2007 
who has one of the few bearing trees in Cuba, has contributed this lot of seeds, 
which will be used to supply plants for further experiments in southern Florida." 
(Wilson Popenoe.) 
magnolia campbellii (Magnoliaceae ) , 59372. From Orleans, Loiret, France. 
Presented by Leon Chenault. 
Several years ago, Agricultural Explorer J. F. Bock called our attention to 
an unusually handsome magnolia, photographs of which were obtained by him at Dar- 
jiling. This was M. campbellii, native to the Himalayas, where it ascends to altitudes 
of 8,000 feet. Several efforts were made to introduce this species into the United 
States by means of seeds, but failure attended all of them. The seeds retain 
their viability a short time only, and are difficult to ship long distances. 
Having learned recently that this tree is cultivated in southern France, we 
applied to our friend M. Leon Chenault for assistance in effecting its introduc- 
tion into the United States. In response he has sent two seedlings of the red- 
flowered form, which have reached Washington in good condition. As soon as these 
have been established, we shall attempt to propagate them so as to distribute 
plants to those parts of the country where they seem likely to thrive. 
Magnolia campbellii is reputed one of the finest ornamental trees of its genus. 
Its enormous flowers, 10 to 14 inches broad, vary from white to light purple, 
according to the variety. The tree becomes 80 feet high in its native home, and 
is deciduous. It has dark-colored bark and large, elliptical, dark-green leaves. 
% musa PARADISIACA SAPIENTUM (Musaceae), 59377. Banana. From Santa Marta, 
Colombia. Presented by V. M. Cutter, United Fruit Co., Boston, Mass. 
•"Gros Michel.' More than nine-tenths of the bananas consumed in the United 
States are of this variety. It is cultivated in the West Indies, and in many 
places on the mainland of tropical America, whence steamers loaded with its fruit 
sail weekly for New York and New Orleans. 
"In flavor, Gros Michel is surpassed by many bananas. It has recently shown 
another defect, also; -susceptibility to the Panama disease, a rot caused by Fu$arium 
cubense. It was long ago found to have excellent shipping qualities, and probably 
for this reason more than any other, it became the dominant variety in North 
American markets. Now that it is firmly established, efforts to replace it with 
other sorts, some of which would be easier to cultivate because resistant to 
Panama disease, seem barren of results. 
"During the last few years, considerable attention has been devoted to banana 
culture in southern Florida. The Cavendish or Chinese dwarf variety has been 
planted commercially on a small scale, and good returns have been reported. 
Several others, including the Lady Finger, have been cultivated in that state for 
many years, but a recent canvass failed to bring to light a single plant of Gros 
Michel. In view of the prominence which this sort attained in the banana trade 
more than a quarter of a century ago, it seems nothing short of astonishing that 
it should not have become established in Florida, where interest in tropical fruits 
has long been keen. 
