
          57260. EXACUM ZEYLANICUM MACRANTHUM. From Ceylon. Presented by the 
Governor, through Frank B. Noyes of Washington, D. C. An erect, slightly 
branched plant from the mountains of Ceylon, where it grows at elevations 
of about 6000 feet. The stem, over a foot in height, is abundantly 
supplied with leaves toward the base; above, it carries a terminal cluster 
of strikingly beautiful flowers. These are two inches broad, deep blue 
with a cluster of bright orange stamens in the center. The plant blooms 
in one year from seed, and is an excellent subject for greenhouse culture.

58587. FICUS MYSORENSIS. From Lalbagh, Bangalore, India. Presented by 
G. H. Krumbiegel, Superintendent, Government Botanical Gardens. One of 
the numerous species of Ficus native to India. It occurs along the base 
of the Himalayas from Sikkim eastwards, and is described as a large, 
broadly spreading tree, with few aerial roots embracing the trunk, and 
ovate leathery leaves up to 8 inches long. It may prove valuable as a 
shade and avenue tree in southern Florida and tropical America.

54632. FRAGARIA sp. Strawberry. From Santiago de Chile. Presented by 
Salvador Izquierdo, through Wilson Popenoe, Agricultural Explorer. A 
variety of European origin, resembling the Marshall strawberry of this 
country in foliage, and in color, shape and size of fruit. The character 
of flesh is distinct, however; it is more meaty than that of most 
American strawberries. Preliminary tests at Bell, Maryland, indicate 
that the variety is productive and show that it has perfect flowers. It 
should be tried as a commercial strawberry in California, and will be of 
interest to breeders for use in crossing.

54976 and 55516. FRAGARIA sp. Strawberry. From Irapuato, Mexico. 
This is the variety cultivated extensively in the vicinity of Irapuato, 
whence its fruits are shipped to Mexico City and other large towns of the 
highlands. At the Plant Introduction Garden, Bell, Md., it has proved 
less subject to leaf spot than most North American varieties. The plant 
is perfect flowered, and ripens its fruit at Bell very late in the 
season. The large hairy calyx and meaty, white flesh indicate derivation 
from Fragaria chiloensis, though it is to be assumed that some other 
species has also entered into the parentage of this variety. It is not 
recommended for general planting, but should prove of much interest to 
strawberry breeders.

56909. FRANCOA SONCHIFOLIA. Presented by Dr. A. Robertson Proschowsky, 
Nice, France. A perennial, herbaceous plant reaching 3 feet in height, 
native to Chile. It has wavy-margined, light green or sometimes reddish 
leaves, and dense terminal racemes 6 inches long of lilac-colored flowers 
each about one inch broad. May prove hardy as far north as Washington, D. C., 
if given protection in winter, or it may be kept over winter in a cold 
frame and planted out in summer. It prefers a light, sandy soil, and 
needs an abundance of water during the growing season.

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