INVENTORY OF SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED BY 

 THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN SEED AND PLANT IN- 

 TRODUCTION DURING THE PERIOD FROM OCTO- 

 BER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1920 (NO. 65 ; NOS. 51358 

 TO 52305). 



INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT. 



During the autumn of 1920, the period covered by this inventory. 

 Wilson Popenoe, Agricultural Explorer of the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, was in Colombia and Ecuador, and his carefully 

 selected plants comprise certain species heretofore unknown in North 

 America. Those from the cool highlands may prove to be difficult to 

 grow in this country because of their being accustomed to continual 

 x cool, foggy weather which at no time becomes cold enough to freeze, 

 From Bogota he sends in the mountain papaya, Carica candamarcen- 

 sis (No. 51389), which already seems to have proved its adaptability 

 to the climate of San Diego, Calif.; Cyclanthera pedata (No. 

 51390), a new cucurbitaceous vegetable; a red-fruited passion vine, 

 Tacsonia sp. (No. 51392) ; the capulin, Prunus serotina (No. 

 51393), a large-fruited wild cherry; the naranjilla, Solanum quito- 

 ense (No. 51394), with bright orange fruits like the tomato but with 

 a leathery skin; a glossy yellow pepper, Capsicum annuum (No. 

 51396); and the curuba, Tacsonia molUssima (No. 51399), a Jarge 

 passion fruit, one of the most popular fruits of Bogota. 



Mr. Popenoe's successful introduction of the Colombian blackberry, 

 Ruhus macrocarpus (Nos. 51401 and 51706), of El Penon, which 

 has fruits more than 2 inches in length and is possibly the largest 

 fruited species of aU blackberries, should awaken the activities of 

 the plant breeder and lead to crossing and selection work on a con- 

 siderable scale to produce, if possible, larger and finer forms for 

 the market. 



Two new barberries, Berheris rigidifolia (No. 51787) and B. quin- 

 duemis (No. 51795), from an elevation of 9,000 feet in Colombia; a 

 new holly. Ilex sp. (No. 51788), from the same region; and a crim- 

 son-flowered climber, Mutisia clematis (No. 51789), with flowers like 

 small dahlias, are four of his finds. 



The magnificent flowering tree, Bronmea grandiceps (No. 51796), 

 with flame-scarlet flowers in compact clusters; the canelo tree, 

 Drimys winteri (No. 51797), with clusters of large white flowers; a 

 species of Carica (No. 52299), with small fruits which are of a deep 

 rich crimson color and very attractive but with whitish flesh, having 

 an applelike scent; and a rapid-growing tree (No. 52304) from the 

 Cauca Valley, which is worthy of trial as a street tree in southern 

 Florida, are other results of his explorations. 



