
          -15-

interpeter assistant at Shiraz, also informed me that cultivated almond
was also brought out of the orchards and grafted upon the wild plants
growing on the hillsides at several localities east of Shiraz.  In this
way they are able to produce almonds in unirrigated lands with rainfall
entirely insufficient for the needs of the cultivated almonds. I shall
look into this upon my return to the Shiraz area.  I shall also procure
some ample lots of seed of this wild almond, which were in green fruit
two weeks ago. The seeds of this species and a low spiny shrub of wild
Amygdalis are reported to be exported for oil extraction to Germany, presumably
for amygdaline.  Both of them apparently could ecesize easily
upon the semiarid slopes of our southwest and the taller broom one has
its life form counterpart in Canotia holocantha of southern Arizona.

Vegetables

I have as usual picked up a general variety of vegetable seeds
in the bazaars of the principal towns visited. The cucumbers and a 
romain-type [romaine-type] of lettuce are outstanding in flavor and growth vigor.
Notable also are a couple of carrots; one has a canescent gray foliage
with small pale root,  as observed growing in Shiraz, of interest perhaps
to carrot breeders.  A second is reported to develop a root as much as
two feet long; also secured in Shiraz.  Many of the seeds secured represent
vegetables grown locally, but seed stocks were reported to be produced
in Isfahan, apparently a seed producing locality.

Oil Seeds

Two seed samples noted as Helianthus on the labels, are more
probably of Carthamus tinctorius and will be of interest to Pultz.  What
I take to be seed of Recinus persica (if that species is any good) were
encountered in two instances.  I remember that a plump-sized seed of
        