JUNE 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1920. 



81 



small peanuts and having the same agreeable flavor when roasted. The fleshy 

 young pods probably could be cooked and eaten like green beans, since they 

 do not taste bitter, even in the raw state. The largest pods have nine fully 

 developed and two abortive beans. 



The Olneya is the largest as well as the most attractive native tree in the 

 driest deserts of the Southwest, away from the stream beds and with full 

 exposure to heat and drought. The large taproot remains entirely unbranched 

 for 7 or 8 feet. Such a habit of growth would indicate little or no interference 

 with surface crops and would suggest the value of the tree for planting in or 

 near cultivated lands where it may serve very well for hedges or windbreaks, as 

 well as for holding terraces or as barriers against erosion. Even on desert 

 lands that are too broken for irrigation it might prove worth while to plant 

 belts of Olneya across the washes, to hold back and spread the flood waters. 

 More moisture would be absorbed by the soil, and more vegetation could grow 

 in addition to the forage that the Olneya itself would afford. (Adapted from 

 0. F. Cook, Journal of Heredity, vol. 10, p. S21.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 4537. 



51255 and 51256. 



From Alexandria, Egypt Seeds presented by Prof. S. C. Mason, arbori- 

 culturist, United States Department of Agriculture. Received September 

 21, 1920. 



51255. AixruM cepa L. Liliaceae. Onion. 

 A variety cultivated near Alexandria that may be useful for breeding 



work. 



51256. CucuMis MELO L. Cucurbitacese. lluskmelon. 

 Aggur muskmelon." {Mason.) 



51257. DiGiTARiA iBURUA Stapf. Poaceae. Grass. 



From Kaduna, Nigeria. Seeds presented by P. H. Lamb, director of 

 Agriculture, Northern Provinces. Received August 24, 1920. 

 " Iburu is grown by the natives of Northern Nigeria as a cereal. The 

 grains separate fairly readily from the husks when pressure is applied, and 

 the seeds are pure white. They weigh in their husks on the average 0.7 mgr., 

 so that over 40,000 go to one ounce. As one raceme may contain as many as 

 200 spikelets, a single head may yield between 1,000 and 2,000 grains." (Keio 

 Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, No. 8, 1915, p. S81.) 

 "Introduced for testing as a forage crop." (Piper.) 



51258 to 51265. 



From Cohan, Alta Vera Paz, Guatemala. Seeds presented by Harry John- 

 son. Received September 15, 1920. Quoted notes by Mr. Johnson. 



51258. Desmoncus sp. Phoenicacete. Palm. 

 "(No. 585.) A very spiny ornamental vine climbing, by hooks at the 



tip of the rachis, to the tops of forest trees." 



51259. Panicum miulegrana Poir. Poacefe. Grass. 

 "(No. 438.) From Chipok, Coban. A creeping grass, rooting at the 



nodes, growing luxuriantly on clay banks." 



51260. Panicum fasciculatum Swartz. Poaceae. Grass. 

 "(No. 496.) Grass from Chama. More or less stooling in habit: 



leaves rather sparse." 



