APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1921. 



5 



The rapid-growing timber tree of China {Catal'pa hungei, No. 

 52909), which Frank N. Meyer reported as growing to 100 feet in 

 height and 15 feet in diameter and furnishing a light, strong, dura- 

 ble, and nonwarping timber resembling walnut, has shown itself at 

 home in Maryland and deserves to be widely tried in those regions 

 where the chestnut blight has destroyed the Americ an chestnut trees. 



Dendrocalamm strictus (No. 53610), the forest bamboo of India, 

 which grows to a height of 100 feet and, unlike most other species, 

 produces seeds in abundance, deserves to be Aviclely grown through- 

 out the regions warm enough for its culture. 



Hydrangea petiolaris (No. 52937) is a remarkable deciduous 

 climber which is ideal for covering the trunks of old dead trees and 

 is serviceable — like the Japanese ivy — for screening rock and brick 

 walls. 



The palangi {Brassica rugosa^ No. 53542), an early cold- weather 

 crop growing in the hills of the central, eastern, and western Hima- 

 layas and cultivated in Nepal, may be worthy of special study. The 

 leaves of its loose head are plucked and eaten as fast as they develop, 

 and an oil is extracted from its seeds. Has any plant breeder worked 

 with this species? 



As illustrating a new reason ior introducing foreign plants, special 

 attention might be called to the collections of grasses, barberries, 

 legumes, borages, etc., which have been received from Sweden, Den- 

 mark, and Holland for the use of the pathologists of the department 

 who are engaged in studying the great problem of controlling the 

 rusts of cereals. These rusts have stages in which they inhabit as 

 secondary hosts a variety of plants, notably the barberries. 



The botanical determinations of seeds introduced have been made 

 and the nomenclature determined by H. C. Skeels, and the descrip- 

 tive and botanical notes have been arranged by G. P. Van Eseltine, 

 who has had general supervision of this inventory. Miss Patty 

 Newbold has assisted in the compilation of descriptive notes. 



David Fairghild, 

 Agricultural Explorer in Charge, 



Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction, 



Washington^ D. (7., November 29, 1922. 



