9 



17 



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 altitudes of 6,000 to 10,000 feet. Of 

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



42726. BIXA SPHAEROCARPA. Achuete. From Mr. H. M. 

 Curran, San Martin de Loba, Colombia. Large quick-growing shrub 

 or small tree closely allied to the arnotto, B. orellana^ from which it 

 differs in having spherical fruits and leaves covered on the under side 

 with small scales. The seed yields a dye which is said to be indis- 

 tinguishable from arnotto dye. Native of Venezuela and Colombia. 



BOIMBAX MALABARICUM. Red silk-cotton tree. A beau- 

 tiful, semitropical, deciduous, Indian shade tree, the bark of which 

 furnishes a good fiber for cordage and the seeds a silky cotton used 

 for stuffing pillows, etc. 



BRASSICA PEKINENSIS. Pe-tsai 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 all green 

 leaf tips it can be cooked free from the penetrating cabbage odor. 



BUCHANANIA LATIFOLIA. Piyar. Anacardiaceous tree 

 about 30 feet high, bearing small drupes with edible kernels nearly 

 the size of almonds, which they somewhat resemble in taste. They 

 are the source of chironiji oil. The bark and fruits furnish a natural 

 varnish. The tree, also, exudes a gum, "peal" or "pial," which is 

 said to resemble Bassora gum, to have adhesive properties like in- 

 ferior gum arable, and to be suitable for dressing textiles. 



44531. BUDDLEIA DAVIDII. From La Mortola Garden, 

 Ventimiglia, Italy. Handsome ornamental shrub, 3 to 8 feet in 

 height, with variable, sessile, dark-green leaves, 4 to 10 inches long, 

 and rather lax panicles of clear lilac-colored flowers with an orange 

 eye. This species is very variable in the shape of its leaves, in the 

 compactness of its flower clusters, and in the size of its flowers. 

 Native of China. 



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