48 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



34695. Antidesma nitidum Ttilasne. 

 (A. moritzii Muell.) 



From Los Banos, Philippine Islands. Presented by Mr. C. F. Baker, University 

 of the Philippines, College of Agriculture. Received December 9, 1912. 

 ' ' One of the finest local shrubs, of good shape and covered with great numbers of 

 pendent clusters of smaU berries which are long, bright red, finally black, and which 

 are edible. This should make an important addition to ornamental shrubs for warm 

 countries." (Baker.) 



34696. Faradaya splendid a Mueller. 



From Bowen Pai-k, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Presented by Mr. William 

 Soutter, secretary and manager, Queensland Acclimatization Society. Received 

 December 13, 1912. 



"A ^'ery handsome climber, native of the more tropical regions of Queensland, 

 The outer bark of the plant is used by the natives for stupefying fish. The green 

 bark is tied in small bundles, weighted with a stone, and dropped into holes where 

 the fish abound. The fish immediately become affected and rise to the surface, 

 where they are easily caught." (Soutter.) 



Distribution. — The \-icinity of Rockingham Bay, in Queensland, Australia. 



34697. DiosPYRos kaki L. f. Persimmon. 



From Seoul, Chosen (Korea). Presented by the American consul general, Mr. 

 George H. Scidmore. Received December 16, 1912. 

 "A hardy persimmon tree of the 'sheep-nose' variety, growing in the compound 

 of this consulate general . ' ' (Scidmore . ) 



"The 'sheep-nose' variety has such good keeping qualities that I have kept them ■ 

 until late Easter." (Horace N. Allen.) 



34698. Perse A Americana Miller. Avocado. 



(P. gratissima Gaertn. f.) 

 From Rome, Italy. Presented by Dr. Gustav Eisen, California Academy of 

 Sciences, San Francisco, Cal. Received December 16, 1912. 

 "The tree in question is in all probability about 100 years old, and though I do not 

 know for certain, I think it likely to have been imported from Mexico by, or at least 

 at the time of, Valadier, the French gardener and architect, who in the beginning of 

 1800 arranged the Pincio Garden. The tree is growing there in perfect vigor and 

 health, perhaps about 40 feet high, and the trunk several feet in diameter. The 

 variety is one which I have never seen on the Pacific coast of Mexico or Central 

 America, the fruit being 3^ inches long by 2^ inches wide, pear shaped — that is, 

 tapering toward the stalk end. This year there were 100 fruits or over, all arri\T.ng 

 at perfect maturity in October and November, the last ones being picked about 

 November 15. The earlier fruits are larger and may average from one-half inch to 

 1 inch more than the size given above, which refers to the late fruits. In quality 

 this fruit is equal to the very best that I have eaten in Guatemala and Mexico and 

 is of exquisite flavor. The seed is perfectly round, pale yellow-brown, and evidently 

 perfectly developed. The variety is also characterized by its precocity, ripening 

 before frost. It will succeed, without any doubt, in most parts of California, Arizona, 

 southern Texas, and the Gulf States generally; in a word, in any temtory extending 

 from the northern limit of the hardiest orange southward — that means the San 

 Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys in California, the Coast Range, etc. Introduced 

 into this territory the tree would prove of immense value and would enter at once 

 into active competition with the Mexican and island avocado now imported and sold 

 at a prohibitive price . ' ' ( Eisen . ) 



