48 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



48753 to 48797— Continued. 



48792. "(No. 105. Kimberley, Cape Province. September 27, 1919.) 

 Kafir beans, known as * native beans,' grown from Natal to the 

 Zambezi River. They are sold to natives, but are not used to 

 any extent for food by Europeans." 



48793. "(No. 116. Taungs, Cape Province. September 30, 1919.) 

 Kafir beans grown by Bechuanas of the Batlapin tribe. The 

 climate is extremely dry except for a short rainy period coming 

 in spring, November 1. Beans grown in dry land. Several types 

 can be separated from this lot. Usually the natives dispose of 

 all their seed and bring back seed from the local ' shop.' Should 

 be tried in the Great Plains, the Southwest, and the South. The 

 soil here is deep and red, but the rainfall is not more than about 



I 20 inches. It is warm, however, and in all probability these beans 

 will do better south of central Colorado than north of that line." 

 48794 and 48795. Zea mays L. Poacese. Corn. 



48794. "(No. 109. From market at Kimberley, Cape Province. Sep- 

 tember 27, 1919. ) Corn used chiefly for stock feed ; a yellow 

 flintlike variety. Probably grown in Orange Free State." 



48795. "(No. 114. Taungs, Cape Province. September 29, 1919.) 

 Corn grown by the Batlapins, a tribe of Bechuanas, whose chief, 

 Malala, lives in the staat at Taungs. This type would seem to 

 be ill adapted to so dry a country. The rainfall appears to be 

 about 20 inches. Corn is planted November 1, or when the rains 

 begin, and harvested about June or July. The soil is a deep-red 

 sandy loam. Conditions would require a drought-resistant corn 

 adapted to high temperature, conditions such as are found in 

 western Texas. There seems to be little attempt in Africa to 

 adapt crops to conditions not favorable for tliem. Com is selected 

 which gives the best yield in the best corn country and this variety 

 is then grown everywhere. Nor is a short-season corn substituted 

 when rains delay the planting to' too late a date; the crop is 

 given up for that year." 



48796. ZiziPHus sp. Rhamnacese. 



" (No. 153. East of Pretoria, Transvaal. October 12, 1919.) A na- 

 tive Ziziphus, prolific, and an attractive ornamental. Adapted to south- 

 ern and southwestern Texas." 



48797. MoRAEA sp. Iridacese. 



"(No. 85. Krankuil, Cape Province. September 19, 1919.) Seed 

 (rather immature) of an attractive yellow lily very abundant along the 

 track at Krankuil. Found in desert regions similar to those in 'the 

 Southwestern States." 



48798 and 48799. 



From Johannesburg, Transvaal. Bulbs collected by Dr. H. L. Shantz, 

 Agricultural Explorer of the Bureau of Plant Industry. Received De- 

 cember 4, 1919. Quoted notes by Dr. Shantz. 



48798. MoRAEA sp. Iridacese. 



"(No. 91. Longlands, Cape Province. September 26, 1919.) A very 

 pretty plant like a small iris, but with long leaves and bulbs buried 

 deep in the soil; seems a troublesome plant in irrigated lands where 



