APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1913. 



39 



an important article of their food. The leaves are useful feed for stock in adverse 

 seasons, and both cattle and sheep often eat the young seedlings and taller plants 

 even when other feed is plentiful in the pastures. In consequence of this, the tree 

 is not so plentiful in some districts as formerly. This tree is well worth extensively 

 planting in the interior about homesteads, from both an ornamental and an economic 

 point of view. The drought-enduring qualities of established trees are remarkable, 

 for their growth seems to be neither seriously affected by the hot mnds that are period- 

 ically experienced in summer nor by the long periods of dry weather which prevail 

 in adverse seasons. There would be no difficulty in bringing it under systematic 

 cultivation, for when left unmolested for a time it produces quantities of fruit, and 

 under ordinary conditions the nuts germinate readily. Under cultivation the succu- 

 lent portion of the fruit might be considerably increased and the kernel enlarged, 

 which would add greatly to its importance as a fruit and nut producing tree. Plants 

 grown from seeds in nursery rows do not bear transplanting very well, for if the root 

 system of the young seedlings is disturbed they will take some time to recover or 

 they may eventually die. The nuts, therefore, should be planted where it is intended 

 that the trees are to grow permanently, and the best time to do this is in the early 

 autumn or early spring, when the earth is moist. The nuts should be left covered 

 with about 1 inch of soil. If the trees are intended for growing in rows or in groups, 

 the nuts should be planted not less than 15 feet apart, and it is advisable to set two 

 together in case one fails to germinate. Should both germinate, the weaker of the 

 two seedlings should be cut out when about 2 years old. The following method of 

 raising seedlings I have found very successful: In 3-inch flower pots that have been 

 drained and filled nearly to the brim with a light compost, one nut was planted in 

 the center of each, and left covered with a quarter of an inch of soil. The pots were 

 then plunged to the rim in a bed of ashes in a sunny position and regularly watered. 

 In a short time the nuts germinated, and the young seedlings were large and strong 

 enough for transplanting in about 18 months. The young plants I had under cultiva- 

 tion made about 1 foot of growth annually. Germination may, under some conditions, 

 be facilitated by slightly cracking the nut, but very great care must be taken not to 

 injure the kernel containing the germ. Only the best developed nuts from the ripest 

 fruits should be selected for planting, then there will be no difficulty in getting them 

 to germinate and develop into strong plants. " {Fred Turner, F. L. S. , Sydney Morning 

 Herald, Dec. 16, 1912.) 



For an illustration of the dried fruit and nuts of the Australian quandong tree, see 

 Plate VII. 



35324 to 35399. 



From Bangalore, Mysore, India. Presented by Mr. G. H. Krumbiegel, economic 

 botanist. Government Gardens. Received March 24, 1913. 

 Numbers in parentheses are exhibit numbers in the Official Handbook of Exhibits 

 of the Mysore Dasara Industrial and Agricultural Exhibition, 1912, in which certain 

 details concerning the yields and methdds of cultivation of the respective numbers 

 are given. 



Seeds of the following: 



35324 to 35331. Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn. Ragi. 



35324. 



(725) White. 



(743) White, large seeded. 

 (751) Dark red, large seeded. 

 (754) Yellowish red. 



35325. 



35326. 



36327. 



