18 



40687. BERBERIS sp. Barberry. From F. N. Meyer, Ka- 

 goba, Kansu, China. An ornamental barberry of very low growth, 

 being only 1 to 3 feet high. The leaves are very small and the very 

 ornamental, bright scarlet berries are produced in great profusion. 

 Found along embankments at 6,000 to 10,000 feet elevation. Of 

 value as a border shrub in the colder sections of the United States. 



40154. BETULA ERIVIANI. Erman's birch. Eastern Asiatic 

 tree, said to reach 100 feet in height, with creamy- white, peeling bark 

 on the trunk and orange-brown bark on the branches. Leaves 

 broadly ovate, with nearly straight base, taper pointed, coarsely 

 toothed; stalk one half to 1 inch long. Tender; very hable to injury 

 by spring frosts, owing to its early start into growth. 



39989. BETULA SCHMIDTn. Birch. Presented by the 

 Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain, Mass. A stately tree with smooth 

 alternate branches, nearly ovate leaves with rounded base and some- 

 what taper-pointed tip. Buds smooth. Catkins stalked. Seeds 

 sKghtly winged. Native of Eastern Asia. 



BLIGHIA. SAPID A. Akee. African tree, with remarkable 



showy, red fruit, opening like a pod, exposing large black seeds 

 embedded in a waxy substance (the aril), which, when fried in butter 

 or stewed in milk, resembles a very delicate morsel of sweetbread. 

 Only the arils from perfectly fresh fruits should be used, as cases of 

 poisoning are reported from use of arils from old fruits. Tree has 

 fruited successfully in southern Florida. (PI. II.) 



BRASSICA PEKINENSIS. Pai ts'ai or Chinese cabbage. 



From various sources in North China. A fall cabbage, not suitable 

 for spring planting, as it goes to seed. Sow in July in rows; begin 

 manuring heavily when 4 inches high. Harvest after first light 

 frost; heads long, cylindrical, not very firm. By cutting off aU 

 green leaf tips it can be cooked without penetrating cabbage odor. 



42725. BRITOA ACIDA. From H. M. Curran, San Martin de 

 Loba, Colombia. SmaU tree or shrub bearing rather large guava- 

 Hke fruits with soft yeUow juicy and very acid flesh. Few seeds. 

 Said to make a delicious conserve. The wood is used in Brazil for 

 tool handles, carving, etc. Bark and leaves reported medicinal. 

 Related to " Guava." Native of Brazil. 



41323. CAESALPINIA PECTINATA. Tara. From O. F. 



Cook, Urubamba VaUey, Peru. TaU, erect, spiay shrub or smaU, 

 handsome tree with deep-green, shiay foliage. Flowers incon- 

 spicuous, but numerous bright-scarlet pods are produced which were 

 formerly used for black dye and iak. These form attractive con- 

 trast with the dark foliage. The erect growth of the shoots tends to 

 make a close^ effective hedge or wiadbreak. 



