44 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



48753 to 48797— Continued. 



48759. AvENA 8TERILIS L. Poaceae. Oats. 



••(No. 103. Kimberley, Cape Province. September •27. 1919.) Oacs iu 

 market; grown in western province, probably near the Cape." 



• The north African (Algerian) type, also commonly grown in South 

 Africa." (Warburtoji.) 



48760 to 48762. CiTBrxLus vulgabis Schrad. Cucurbitaceae. 



Watermelon. 



48760. "(No. SO. Prieska, Cape Province. September 27, 1919.) 

 Seeds of a Kafir melon grown extensively throughout South Africa ; 

 used as feed for stock and also for pickles and preserves. After 

 five months on the shelf at Prieska the flesh of this melon was firm 

 and still white. It is especially valuable on account of its long- 

 keeping qualities. Should do well anyAN'here in the United States. 

 Grown along with corn by the Kafirs, either under irrigation or 

 under semihumid conditions. It pushes into dry land, but not so 

 far as No. 81 [S. P. I. No. 4S761]." 



48761. "(No. 81. Seeds of m'tsama melon of the Kalahari collected 

 at Gibeon, German Southwest Africa, by G. W. Lawrence, of 

 Prieska.) This melon grows wild on the great desert and consti- 

 tutes the chief water supply to travelers and dwellers of that re- 

 gion. This seed may contain both the bitter and the sweet vari- 

 eties. It should be planted at the begrinning of the summer and 

 winter rainy period on both dry land and irrigated land (to insure 

 a supply of seed) at San Antonio. Sacaton, Yuma. Indio, Mecca, 

 Hazen, and Chico. 



" By far the most important plant of the Kalahari Desert, if we 

 except the forage grasses, it is valued here as a stock feed, and as 

 a food for the natives. It is cooked and the water extracted. 

 Buried in the soil it forms a reservoir ol water and a storehouse 

 of food for both man and beast. I see no reason why it should not 

 thrive in a wild state in our warmer deserts, and it may survive 

 on dry lands throughout the Great Plains and intermountain 

 region." 



48762. "(No. 117. Taungs, Cape Province. September 30, 1919.) 

 Watermelon seeds fi'om Chief Malala, one of the Batlapin tribe of 

 Bechuanas of the Taungs district (1,400 square miles). Tliese seeds 

 represent the type of watermelon grown by the natives. They are 

 planted about November 1, when the spring rains come. This 

 melon should be adapted to conditions of the South and Southwest, 

 and possibly the Great Plains. Taungs is a region of scattered 

 camel thorn over a grassland cover somewhat more luxuriant than 

 our mesquite country in Texas. The soil is deep, red. sandy, and 

 shows no hardpan. Apparently, the natives grow fairly good crops 

 of kafir, mealies, and beans. They also keep cattle." 



48763. Citrus sp. Rutaceae. 



"(No. 155. Pretoria, Transvaal. October 13, 1919.) Seeds of a rough 

 lemon used widely as a stock for citrus. These seeds were taken from 

 fruit grown on the grounds at Pretoria. The seeds were not in the center 

 of the fruit, but often far out toward the rind. The flavor of the over- 

 ripe lemons is very good. The fruits are about 1* inches in diameter." 



