SEPTEMBER, 1900, TO DECEMBER, 1903. 271 



9347. Linum usitatissimum. Flax. 



From Rotterdam, Holland. Received through F. Dutilh & Co., January 29, 

 1903. 



Dutch Riga-Child. Extra picked. From crop of 1902. 



9348 to 9351. Amygdalus communis. Almond 



From Alicante, Spain. Received through Mr. D. G. Fairchild (Nos. 740, 741, 

 745, 755a, July 19 and 20, 1901), January 30, 1903. 



A collection of young almond trees budded on myrobalan stocks by Mr. Georges 

 Boucher, Paris, France, with buds secured by Mr. Fairchild in Spain/ 



9348. 9350. 



Mollar. (No. 740.) Castillet. (No. 745.) 



9349. 9351. 



Planetu. (No. 741.) Pastaneta. (No. 755a.) 



(See Nos. 7985 to 7989 and 9458 to 9462. ) 



9352. Opuntia ficus-indica. Prickly pear. 



From Malta. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 1082, 

 December 27, 1902), January 31, 1903. 



"Fruits from the plants of this variety contain less than 12 seeds, according to Dr. 

 Giovanni Borg, of Malta, who kindly presents them to the Department. These seeds 

 are very small and not at all objectionable. The fruit inside and out is yellowish 

 orange in color, of good flavor, Doctor Borg says, and of the size of a goose egg. The 

 thallus is nearly spineless. It is a rare plant even in Malta. These fruits came from 

 plants growing in a garden in Siggiewi." (Fairchild. ) 



9353. Opuntia ficus-indica. Prickly pear. 



From Malta. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 1083, 

 December 27, 1902), January 31, 1903. 



"This variety resembles No. 9352 closely, but the fruits are much smaller, b< 

 only the size of a hen's egg. Seedless or at least with very few seeds. The thai' us 

 is nearly spineless. The minute bristles on the fruit, according to Dr. Giovanni 

 Borg, can be removed by washing the fruits in a basin of water with a whisk broom. 

 The Avater loosens up the small cushions of bristles and they are easily brushed away 

 into the water. This variety is not as promising as No. 9352, but is worthy a place 

 in the breeder's collection. The fact of its seedlessness and spinelessness makes it a 

 valuable variety of Opuntia for any economic studies on the subject. From Professor 

 Pisani's villa at Maurisi, near Zeitun, Malta." (Fairchild.) 



9354. Ficus carica. Fig. 



From Malta. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild (No. 1084, 

 December 28, 1902), January 31, 1903. 



St. Anthony. " Dr. Giovanni Borg, director of the botanic garden, says this is one of 

 the most delicious figs he has ever eaten. It ripens one crop of figs in June and a 

 second in September or October. The regular late crop is red in color. No caprifi- 

 cation is deemed necessary for this sort, which Doctor Borg thinks could be used for 

 drying purposes. It is an uncommon variety." (Fairchild.) 



9355. Arachis hypogaea. Peanut. 



From Tanegashima, Japan. Presented by Mr. H. E. Amoore. Received Feb- 

 ruary 2, 1903. 



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