40 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



53177 to 53217— Continued. 



" In Ibarra tlie tocte is very abundant, and the nuts are commonly 

 sold in the market. They are used to prepare a famous sweetmeat, the 

 ' nogada ' of Ibarra, made from brown or white sugar, milk, and walnut 

 meats. At Otavalo the tree is quite abundant, as also in the southern 

 part of Ecuador at Loja and Cuenca. The two species which go under 

 this name are very similar in character." 



53199 to 53215. Phaseolus lunatus L. Fabacese. Lima bean. 



"(No. 580a. Ibarra, Ecuador. February 18, 1921.) Torta. A peculiar 

 bean occasionally cultivated at Ibarra. The vine, which is slender, 

 climbs over fences and low vegetation ; the thin beans, resembling a 

 Lima bean in size and outline, are curiously marked with various colors. 

 They are not commonly eaten in this region, but are used by the children 

 in playing various games. They may be of interest to our plant breeders 

 because of the remarkable color combinations which they exhibit. 



" They are not eaten here, though I am inclined to think they are 

 edible." 



53199. Black. 



53200. Dark brown. 



53201. Dark maroon flushed with black. 



53202. Burgundy. 



53203. Reddish brown with black flecks. 



53204. Light tan. 



53205. Blackish brown with a cream splotch. 



53206. Black with stripes and splotches of yellowish green. 



53207. Lemon yellow with black stripes. 



53208. Cream with brown stripes. 



53209. Cream with Burgundy stripes. 



53210. Grayish w^hite flushed w^ith dark brown. 



53211. Cream with black spots and black end. 



53212. Cream with one end black. 



53213. Cream with black ring around hilum. 



53214. Lemon yellow with Burgimdy spots and end. 



53215. One half of surface dark brown; other half cream with 

 brown spots. 



53216. SoLANUM TUBEROSUM L. SolanacesB. Potato. 



"(No. 588. Hacienda La Esperanza, near El Angel, Province of Carchi, 

 Ecuador. February 14, 1921.) Tubers of Papa cliaiicha. An unusually 

 early variety from an altitude of nearly 12,000 feet. The eliauchas 

 (Quichua, early) are a group of potatoes cultivated in the Ecua- 

 dorian highlands at altitudes of 8,000 to 12,000 feet. Commercially 

 they are not very important, due to the fact that they do not keep as 

 well as other varieties, but they are much cultivated for home use. 

 The tubers are of good size ; those of some varieties are of good 

 quality, while others are rather inferior. The color of both surface and 

 flesh is variable. 



" The chauchas mature in about flve months from the time of planting, 

 when cultivated at an elevation of 12,000 feet ; other varieties require 

 seven to eight months. As soon' as the plants come into bloom the 

 tubers are considered to be mature and are dug for eating. Unlike 

 other varieties, v,'hich must be dug and then stored for a period before 

 they are resown, the chauchas can be resown immediately after digging. 

 The yield is fairly heavy, but not as great as that of some of the late- 

 maturing varieties. 



