130 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



38428 to 38434. Cocos nucifera L. Phoenicaceje. Coconut. 

 From Pago Pago, American Samoa. Presented by Commanded- C. D. 

 Stearns, Governor of American Samoa. Received May 25, 1914. 

 Notes by Commander Stearns, except that the meaning of the native names is 

 given by Mr. W. E. Safford. 



38428. (4) Niu Afa. Cordage coconut. A good tree but the nuts 

 are mostly picked green, owing to the fact that the husk is considered 

 of more value by the natives in the manufacture of sinnet, which is 

 used as a binding twine in the construction of Samoan houses. 



38429. (2) Niu Ui. Dark-colored coconut. This has a very thick 

 kernel and the trees yield from 80 to 100 nuts per year. 



38430. (1) Niu Mea. Ordinary coconut. This has a very thick ker- 

 nel and the trees yield from SO to 100 nuts per year. 



38431. Niu Vai. Water-bottle coconut. 



38432. (5) Niu Lea. Fine-flavored coconut. A tree that seldom 

 grows over 8 to 10 feet high, producing a large nut; the kernel is 

 better suited for confectionery purposes than for copra. The Samoan 

 coconut has a very high value in the copra market. 



38433. Niu Nai. Select, or choice coconut. 



38434. (3) Niu Kea. Pale-leaf coconut. This has a very thick ker- 

 nel and the trees yield frv^m 80 to 100 nuts per year. 



38435 to 38472. 



From China. Collected by Mr. Frank N. Meyer. Agricultural Explorer for 

 the Department of Agriculture. Received June 8, 1914. Quoted notes 

 by Mr. Meyer. 



38435 and 38436. Lentilla lens (L.) W.F.Wight. Fabacese. 



{Lens esculenta Moench.) Lentil. 



38435. "(No. 2014a. Sianfu, Shensi, China. January 24, 1914.) 

 A small variety of lentil, much grown as a winter field crop all 

 through the milder sections of the Provinces of Honan, Shansi, 

 Shensi, and Kansu ; also much planted as a ground cover in per- 

 simmon orchards and among other fruit trees. The seeds are 

 sown in the fall after the other crops have been harvested ; they 

 germinate quickly, but make little growth during the winter 

 months. In spring, however, they shoot up rapidly and in June 

 they are harvested, after which winter wheat or short-seasoned 

 soy beans, mung beans, or other quick-maturing crops are sown. 

 Chinese name Tsa pien tou, meaning ' mixed flat beans.' This 

 lentil deserves a trial as a winter crop among citrus orchards and 

 other fruit trees in the mild-wintered sections of the United 

 States." 



38436. " (No. 2015a. Puchowfu, Shansi, China. February 10, 1914.) 

 A larger variety of lentil ; otherwise the same remarks apply to it 

 as to the preceding number [S. P. I. No. 38435]. The lentil might 

 possibly also be grown as a summer crop in the intermountain sec- 

 tions, either for forage purposes or for human food." 



38437. ViciA FABA L. Fabaceae. Horse bean. 



"(No. 2016a. Sianfu, Shensi, China. January 24, 1914.) A variety 

 of horse bean grown as a winter garden crop in the milder parts of 



