
          56292. BENZOIN sp. From Yunnan, China. Collected by J. F. Rock, 
Agricultural Explorer. A tree reaching 35 feet in height, with a trunk 
about one foot thick, and leathery, aromatic, dark green and glossy 
leaves. From the scarlet, one-seeded fruits, borne in small clusters, 
is obtained a white, oily liquid used by the Chinese to make yellow 
wax, for burning and other purposes. For trial in the south Atlantic 
and Gulf coast states, and on the Pacific coast.

35599. BLIGHIA SAPIDA. Akee. From Kingston, Jamaica. Presented by 
W. Harris, superintendent of public gardens. This African tree was 
introduced into the West Indies at an early day, and is now fairly 
common in several islands. Its behavior at Miami, and elsewhere in 
southern Florida, has shown that it is well suited for cultivation in  
that region. On deep, rich soils it makes a tree 50 feet high; in 
southern Florida it will probably not exceed 35 feet. It has attractive, 
compound leaves, and curious, pendent, three-sided fruits about two 
inches long, which open when ripe, exposing three, black, shining seeds 
the size of small marbles, each having at its base a small wax-like 
body (the arillus) which suggests in appearance the brain of some small 
animal. Fried in butter, or cooked with salt fish, this arillus is 
excellent eating. The tree merits wider planting in southern Florida, 
and in tropical regions where it is not yet cultivated. It has not 
proved successful in any part of California, and it seems doubtful if 
further experiments in that state are worth undertaking.

58370. BYRSONIMA SPICATA. From Dominica, British West Indies. Presented 
by Joseph Jones, Curator, Botanic Gardens. A tree of the West Indies and 
northern Brazil, reaching a height of 30 to 40 feet, and bearing yellow 
flowers followed by small fruits of the same color, acid, and said to be 
good eating when ripe. The bark is a source of tannin, and is used to 
prepare a red dye. Suggested for trial in Florida, and those tropical 
regions where it is not yet cultivated.

41333. CAESALPINIA PECTINATA. From the Peruvian Andes. Collected by 
O. F. Cook, Bureau of Plant Industry, in the Urubamba valley near 
Ollantaytambo. A tall, upright, spiny shrub or small tree, which reaches 
30 feet in height, and bears small greenish yellow flowers in cylindrical 
open spikes, followed by clusters of red pods. Mr. Cook suggests that, 
in addition to the possibility of using it for ornanental planting, this 
shrub, which is called tara in Peru, may have value as a hedge 
and windbreak plant for the Southwestern States. It seems likely to 
withstand light frosts, but not hard freezing.

56452. CASSIA BREWSTERI. From Brisbane, Queensland. Presented by E. W. 
Bick, Curator, Botanic Gardens. A shrub or small tree found on hilly 
pastures and river banks in northern Queensland. It reaches 30 feet in 
height under favorable conditions, and bears yellow flowers in axillary 
clusters three to six inches long; the thick pods are often a foot in 
length, and the pale yellow, close-grained wood is prettily marked. For 
trial in California, Florida and other mild-wintered regions as an 
ornamental plant.

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