12 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



52906 to 52908. Dioscorea alata L. Dioscoreacese. 



Greater yam. 



From Antijani. British West Indies. Tubers presented by F. G. Harcourt, 

 a^a-iciiltiiral superintendent. Tleeeived April 11, 1921. 



52906. " Bottle-Ncck Lishon. This variety is economically preferred to 

 the ordinary IJsbon yam. the tubers being of better sliape and less 

 forked ; also .sxenerally considered to be of slightly better quality." 

 illai'court.) 



"A light-brown, rather thin-skinned, white-fieshed yam. The tubers 

 reach a weiglit of several pounds each. The quality is excellent, the 

 flesh being mealy, tine grained, and of rich but delicate flavor when 

 cooked." (R. A. Young.) 



52907. " Lislon. A yam of very good quality. The tubers are irregular 

 in shape, showing a tendency to forking." {Harcourt.) 



"A white-fleshed yam of excellent quality, fine grained and of deli- 

 cate, rich flavor when cooked. The skin is light brown and rather 

 thin. The tubers usually attain a weight of several pounds each." 

 (R. A. Young.) 



52908. " Horn. The tubers of the Ilorn yam usuaFy curve upward, i. e.. 

 toward the surface of the soil, and are rather brittle." (Harcourt.) 



"A white-fleshed yam having dark-brown, rather thick skin. The 

 flesh remains v. hite when cooked and is of good quality, though the 

 texture is not quite so fine as that of the Lisbon varieties. The tubers 

 are long and generally curved. They commonly attain a weight of 

 several pounds each." (R. A. Young.) 



52909. Catalpa bungei Meyer. Bignoniaceee. 



From Nanking, Kiaugsu. China. Seeds presented by J. L. Buck, College of 

 Agriculture and Forestry, University of Nanking. Received May 3, 1921. 



"A rapid-growing Chinese tree, up to 100 feet in height, with a trunk 10 

 to 15 feet in circumference a few feet above the ground. The wood, which is , 

 strong, light, durable, and nonwarping, resembles walnut to a large extent and i 

 is in much demand for fine furniture. The tree might be cultivated in the t 

 semiarid sections of the United States where the winters are not too severe. 

 It prefers a porous soil and is easily propagated from suckers w^hich spring 

 up from the roots that are near the surface of the ground." (F. N. Meyer.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 44664. 



52910. Brassica pekinensis (Lour.) Gagn. Brassicace^e. 



Pai ts'ai. 



From China. Seeds collected by Frank N. Meyer, Agricultural Explorer 

 of the United States Department of Agriculture. Numbered April, 1921. 



These seeds were found in Mr. Meyer's baggage with no descriptive notes. 



52911. Zea mays L. Poacese. Corn. 



From Bogota, Colombia. Seeds collected by Wilson Popenoe, Agricultural | 

 Explorer of the United States Department of Agriculture. Ptcceived No- | 

 vember 19, 1920. Numbered April, 1921. | 



"(No. 493a. Collected at Bogota market. October 14, 1920.) Flint corn of i 

 the variety commonly seen in this region. Of interest to those engaged in corn 

 breeding." 



52912. Pterocarpus erinaceus Lam. Fabacese. | 



From Ibadan, Southern Provinces, Nigeria. Seeds presented by John <G. j 

 Davis, acting Director of Agriculture. Received April 6, 1921. ; 



A more or less deciduous tree 15 to 20 meters high, with a straight trunk, i 

 spreading crown, and pubescent branchlets. The glabrous leaves are unequally i 



