orange in the autumn. The young shoots, reddish in color regardless of season, add 

 much to its ornamental value. The inconspicuous dark-purple flowers, resembling 

 those of the witch-hazel, appear in October. Mature softwood cuttings in midsummer, 

 treated with root-inducing chemicals, afford the best means of propagation. For 

 trial in all but the warmest parts of the South and on the Pacific Coast. (Glenn 

 Dale, Md. ) 



137618. DOBINEA VULGARIS. (Anacardiaceae . ) From India. Presented by the Lloyd 

 Botanic Garden, Darjeeling. Collected at an elevation of about 6,000 feet. A branch- 

 ing shrub with opposite, elliptic, acutely serrate leaves, 4 to 6 inches long. The 

 minute flov/ers are in lax panicles; the staminate flowers are campanulate and the 

 pistillate apetalous. The narrow capsule has winged margins. For trial in southern 

 Florida and southern California. (Glenn Dale, Md.) 



106274. ELEOCHARIS TUBEROSA. (Cyperaceae . ) Waternut. From China. Presented by 

 Lingnan University, Canton. Chinese names, Mr. tai (pronounced mah tie) in Cantonese, 

 01" £i Chi (pronounced pee chee) in Mandarin. A Chinese sedge long cultivated as an 

 irrigated food crop in eastern and southeastern China. The femall brown-skinned corms, 

 or "tubers," up to 1 3/4 inches in diameter, suggests chestnuts in appearance, hence 

 the name "v/ater chestnut" by which also they have been known. Since the use of this 

 name, however, has caused the plant to be confused with an injurious water weed 

 ( Trapa natans ) commonly known as water-chestnut that has become a serious pest in 

 streams, the name WATERNUT is recommended for the valuable food crop here considered. 

 One of the Chinese names (Ma tai or Pi chi) would be more distinctive and they also 

 should perhaps be considered. Waternuts have a crisp white flesh that is both starchy 

 and sweet, and in food value they resemble the potato except that they contain less 

 starch and much more sugar. Successful storage is very difficult. The corms must 

 e.ither be coated with mud (which is allowed to dry) to retard drying and decay, as the 

 Chw.nese do, or be kept moist and cold in an out-door pit or in a refrigerator at 

 50-55° F. They are used in chop suey and other Chinese dishes and are well adapted 

 for use widely in American cookery. The present plant is a variety known as Hon ma 

 tai. It differs from the ordinary form of the plant in that irrigation is discon- 

 tinued before harvest, whereas the common one is harvested in mud and water. Details 

 of culture have not been fully worked out and, especially with reference to time of 

 planting and of harvesting, will vary with latitude; but continuous irrigation in the 

 field, from early summer until shortly before frost in fall, is essential everywhere. 

 At Savannah the best time for planting appears to be about the middle of May. In 

 much more northern localities it probably will be advisable to start the plants in- 

 doors. The corms must be kept moist and cold until planted. They are planted 4 

 inches deep in moist soil and kept well watered. When the leaves are 10-12 inches 

 high, transplant at the same depth to soil that can immediately be submerged with 

 5 inches of water, the plants being spaced about 2^ feet in staggered rows 3 feet 

 apart. The new corms do not begin to develop until early autumn, usually after flower- 

 ing of the plants. Water is withdrawn from the crop at least 2 or 3 weeks before it 

 is to be harvested. Experimenters who may desire to undertake a test of some size 

 with waternuts and who have the requisite facilities should write a separate letter 

 stating their plans, in order to obtain more detailed suggestions. For trial under 

 irrigation especially in the coastal regions from Long Island southward and in central 

 anc' ^luthern California. (Savannah, G'a.) 



