32 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



34985 and 34986. Holcijs sorghum L. Sorghum. 



(Sorghum vulgare Pers.) 

 Received from Mr. H.N. Vinall, of the Bureau of Plant Industry, March 10, 1913. 

 34986. ''McLean sorghum. Received from the Office of Sugar-Plant Inves- 

 tigations. To be grown for the purpose of classification, and determination 

 oi forage value." ( Vinall.) 



34986. "Colman Borghum. Open-head type. Received from the Office of 

 Sugar-Plant Investigations. To be grown for the purpose of classification 

 and determination of forage value." ( Vinall.) 



34988 to 34990. 



From Kew, England. Presented by Sir. David Prain, director, Royal Botanic 

 Gardens. Received -February 26, 1913. 

 Seeds of the following: 



34988. Acer heldreichii Orphan. 



Distribution. — A maple found on the slopes of Moimt Parnassus, in Greece. 



34989. Caragana decorticans Hemsl. 



An Afghan shrub or small tree discovered by Dr. Aitchison in the Kurrum 

 Valley. 



''The bark is said to be employed by the Afghans in the form of rings to slip 

 over and hold the sheaths of their long knives in position, in lieu of brasswork; 

 the surface takes a good polish, and when new resembles bronzed leather." 

 (Aitchison.) 



34990. Crataegus peckii Sarg. Hawthorn. 



34991. Canavali ensiforme (L.) DC. Jack bean. 



From Greenwood, Miss. Purchased from Mr. H. D. Kerr. Received March 8, 

 1913. 



"The jack bean is a native of the West Indies and the adjacent mainland. In 

 Jamaica, whence it first became well known, it is called the horse bean or the overlook 

 bean. The horse bean of Europe is a very different plant. In Antigua it has been 

 called the Babricou bean, and in this country has been designated the Pearson bean, 

 and recently the wonder bean. 



"The jack bean is a bushy, semierect annual plant, growing to a height of 2 to 4 

 feet. Its stems are rather coarse and become woody toward the base. The rather 

 thickish leaves have a decidedly bitter taste. The flowers are purple, at least in all 

 varieties so far introduced. The first blossoms are borne near the base of the stem, 

 so that many of the pods hang low. When mature, the pods are hard and firm, 9 to 

 14 inches long, each containing 10 to 14 seeds. These are pure white, with a brown 

 hilum. Ordinarily the roots are well tubercled, and the plant will withstand much 

 drought. It is remarkably free from insects and fungous disease and but slightly 

 affected by root-knot." (C. V. Piper.) 



For further information, see separate from Circular 110 of the Bureau of Plant Indus- 

 try, entitled "The Jack Bean and the Sword Bean," by C. V. Piper. 



34992. Astragalus falcatus Lam. 



From Paris, France. Presented by Vilmorin-Andrieux & Cie. Received Feb- 

 ruary 26, 1913. 



"This is a perennial, bunching legume, with fair seed habits; somewhat leafy; 

 may be of value as a leguminous hay and forage crop in sections where clover and 

 alfalfa do not succeed. Somewhat drought resistant. " (/. M. Westgate.) 



