APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 19U. 



21 



37696 and 37697— Continued. 



home production is not sufficient to meet the demands, and regular Imports 

 are made, varying in accordance with the crop obtained. 



The two principal varieties of rice cultivated on the banks of the Ebro River, 

 in this particular consular district, are commonly known as Benlloch and 

 Bomba ; the latter variety is also grown in the Balearic Islands. 



" Rice sowing in this district takes place about the end of March and the 

 beginning of April. The harvesting season begins in the latter part of Au- 

 gust and continues into early September, under normal weather conditions. 

 A considerable portion of the labor is done by peasants from Valencia, who go 

 to the Tarragona rice fields during the sowing and harvesting seasons. 



"An authority states that the cost of planting, preparing the land, transporta- 

 tion to warehouse, drying, rent of land, thrashing, wages, and incidental ex- 

 penses, aggregate $123.10 for an acre producing 50 hectoliters (141.88 bushels) 

 of unshelled rice, which is sold at $2.70 per hectoliter (2.83 bushels), making 

 a gross profit of $135 and a net earning of $11.90 for each 50 hectoliters of 

 rice obtained. For sown rice, which is the method principally resorted to in 

 Spain on account of larger profits, the outlays would approximate $90.90, and 

 the yield would come to 44 hectoliters (124.86 bushels) of unshelled rice. In 

 the latter instance the net profits would, therefore, amount to $27.90." {Re- 

 port, February 18, 1914.) 



37696. " Bomba:' 



The ruling wholesale prices, which are subject to considerable 

 fluctuation, run at present as follows: Shelled, $11.20 to $13.70 per 100 

 kilograms ; unshelled, $6.50 to $7.20 per 100 kilograms." 



37697. " BenllocUr 



" The ruling wholesale prices, which are subject to considerable 

 fluctuation, run at present as follows: Shelled, $6.85 to $7.75 per 100 

 kilograms (220 pounds) ; unshelled, $4.70 per 100 kilograms." 



37698 to 37705. 



From Lamao, Bataan, Philippine Islands. Presented by Mr. P. J. Wester, 

 horticulturist. Division of Horticulture, Lamao Experiment Station. Re- 

 ceived March 31, 1914. Quoted notes by Mr. Wester, except as otherwise 

 indicated. 



37698. Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Malvaceae. Roselle. 

 " Temprano roselle. A variety that has originated at this station as 



a sport from Victor. The Temprano is less vigorous than its progenitor, 

 but has the merit of being 20 days earlier, and if it retains this char- 

 acteristic in the United States, it should become of considerable value." 



37699. BoTOR tetragonoloba (L.) Kuntze. Fabacese. Winged bean. 

 {Psophocarpus tetragonolobus DC.) 



" Seguidilla. Climbing beans with 4-winged pods, which, used as 

 string beans when they are tender, are of excellent quality. They should 

 be of great value in Porto Rico and Panama, but the soil is too poor in 

 Florida. I tried them for two seasons in Miami, Fla., but they were 

 not a success. The seed should be planted in April or May. The plant 

 does best in rich, rather moist, but well-drained land." 



37700. CucuMis SATivus L. Cucurbitaceae. Cucumber. 

 "India cucumber. A cucumber especially adapted to the Tropics, in- 

 troduced from India. 



