JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1913. 



43 



35116. Inodes exul O. F. Cook. 



Palmetto. 



From Victoria, Tex. Presented by Mr. O. F. Cook, of the Bureau of Plant In- 

 dustry. Received March 26, 1913. 



"This is a new palmetto occurring in cultivation in some portions of Texas, and 

 especially at Victoria, whence this material was received. It is described as being 

 related to some of the other Mexican forms of this genus, which suggests that it prob- 

 ably originated in Mexico. Some of the palmettos of this new species are really 

 magnificent, with their stately crowns of large vivid-green leaves, firmly supported 

 on massive petioles, also of li\TJig green. Even the trunk appears green, for the 

 sheathing leaf bases retain their color. 



"The crown is more ample than most palms, because of the firm texture and per- 

 tiistent \itality of the leaves. This lends an impression of extreme \dgor and lux- 

 uriance and adds gi-eatly to the decorative effect. In short, it seems not unUkely 

 that the Victoria palmetto may find a place in the front rank of ornamental species. 



"This species is distinguished from related species by its large size, the deep- 

 green foliage, the thickened branchlets of the inflorescence, the soUtary fruit, and 

 the large seed, not wrinkled above nor hollowed out below. 



"At Victoria these cultivated palmettos have passed, without any damage to the 

 leaves, through freezes that killed many of the wild Acacia farnesiana. Though cer- 

 tain other palms are able to siu-\'ive such temperatures and are worthy of being planted 

 for special purposes, the mutilation of the leaves means a loss of decorative value for 

 several months. Frost-proof foliage is especially desirable in an ornamental spe- 

 cies." {Abstract from 0. F. Cook's article, "J. New Ornamental Palmetto in Southern 

 Texas,^^ Circular 113, Bureau of Plant Industry.) 



For an illustration of this new species of palmetto, as grown in Texas, see Plate IV. 



From Wakamatsu, Japan. Presented by Rev. Christopher Noss, D. D., at the 

 request of Rev. H. Loomis, Yokohama, Japan, Received March 30, 1913. 

 36117. "Gosho. Medium, nonastringent." 



35118. "Koshumaru. Late, nonastringent." 



35119. Myodd. Late, nonastringent." 



35120. "dhassaku. Early, nonastringent." 



35121. Persea AMERICANA Miller. Avocado. 



{Persea gratissima Gaertn. f.) 

 From Caracas, Venezuela. Presented by Mr. H. Pittier, of the Bureau of Plant 

 Industry. Received March 31, 1913. 

 "This aguacate is called Veranero on account of the crop coming at the end of the 

 dry season, while the high time for the other varieties growing about Caracas is 

 August. It is smaller than the common varieties coming from the tierra caliente, 

 which can also be obtained now in the market. Besides, its outer color is character- 

 istically yellow and it has a special very fine flavor. As it grows here up to above 

 1,400 meters, it should do well in southern California and in other parts of the South 

 v^here the rain is somewhat scarce." (Pittier.) 



For an illustration of the fruit of the Veranero variety of avocado, as grown in 

 Venezuela, see Plate V. 



35122. Medicago sativa L. Alfalfa. 



From Algiers, Algeria. Presented by Dr. L. Trabut. Received March 24, 1913, 



35117 to 35120. Diospyros kaki L. f. 



Persimmon. 



