JANUARY 1 TO IM.VRCH 31^ 1920. 



3 



Stranvaesia davidiana (Xo. 492ST) is a valuable new shrub from 

 western China which has behaved as an evergreen in Washington, 

 D. C, and deserves to be used extensively in dooryards; it is at- 

 tractive through the winter. 



It remains to be seen whether Mr. Xeipp's Gladiolus Tnalangensis 

 (No. 49369) from west Africa is of value for the breeders of this 

 showy and popular flower. 



J. B. Norton, the asparagus breeder, has seeded at Hartsville. S. C, 

 what he considers the hardiest of the evergreen ornamental species 

 of asparagus (Aspara(/m acutif alius, No. 49458) and recommends it 

 for dooryard hedges. It is suggestive of a fine-leaved juniper, and 

 since it has storage roots and drought-resistant foliage it should be 

 valuable for dry regions. 



Through the kindness of Doctor Bums, of the Bombay Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, 16 species of forage grasses (Nos. 49506 to 

 49521) have been obtained for trial by Professor Piper, particularly 

 in the Southern States. 



An entirely new cereal crop from Sierra Leone, called fundi 

 {Digitaria exilis, Nos. 49522 to 49524), is sent in by Mr. Scotland, 

 Director of Agriculture. It is reported to be adapted to light soils 

 and to produce a grain of very good flavor suited for the use of 

 invalids. 



The massaranduba {Mimusops huheH, No. 49709), of Para, is re- 

 lated to the sapote and may succeed in southern Florida ; it is a 

 market fruit in Para. The cupii-assu {Theobroma grandiflora, No. 

 49710) from this same region, a close relative of cacao, bearing its 

 fruits on the trunk, is one of the most important fruit trees of the 

 State of Para. Neither of these appears to have been cultivated else- 

 where in the Tropics. 



The goa bean {Botor tetragonoloha, No. 49711) has grown well in 

 Florida, and since its young pods make a delicious vegetable similar 

 to snap beans it deserves study as a winter vegetable for shipping to 

 northern markets. Its edible tubers are said to contain 24 per cent 

 of protein. 



Since the hondapara of India {Dillenia indica, No. 49713) has 

 flowered at Miami it deserves further study as an ornamental and 

 fruit tree as well. 



An unusual collection of seeds (Nos. 49613 to 49661) has been 

 sent in by Mr. Cave, curator of the Lloyd Botanic Garden at Dar- 

 jiling. It includes Berberis angulosa (No. 49616) with berries nearly 

 an inch long; a Himalayan birch (Betula utilis, No. 49620) from 

 Kashmir: a Chinese hazelnut {Corylus /erc>a?, No. 49626) , 20 feet tall; 

 the blady grass {Impemta cylindrica, No. 49637), which produces 

 a paper pulp almost equal to that of esparto ; the giant lily (Lilium 



