UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BUREAU OF SOILS 
WASHINGTON 
lIoTern'ber 6, 1SE6. 
Pr. Waldo L. Schmitt, 
c/o American Consular Agent, 
Paita, Peru, 
South America. 
Dear Waldo: 
I was glad to get word from you and have 
done what I can about the Barbasco nuts. The material arriv- 
ed in fair condition although the fruit pulp was sorawhat 
fermented in one or two oases. Dr. Siceels of the uffioe of 
Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction has undoubtedly identi- 
fied this fruit as comiiog from one of the species of Jac- 
quinia. It is probably from J. Barbasco, Mez. Ho cannot be 
certain of the species, however, unless you can have sent 
some of the foliage and flowers, our old friend, Paul 
Bussell, also aided in getting the material identified, 
w q P I is ouite interested in the material ana Dr. Bfceels 
in the harbarlw, speolmens o£ the 
foliage and flowers. I should also mention thatJ-parbasco 
=p- seems to be identical with3^ijrmillar is, JaosL* plant 
belongs to the fhmily of Theophrastaceae. 
I have run down all of the suggested refer- 
ences to the literature but have not unearthed anything 
relative to the active chemical agent of the material. The 
references have been card-indexed for your information on 
your return. 
Dr. u. P. Black:, of Dr. Alsberg’s old labora- 
tory, Poison Plants Investi^tions, Bureau of plant industry, 
is going to examine the fruit, at least qualitatively, to 
determine whether the poison is due to saponins or someother 
substance. The men familiar with similar plants, includii^ 
Dr. F. B. Power, think; that it is likely that the poison is 
saponin. 
With best wishes for success in your field of 
work and a safe return, I remain 
"ijurs sincerely. 
G.p. i^alton. 
