52 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



48802 to 48833— Continued. 



are extremely fond of it, prefer it to other grasses, and will even break 

 fences to get it. The food value is very high, being superior to any of 

 our other grasses. 



For soiling dairy cows it is the grass par excellence, and we know of no 

 other to equal it in this respect. The grass grows almost as rapidly as 

 lucern, and four or five cuttings can be had in a season. On account of 

 its ability to grow on practically any type of soil and its creeping and 

 bending characteristics, it is an excellent soil binder, on dam walls, on 

 sandy soils, and on eroding slopes. It can be recommended as a grass for 

 planting in a poultry run. Fowls seem very fond of the leaves, and 

 owing to its aggressive nature it can withstand their ravages. Yielding 

 no seed, there is no fear of kikuyu establishing itself voluntarily in an 

 adjoining field. (Adapted from Agricultural Grasses and Their Culture, 

 Union of South Africa Department of Agriculture Bulletin No. 5, 1918, 

 p. 32.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 41055. 



A plat of this grass as it grows wild in Kenia is shown in Plate V. 



48819. Phragmites vulgaris (Lam.) B. S. P. Poacese. Grass. 

 "(No. 136. Wonderboom, Pretoria. October 12, 1919.) A bamboolike 



plant abundant along the river." 



48820. PisuM SATIVUM L. Fabaceae. Garden pea. 

 "(No. 171. Johannesburg, Transvaal. October 17, 1919.) A Boer pea 



which may prove valuable as a summer crop." 



48821. Rhus lancea L. f. Anacardiacece. 



"(No. 141. Wonderboom, Pretoria. October 12, 1919.) A fine tree for 

 timber, shade, and browse. This tree deserves careful consideration for 

 southern Texas and the Southwest. It is possible that some of these trees 

 will withstand frost and can be pushed farther north." 



48822. RiciNUs communis L. Euphorbiacese. Castor-bean. 

 "(No. 147. Wonderboom, Pretoria. October 12, 1919.) Castor-oil 



bean, a common weed in this section. In order not to miss any of the 

 more important strains I am collecting these beans wherever found." 



48823. Scleeocaeya caffra Sond. Anacardiaceae. 



"(No. 139. Wonderboom, Pretoria. October 12, 1919.) Morula. A 

 valuable oil-nut tree." 



An illustration of this tree is shown in Plate VI. 

 48824 and 48825. Strychnos pungens Solereder. Loganiacese. 



48824. "(No. 148. East of Pretoria. October 12, 1919.) Fruit of 

 Strychnos pungens (Kafir orange), a large pummelolike fruit with 

 large pulp-covered seeds. A small tree." 



48825. "(No. 149a. Nelspruit, Transvaal. October 20, 1919.) This 

 fruit is said to constitute an important element of the elephant 

 feed in Mozambique. The trees are abundant about Loorenco 

 Marques, and the fruit often lies thick on the ground. If poisonous, 

 the poison is probably in the seeds themselves; these would not 

 be digested by the elephant. But according to Marloth the seeds 

 of some of the species are eaten. It is all but impossible to clean 

 the pulp from the seeds; these were scoured in dry sand." 



