24 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPOKTED. 



34484. CiTRULLUs vulgaris Schrad. Watermelon. 



From the Uiiion of South Africa. Presented by Mr. J. Burtt Davy, Department of 

 Agricultm-e, Pretoria. Received November 7, 1912. 



Tsama melon. Collected in the heart of the Kalahari Desert. It is one of the 

 most useful desert plants, being the sole source of water supply for cattle trekking 

 through the desert in the dry winter months; animals wliich are eating the melons do 

 not seem to require any water. \Mien the water supply of travelers gives out, the 

 moisture is extracted from these melons for drinking purposes and is often used by 

 humans." {Davy.) 



34485 to 34488. 



From Australia. Presented by Mr. J. A. Hamilton, Tolga, Queensland. Re- 

 ceived November 7, 1912. 

 Quoted notes by Mr. Hamilton: 



34486 to 34487. Eucalyptus spp. Eucalyptus. 

 "All useful and ornamental trees." 



34485. Eucalyptus sp. 

 "Bloodwood." 



34486. Eucalyptus sp. 



"Grows 3,000 feet above sea level. Latitude 17° 30' south." 



34487. Eucalyptus siderophloia Bentham. 

 "Black ironbark . Tropical variety . ' ' 



34488. Xanthorrhoea sp. Grass- tree. 

 "This is not only ornamental, but a valuable resin can be obtained from it, 



which is used for varnish. It ought to do very well in your Southern States; 

 the poorer the soil the better, so long as it gets the heat." 



34489 and 34490. Eleusine cor ac an a (L.) Gaertn. Ragi. 



From Mysore, Bangalore, India. Presented by Mr. H. V. Krishnayya, acting 

 officer in charge of the Agricultural Department. Received November 7, 

 1912. 



Quoted notes by Mr. Krishnayya: 



34489. "Kar. Sown in May and harvested in September. Also grown 

 under irrigation . ' ' 



34490. ''HullubiU. Sown in July and har\^ested in November. Grain 

 considered to be the best of all varieties." 



84491 and 34492. Ipomoea calobra Hill and Mueller. Calobra. 



From Australia. Presented by Prof. Manson Bailey, Department of Agriculture, 

 Brisbane, Queensland. Received November 7, 1912. 

 "A native convolvulus known by the natives of the Barcoo in Queensland under 

 the name of ' Calohra,' and by the natives of the Moonie and Balonne Rivers as 

 'Weir.' It is a tall twiner with a somewhat turnip-shaped tuber. The leaves are 

 heart shaped, somewhat oblong, and often measure 4 inches in breadth. The flower 

 is nearly 3 inches broad, is reddish at the center, and paler toward the outside. The 

 seed capsule is egg shaped, going to a point about 1 inch long and containing four 

 seeds. The seeds are dark brown and about one-half inch long. The plant, which 

 is of the sweet-potato family, is to be found in the Mulga shrubs." (Bailey, in 

 letter of September 28, 1912.) 



34491. Seeds. 34492. Tubers. 



