JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1921. 



The young shoots are planted about 20 feet apart, and in the course of 10 

 years the plant occupies an area of from 10 to 15 square feet. The plants 

 bear fruit in the third or fourth year and will yield from 6 to 8 pounds of 

 seeds, about the size and color of a grain of com, annually for 35 to 40 years. 

 Plants raised from seed do not bear fruit until the fifth year and live but a 

 few years. (Adapted from Bulletin of the Pan American Union, vol. 51, 

 p. 268.) 



54306. Clusia grandiflora Splitg. Clusiacese. 



From Cambridge, England. Cuttings presented by F. G. Preston, superin- 

 tendent, Botan-c Garden. Received September 80, 1921. 



A very beautiful plant up to 11 feet high with handsome large white rose- 

 tinted flowers, each from 7 to 8 inches in diameter.* The flowers are fleshy 

 with a delicate white fringe around the center of a deep-yellow, discoid, 

 gummy mass of stamlnodes. Three flowers are usually borne at the end of 

 a shoot, the central one opening first and hiding the two side buds which open 

 later. This native of Guiana has large handsome leathery leaves, up to 18 

 inches long and over 7 inches wide; they are borne in clusters towards the 

 end of the twigs. The plant is not in any way susceptible to insect pests. 

 (Adapted from Gardeners' Chronicle, 3d ser., vol. 67, p. 315.) 



54307 and 54308. 



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

 plorer ol the Department of Agriculture. Received August 26, 1921. 



54307. Cola nitida (Vent.) Schott and Endl. Sterculiacese. 

 {StcrcuUa nitida Vent.) 



A tree 20 to 30 feet high, native to Upper Guinea, Africa, clo?ely re- 

 lated to the common cola nut, from which it differs in the broader, 

 shorter stalked leaves, and flowers nearly double the size. These trees 

 furnish the cola nuts so much esteemed by the natives for their bitter 

 flavor, and which are said to enhance the taste of whatever is eaten 

 with them. The numerous seeds are in leathery or woody pods. (Adapted 

 from Oliver, Flora of Tropical Africa, vol. 1, p. 221.) 



54308. QuEKCtrs javanica (Blume) Drake. Fagaceje. 

 {Castanopsis javanica A. DC.) 



A large evergreen tree with very leatliery leaves which are shining 

 above, more or less rufous pubescent beneath, and 3 to 10 inches long. 

 The globose tomentose involucres, up to 2 inches in diameter with spines 

 sometimes two-thirds of an inch long, inclose 1 to 4 nuts. Native to 

 Lower Burma and the Malay Peninsula. (Adapted from Hooker, Flora 

 of British India, vol. 5, p. 620.) 



54309. DioscoREA esculenta (Lour.) Burkill. Dioscoreacese. 



Lesser yam. 



From Suva, Fiji Islands. Tubers presented by C. H. Knowles, Director 

 of Agriculture. Received September 17, 1921. 



This small yam, the kmrai. is certainly worth the attention of anyone who 

 has facilities for cultivating a small area of food plants. Being indigenous to 

 Fiji, the natives have long recognized its value as a food, and it is cultivated 

 in most if not all of the Fiji Islands. It is cultivated in parts of India ajid 

 Burma. In the latter it is said to be found w^ild. 



The stem of this creeper is round and full of prickles. It is propagated by 

 planting the small tubers or roots, which, like the old ones, are oblong, of a 

 brownish color outside and a pure white within. When cooked, the skin falls 

 off like the bark of a birch tree. The root is very farinaceous, and when well 

 cooked looks like a fine mealy potato, although of superior whiteness. The 

 taste recalls to mind that of the arracacha of South America. There is a slight 

 degree of sweetness about it which is very agreeable to the palate. 



