14 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



49862. Pyrus calleryana Decaisne. Malaceaa. Pear. 



Seeds collected under the direction of Prof. J. H. Reisner, of Nanking, China. 

 Received April 8, 1920. 



This seed is a small quantity reserved from a shipment ordered by this office for 

 Jackson & Perkins, of Newark, N. Y., who desired to conduct experiments with 

 Pyrus calleryana as a stock for our common pears. According to Professor Reisner, it 

 is very difficult to secure pure seed of this species. This lot was collected about 40 

 miles from Nanking. Every effort was made to secure seed only from authentic 

 trees of Pyrus calleryana. 



49863. BicHEA sp. Sterculiacese. 



(Cola sp.) 



From Malele, Belgian Kongo. Seeds collected by Dr. H. L. Shantz, Agricul- 

 tural Explorer of the United States Department of Agriculture. Received 

 April 3, 1920. 



"(No. 522. Malele. January 31, 1920.) Called by the whites 'native potato,* 

 but the natives say it grows on a large tree. The pod is about 6 inches long with 

 two rows of very large seeds; they are said to be very good food. The old pods are 

 often gathered from the forest floor, and this has probably resulted in the use of the 

 term 'native potato.' " (Shantz.) 



49864. Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub. Fabaceae. Guar. 



(C. psoraloides DC.) 



From Mandalay, Northern Circle, Burma, India. Seeds presented by E. Thomp- 

 stone. Deputy Director of Agiiculture. Received April 12, 1920. 



"An erect East Indian annual legume with long straight stems bearing an enor- 

 mous number of pods which do not burst open at maturity. The plant is usually 3 or 

 4 feet high, but under favorable conditions it reaches a height of 5 to 6 feet. Each 

 pod contains about seven pale angular seeds. 



" In India the plant is grown both for green forage and for the seeds which are used 

 mainly to fatten cattle, and also as human food. The green pods are also used as a 

 vegetable in the same manner as string beans. 



"Guar may be grown in any part of the country where cowpeas succeed and is more 

 drought resistant than any other annual legume. It may be utilized as hay, pasturage, 

 or silage . " (C . V. Piper . ) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 43503. 



49865. Paspalum fasciculatum Willd. Poaceae. Grass. 

 From Coban, Guatemala. Seeds presented by Gustav Helmrich at the request 



of Wilson Popenoe. Received April 19, 1920. 

 '^Oxay. This grass is used here as cattle feed. It is generally propagated by 

 suckers; among thousands of plants very few produce any flowers, and I do not know 

 if the seeds germinate." (Helmrich.) 



49866 to 49869. 



From Christiania, Norway. Seeds presented by Dr. N. Wille, director. Botanic 

 Garden. Received April 25, 1920. 

 49886. Anchusa officinalis L. Boraginacese. 



The common European alkanet, a biennial or perennial plant 1 to 2 feet high, 

 with hairy leaves and bright-blue or purple flowers opening in pairs on loose 

 one-sided spikes. Effective in masses and of easy cultivation. 



