82 



SEEDS AXD PLANTS IMPORTED.' 



49745 to 49796— Continued. 



crimson or oraiige-crimson. It is interesting chiefly to those engaged in 

 breeding dahlias." 



49759. Erythp.ixa rubrixervia H. B, K. Fabaeege. 



"(No. 338a. El Barranquillo. February 26, 1920.) Pito. Seeds of 

 one of the native Erythrinas. While not so valuable perhaps as a 

 flowering plant as some of its congeners, it has the interesting feature 

 of edible flower buds, and it is a vegetable of some importance among 

 the Guatemalans. The buds are boiled with meat." 



49760. GuAiAcuM guatemaxense Planch. Zygophyllacese. 



"(No. 336a. El Barranquillo. February 26, 1920. Herb. No. 952.) 

 Guayacdn. Seeds of the Guatemalan lignum-vitse, a small tree which 

 is covered in February or March with lavender-blue flowers." 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 47900. 



49761. Medicago sativa L. Fabaceae. Alfalfa. 

 "(No. 307a. Antigua. February 20, 1920.) Presented by Don Pedro 



G. Cofiilo, of Antigua. Seeds of a variety of alfalfa which has been 

 grown in Antigua for many years, perhaps introduced in Colonial days. 

 Don Pedro Cofino has planted Grimm and other varieties of alfalfa 

 obtained from the United States, and none of them has given such 

 good results as this native (or acclimatized) stock. He thinks, there- 

 fore, that the latter may prove useful in other regions with climatic 

 conditions similar to those of Antigua. 



" Alfalfa is grown in Antigua without irrigation, and flourishes 

 even during the driest part of the year. There is no rainfall from 

 October to May, and the total annual precipitation is from 30 to 40 

 inches. The permanent water table, however, is only 6 to 15 feet be- 

 low the surface of the soil throughout the valley of Antigua. Alfalfa 

 is cut In the Antigua region every 40 days throughout the year." 



49762. Melia azedarach L. Meliaceje. 



"(No 332a. EI Barranquillo. February 26, 1920. Herb. No. 968.) 

 Paraiso. Seeds of a tree 25 feet high with small whitish flowers, pro- 

 duced in January." 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 26500. 



49763. Pennisettjm complanatum (Nees) Hemsl. Poaceoe. Grass. 

 "(No. 305a. Antigua. February 17, 1920.) Kos-hun. Seeds of the 



most important forage grass of the Antigua region. It is especially 

 esteemed by the Indians of San Antonio Aguas Calientes. It makes 

 slender wiry stems up to 6 feet high, with narrow succulent leaves and a 

 foxtail seed head 5 or 6 inches long. It seems to grow well on dry land, 

 though it is much less succulent during the dry season than during the 

 wet." 



49764 to 49776. Persea Americana Mill. Lauraceoe. Avocado. 

 (P. grdtissima Gaertn. f.) 

 49764. "(No. 313a. Guatemala. February 26, 1920.) Seeds of 

 stock plant No. 5 from the Finca La Chacara in Antigua. An ap- 

 parently very productive tree with nearly spherical fruits averag- 

 ing a little less than a pound in weight and having an unusually 

 small seed." 



