdad, Arabia. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 879, March 9, 1902), June 7, 1902. 



Hurma. "A large-grained, hard wheat which is called Hurma, meaning widow, 

 because of the large size of the grains. This sample comes from the wheat-growing 

 region of Mosul and is cultivated without irrigation. It deserves a trial in our arid- 

 region experiments. ' ' ( Fairchild. ) 



8812. Triticum vulgare. Wheat. 



From Bagdad, Arabia. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 

 878, March 9, 1902), June 7, 1902. 



Kermansha. "The finest looking soft wheat to be found on the Bagdad market, 

 It comes from Kermansha, in Persia, where it is grown without irrigation. It brings 



