865 
Primus armeniaca L . ( Amygdalae es^e. ) 40012-013 . Seeds of 
wild apricots, from near Lan Tsai, and Kwa Tsa, Kansu, 
China. "Wild apricots occur very commonly in the moun- 
tains at altitudes from 5000 to 9000 feet. The natives 
collect the stones, crack them, take the kernels out and 
eat them, after having boiled them. They still taste bit- 
ter, however. Of use possibly in extending apricot cul- 
ture farther north; also as stocks for stone fruits in 
semi-arid regions and as hardy spring-flowering park trees 
for the cooler parts of the United States." (F.N. Meyer's 
Introductions and descriptions.) 
Primus spp. (-Amygdalae eae . ) 40014-015 . ^ ^eds of wild 
plums from near Kwan yin tang, Shensi, and Kagfts'Da, ChAia. 
40014, "a wild plum, found on somewhat stony mountain 
slopes at elevations between 4000 and 5000 feet. Grows up 
into a tall bush, densely branched, and often spiny on the 
young shoots. Fruits the size of a large marble, of yel- 
lowish green color, flavor very spicy, although sour near 
the skin and the stone. Of value possibly to supply com- 
potes and for, breeding purposes." 40015, "a Wild plum 
growing into a tall bush or even a small tree, found on 
sloping stretches of loess land at the foot of mountains 
near the Tibetan frontier at elevations of from 6000-8000 
feet." (F. N. Meyer's introductions and descriptions Jf 
Pyrus sp. (Malaceae.) 40019. Seeds of a wild , pear from 
near Tchien ya tan, Kansu, China. "A species of wild pear, 
growing to be a large tree, with a wide-spreading, dense 
head of branches. Bark of dark color and in the main 
trunk even blackish and deeply furrowed in old specimens. 
Young branches often fiercely spiny and especially so in 
suckers. Leaves small and with much shorter petioles than 
in Pyrus chinehsis . Fruits globose, flattened. Calyx per- 
sistent, peduncle generally short; much variation exists 
as regards size, but the fruits of this species of pear are 
generally small; the flesh is also acrid and often quite 
hard, though some of the larger ones are edible after 
having been frozen. This pear is not found In the warm 
valleys, but it thrives best at elevations of about 8000 
feet, in company with such hardy trees and shrubs as Picea 
obovata, Populus tremula, Malus baccata, Hippophae rhamnoides, 
Syringa amurensis, Rhamnus dahurica, Sorbaria sorbifolia, and 
others. This pear has apparently given rise to some lo- 
cally cultivated forms bearing small, sour fruits, which 
are juicy, however, and melting, and not hard and gritty 
like the poorer strains of P. chinensis. Of undoubted value 
as a stock for pears in cold sections and as a factor in 
breeding experiments in trying to extend successful pear 
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