OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1921. 



17 



54497 and 54498— Continued. 



54498. Rfbus sp. Rosacefr. Raspberry. 



Perfection (Marlboro). George Bunyard & Co. give a description and 

 the history of this raspberry as follows : " Fruit large, red, of excellent 

 flavor and vigorous growth; canes very stout, bright crimson. Raised 

 by A. J. Caywood of Marlboro, N. Y. ; introduced in 1884, and named 

 by him Marlboro." 



54499. DioscoREA japonica Thunb. Dioscoreacese. Japanese yam. 



From Hereford, England. Bulbils presented by Dr. H. E. Durham, 

 " Dunelm." Received November 22, 1921. 



"Japanese round yam. Tliis yam seems so far as one can see from a single 

 season's trial, to be the most promising variety I have yet tested. It grows 

 more freely and regularly than the round Upelx. The rate of growth, both in a 

 cool house, was about double that of the ChappelUer." {Durham.) 



54500. PisoNiA ALBA Span. Nyctaginaceae. Lettuce tree. 



From Lamao, Bataan, Philippine Islands. Cuttings presented by P. J. 

 Wester, agricultural adviser, Lamao Horticultural Station. Received 

 November 16, 1921. 



" The lettuce tree is fairly common in Manila, but I have never seen it flower 

 and do not believe seeds are obtainable in the Philippines. As to the value of 

 the tree for Florida, I am in doubt. The leaves are too thin and therefore 

 likely to be easily injured by frost and would probably also be torn to shreds 

 by the fall and winter winds, in which event the tree would be of little value as 

 an ornamental, at least during the tourist season. The tree may do well in 

 Porto Rico. I have tried the leaves boiled as turnip greens and they are re- 

 markably good as a potherb, so good, in fact, that if on analysis they are found 

 to have a fair amount of nutrients and vitamins the plant is certain to become 

 widely grown in the Tropics. The leaves can not be eaten raw, however. I 

 am using the common name Maluko for it. The tree is easily propagated, and 

 once it gets a start can be broadcasted within a very short time." {Wester.) 



54501. GosSYPiuM sp. Malvaceae. Cotton. 



From Ceiba, Honduras. Seeds presented by Alexander K. Sloan, American 

 consul. Received December 6, 1921. 



Cotton seeds from the Aguan Valley near Trujillo. 



" The natives make very little attempt to cultivate cotton, as the only use 

 they put it to is as a binding for cuts in order to check the flow of blood. As 

 a consequence the bush is undisturbed and grows in the course of six or seven 

 years into a tree some 8 or 10 inches in diameter and from 25 to 30 feet in 

 height. As the tree grows larger, the bolls become smaller and the yield in 

 quantity and quality less. In those places where the native wants to obtain 

 a larger crop than usual, the bush is cut to the ground each year and allowed 

 to reseed itself. In that way the bolls are kept at their largest size." {Sloan.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 28364. 



54502. QuERCus LA^'UGINosA Thiiill. Fagacese. Oak. 

 {Q. pubescens Wllld.) 



From Nice, France. Seeds presented by Dr. A. Robertson Proschowsky. 

 Received December 8, 1921. 



A southern European oak which varies in size from a large shrub to a tree 

 40 feet in height. The grayish green leaves are deciduous and have very 

 wavy margins. (Adapted from Bean, Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British 

 Isles, vol. 2, p. 314.) 



This oak may prove to be a valuable ornamental for regions of mild winters. 



