30 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



38781 to 38844— Continued. (Quoted notes by Mr. F. N. Meyer.) 

 38797 and 38798. Thuja orientalis L. Pinacece, Arbor vitse. 



From Chaoyi, Shensi, China. Collected February 7, 1914. 



38797. "(No. 2067a.) A remarkable form of the oriental arbor 

 vitre, of flattened globular shape and of very dense growth. A rare 

 tree ! Of value for cemeteries and for places of dignity. Specially 

 suited to mild-wintered, semiarid climes." 



38798. "(No. 2068a.) A conical form of the oriental arbor vitse, 

 of somewhat less dense growth than S. P. I. No. 38797. Of like 

 value." 



For an illustration of the arbor vitse as grown in China, see 

 Plate III. 



38799. Pyrus sp. Malacese. Pear. 



"(No. 2069a. Kwanyunting, Honan, China. December 20, 1913.) A 

 small species of pear of round-elongated shape with long peduncle. Color 

 russet brown. Becomes soft and mushy when ripe. Chinese name 

 T'ang li, meaning ' sugar pear.' " 



38800 to 38802. Gleditsia sinensis Lam. Causal piniacese. Soap bean. 



38800. "(No. 2070a. Sianfu, Shensi, China. January 7, 1914.) 

 A large-podded variety of the Chinese soap bean. These Chinese 

 Gleditsias often grow to very large size, becoming quite old and at 

 times making beautiful, well-rounded heads of dense branches and 

 foliage. The conspicuous pods persist on the trees all through 

 the winter. These trees are marvelously drought resistant and do 

 not object to a certain amount of alkali. Recommended as an orna- 

 mental park and shade tree for the mild-wintered, semiarid sections 

 of the United States. The Chinese find use for the pods, when 

 sliced up, as a substitute for soap for washing their hair and cer- 

 tain fabrics. They call them Tsao chio, meaning ' black horns.' 

 To insure a quick germination, scratch the seed or immerse for a 

 second or so in boiling water." 



For an illustration of the soap-bean tree in China, see Plate IV. 



38801. "(No. 2071a. Lingpao, Honan, China. December 24, 1914.) 

 The ordinary Chinese soap bean, as seen everywhere along the roads 

 in Honan and Shensi. The young trees often have their trunks 

 covered with big spines, which often have totally disappeared, 

 however, when the trees are old. For further remarks, see S. P. I. 

 No. 38800." 



88802. "(No. 2072a. Puchowfu, Shensi, China. February 9, 1914. ) 

 A rare variety of Chinese soap bean, having long, slender pods of 

 cylindrical shape. For further remarks see S. P. I. No. 38801. 

 Chinese name Hsiang ya tsao chio meaning * elephant's trunk soap 

 bean.' " 



38803. JuNiPERUs CHiNENsis L. Pinacese. Juniper. 

 "(No. 2075a. Village of Nantotchu, Shensi, China. January 10, 1914.) 



A vigorous-growing form of the North Chinese juniper recommended 

 like S. P. I. No. 38804. Chinese name Hsueh po, meaning ' red conifer.' " 



38804. JuNiPERUS CHINENSIS L. Pinacese. Juniper. 

 "(No. 2074a. Sianfu, Shensi, China. January 25, 1914.) A juniper of 



tall, but graceful growth, apparently a form of Juniperus chinensis. Able 



