74 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



39102 to 39141. 



From Darjiling, India. Presented by Mr. G. N. Cave, Lloyd Botanic Gar- 

 dens, through Mr. Wilson Popenoe, Agricultural Explorer for the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. 



39102. Aesculus assamicus Griffith, ^sculaceae. 

 (Aesculus punduana Wall.) 



" This is a moderate-sized deciduous tree, found in northern Bengal, 

 in the Khasi Hills, Assam, and Burma, ascending to 4,000 feet. The 

 leaflets are five to seven, shortly petioled. Panicles narrowly lanceolate, 

 nearly equaling the leaves, lower pedicels longer. Petals white and yel- 

 low. The wood is white, soft, and close grained, but very rarely used. 

 It weighs about 36 pounds per cubic foot." (Watt, Dictionary of the 

 Economic Products of India.) 



39103. Albizzia odobatissima (L. f.) Benth. Mimosaceae. 



For previous introduction and description, see S. P. I. No. 38996. 



39104. Albizzia chinensis (Osbeck) Merrill. Mimosaceae. 

 (Albizzia stipulata Boiv.) 



"A large deciduous, fast-growing tree, met with in the subalpine tract 

 from the Indus eastward, ascending to 4,000 feet in Oudh, Bengal, Burma, 

 and South India. This tree is attracting considerable attention In 

 Assam. It has been found that tea flourishes better under it than when 

 exposed to the sun. The most favorable explanation of this fact is that 

 the leaves manure the soil ; the roots, which do not penetrate deep, tend 

 to open up the soil, while the shade is not so severe as to injure the tea, 

 the leaves closing at night and during the early morning. The gum which 

 flows copiously from the stem is used by the Nepalese for sizing their 

 • Daphne ' paper. The sapwood of this tree is . large and white, while 

 the heartwood is brown and generally not durable. The wood is used in 

 the manufacture of cart wheels, wooden bells, and in Bengal it has been 

 tried for tea boxes, for which purposes it will probably be well suited." 

 {Watt, Dictionary of the Economic Products of India.) 



39105. Berbekis nepalensis (DC.) Spreng. Berberidacese. Barberry. 

 "A shrub or small tree with large or small leaves, common on the outer 



Himalayas, from the Ravi eastward to the Khasi and Naga Hills, at 

 altitudes above 5,000 feet. A yellow dye is extracted from this plant by 

 the Bhutias and Nagas, but used only to a small extent. The wood, which* 

 has a handsome yellow color, is hard and might be used for inlaying." 

 (Watt, Dictionary of the Economic Products of India.) 



"An evergreen shrub, sometimes 20 feet high in the Himalayas, but 

 rarely more than one-third as high in Britain. Leaves with as many as 

 25 leaflets, usually about 15, Leaflets dark, glossy green, obliquely ovate, 

 lanceolate, li to 4^ inches long, the lowest pair broader and shorter than 

 the others, spine-toothed, of firm leathery texture. Flowers yellow, borne 

 in slender racemes 6 to 12 inches long. Berries oval or nearly globose, 

 about one-fourth inch in diameter, covered with blue-white bloom. 



" Native of the Himalayas, this barberry is too tender to thrive well 

 except in the milder parte of Britain or in exceptionally sheltered spots. 

 At Kew it lives but a short time out of doors, although it has succeeded 

 well in a sheltered spot in the gardens of Belvoir Castle for a good many 



