70 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



53617 to 53620. Solantjm tuberosum L. Solanacese. Potato. 



From Poppelsdorf. Bonn, Germany. Tubers presented by Dr. E. Schaffnit. 

 Received May 25, 1921. 



" Potatoes known to be immune to the wart disease." (S^chaffnit.) 



53617. rcpo. 53619. Thieler. 



53618. Rheingold. 53620. Ursus'. 

 For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 33491. 



53621. Melilotus alba Desr. Fabace?e. White sweet clover. 



From Groningen, Netherlands. Seeds presented by C. Broekema, director, 

 Groninger Zaaizaadvereeniging. Received June 1, 1921. 



Secured for experimental purposes. 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 40937. 



53622 and 53623. 



From Tripoli, Libia. Africa. Seeds presented by Dr. E. O. Fenzi. Received 

 June 1, 1921. Quoted notes by Dr. Fenzi. 



53622. Eleusine cokacana (L.) Gaertu. Poacejp. Ragi millet. 

 " Bescna. The bescna appears to be more prized for forage than for 



grain, although the natives assure me that it will keep in perfect 

 condition for 100 years. This and gssa^ [S. P. I. No. 53623] are prac- 

 tically the only summer forage plants grown by the Arabs, under irri- 

 gation, of course." 



53623. Peivnisetltm glaucum (L.) R. Br. Poacese. Pearl millet. 

 (P. typhoideum Rich.) 



" Gssah. The seed of the gssab has a better taste than hescncu and 

 always commands a higher price on the market. It also grows taller 

 than hcscna and yields more forage, but will need also much more 

 water. It is claimed that it will ripen seeds in 40 days from date of 

 sowing, w^hich statement, however, I can not guarantee. From what I 

 know P. glaucum finds its northern cultural limit in Libia. 



63624. AvENA sATivA L. Poaceae. Oat. 



From Aberystwith. Wales. Seeds presented by R. G. Stapledon. director. 

 Welsh Plant-Breeding Station. Received June 4, 1921. 



Sir Douglas Haig. A Welsh oat which has more than three grains in a 

 spikelet and was produced by a cross with Arena nuda as one of the parents." 

 (L. E. Thatcher.) 



53625. EuBus macraei A. Gray. Eosacese. Akala. 



From Honolulu, Hawaii. Seeds collected by J. F. Rock, Agricultural Ex- 

 plorer of the Department of Agriculture. Received June 6, 1921. 

 " Spineless variety from near Shipman Ranch, Kilauea, Hawaii. This 

 variety grows epiphytically in the forks of large koa trees {Acacia koa Gray) 

 and on fallen logs of the same species, inaccessible to cattle. The dark-red 

 fruits attain a diameter of nearly 2 inches, are very juicy, and, though slightly 

 bitter, are quite pleasant to the taste. The variety would likely improve 

 under cultivation. The canes do not grow as straight as those of the yellow 

 and red varieties on Mauna Kea (S. P. I. Nos. 534S0 to 53482), but they are 

 over an inch in diameter at the base; the whiplike branches are very scandent 

 and rambling. These seeds came from a fern forest at an altitude of 4,500 

 feet on the slopes of Mauna Loa, Hawaii. May, 1921." {Rock.) 



53626. AvENA BARBATA wiESTii (Steud.) Hausskn. Poacese. 



Grass. 



From Gizeh. Egypt. Seeds presented by Thomas W. Brown, director, 

 Ministry of Agriculture, Horticultural Section. Received June 7, 1921. 

 An erect, sparingly hairy grass up to 2 feet in height, with linear leaves up 

 to 7 inches long. Secured for experimental purposes. 



