JUNE 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1920. 



47 



51047 to 51049— Continued. 



in the heart of the North Island. The timber is hard and durable and 

 especially useful for boat building, as its limbs have many knees. About 

 Christmas time (midsummer here) it is covered with a wealth of scarlet 

 blossoms, and on this account the British colonists call it the Christmas 

 tree. As it has thick evergreen foliage and is quite uninjured by salt- 

 water spray, it makes splendid shelter in exposed seaside situations. It 

 grows readily from slips; and a hedge, shelter belt, or plantation is 

 quickly available. It will not grow in a cold climate, but should find a 

 congenial second home in Florida, California, and the Gulf States, where 

 it should be of considerable value. I gathered this seed from a well- 

 shaped healthy- specimen, which last summer was a picture with its^ 

 abundant blossoms." 

 For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 481.51. 



51049. Meryta sinclairii (Hook, f.) Seem. Araliaceiae. 



Puka. This small dioecious tree grows from 15 to 20 feet high and 

 has larger leaves than any other New Zealand plant. It is found native 

 only in the North Island; once the rarest of trees, only one specimen 

 being known. A missionary discovered it near a native village (pah). 

 It was ' tapu,' and he was forbidden under pain of death to touch it. He 

 sketched it and announced its discovery, which was skeptically received 

 among botanists. He returned in 12 years and found the pah de- 

 serted. He obtained some of the leaves, and the plant was classified 

 by the botanist, Sinclair, and named for him. Subsequently 27 plants 

 were discovered on some small islands in the Hauraki Gulf (New 

 Zealand). From them, all existing trees of this species originated. It 

 is a very ornamental tree, much favored for parks and gardens. It will 

 not stand much frost, but should grow well in your warmer areas. It 

 makes a beautiful pot plant. Like nearly all ,our tree.«. it is evergreen. 

 Trees vary much in the size and glossiness of their foliage. The tree 

 from which I collected the inclosed seed is a very fine one." 

 For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 47570. 



51050 and 51051. 



From San Jose, Costa Rica. Collected by Wilson Popenoe, Agricultural 

 Explorer of the Bureau of Plant Industry. Received July 15, 1920. 

 Quoted notes by Mr. Popenoe. 



51050. Annona muricata L. Annonaceje. Soursop. 



" (No. 407. June 24, 1920.) Bud sticks of the Bennett soursop. A 

 choice variety of the soursop from the garden of the superintendent of 

 Zent Farm, United Fruit Co., near Port Limon. The tree is more pro- 

 ductive than any other I have seen, an.I the fruit is unusually large 

 and handsome. Budded trees of this variety should be tested in Porto 

 Rico, Cuba, southern Florida, and elsewhere; I believe they will prove 

 decidedly .superior to the average seedling. The name Bennett has 

 been given in honor of Mr. George S. Bennett, agricultural superin- 

 intendent of the Costa Rican division, United Fruit Company." 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 49258. 



For an illustration of the fruit of the soursop. see Plate VII. 



