897 
Dioscorea fasciculata Roxb . (Dloscoreaceae . ) 40892 . Tubers 
of a yam from Manila. Presented by Mr. H. T. Edwards, 
Director, Bureau of Agriculture. "Tugue. Flesh white, 
and mealy but firm and a little fibrous, sweetish. The 
quality is not equal to that of the yampi of Jamaica." 
(R. A. Young. ) 
Durio zibefhinus Murray . (Malvaoeae. ) 40826. Seeds from 
the Botanic Gardens, Bultenzorg, Java. Presented by the 
Director. "Avery large, handsome, pyramid- shaped tree, 
native of the Malayan Archipelago, and commonly cultivated 
in the Straits, Burma, Java, etc., for the sake of its 
celebrated fruit. The latter is produced on the older 
branches, varies somewhat from round to oval in shape, and 
usually weighs from five to seven pounds or more. It is 
armed with thickly set formidable prickles about one-half 
inch long; when ripe it becomes slightly yellow, and pos- 
sesses an odour which Is intensely offensive to most 
people, especially on first acquaintance with it. The 
cream-coloured pulp surrounding the seed is the edible 
portion; this Is most highly prized by the Malays and 
oriental people, and is also relished by Europeans who ac- 
quire a taste for it. Plrmlnger describes it as 'resemb- 
ling blanc-mange, delicious as the finest cream,' whilst 
Mr. Russell Wallace considered that 'eating durlans is a 
sensation worth a voyage to the East.' The large seeds 
may be roasted and eaten like chestnuts. Pounded into 
flour, they are said to be sometimes made into a substance 
like 'vegetable-ivory. ' The durian tree thrives in the 
moist low-country of Ceylon up to 2000 feet elevation, and 
luxuriates in deep alluvial or loamy soli. In Peradeniya 
Gardens, there are magnificent specimens well over 100 
feet In height. They usually flower In March or April, 
and the fruit is ripe in July of August. Durian fruits 
are variable in size, shape, flavour and quantity of pulp, 
according to variety. The trees also vary in productive- 
ness, some varieties being almost barren. Selection and 
high cultivation should therefore be practised in order to 
obtain the best fruits. The tree is readily propagated by 
seed If sown fresh; the seed is of short vitality and ger- 
minates in seven to eight days . " (Macmillan, Handbook of 
Tropical Gardening and Planting.) 
Passiflora alata Curtis . (Passlf loraceae . ) 40843. Seeds 
of a passion-fruit from Honolulu, Hawaii. Presented by 
Mr. Garret P. Wilder. "This is a strong vigorous vine, - 
very suitable for arbors and trellises. It is not common- 
ly found In Hawaii; however, a very fine specimen of its 
