1321 
into fragrant white flowers 5 inches across. (Adapted 
from Hooker, Flora of British India, vol. 1, p. 41.) / 
Pomaderri8 elliptica (Rhamnaceae ) , 45892. Kumarahou. 
Prom Auckland, New Zealand. Presented by Mr. H. R. 
Wright. "A rare dwarf shrub belonging to the Auck- 
land Province. This plant is difficult to transplant, 
but is easily raised from seed. It flowers when two 
years old and if kept well pinched back makes a glori- 
ous specimen, being covered in spring with a mass of 
yellow flowers. It grows on some of our poor clay 
lands of a close nature, similar to that where the 
heather grows." (Wright.) A branching shrub 4 to 8 
feet high with the young branches,' leaves and flower 
clusters covered with white or buff-colored stellate 
hairs. The ovate to oblong leaves are 2 to 3 inches 
long, and the cymes of yellow flowers, with crisped- 
margined petals, are clustered into large many-branched 
panicles. Native name Kumarahou, (from "Kumara, " a 
tuber-like root, and "hou," growing deeply or strong.- 
ly.) (Adapted from Cheeseman, Manual of the New Zea- 
land Flora, p. 99, and from Lalng and Blackwell, 
Plants of New Zealand, p. 236.) 
Pyrus communis (Malaceae), 45901. Pear. From Mis- 
souri. Presented by Dr. J. C. Whitten, College of 
Agriculture, Columbia, Missouri. "The Surprise pear 
forwarded by Dr. Whitten of the College of Agricul- 
ture, Columbia, Mo., is one of the most promising as 
a blight-resistant pear and may prove of economic im- 
portance as a stock for commercial varieties. As grown 
by Prof. Reimer at Talent, Oregon, it was one of the 
most vigorous of stocks and seemed to transmit this 
vegetative character to nearly all varieties of pears 
which were grafted or budded upon it. Its congeni- 
ality, in other words, is to be commended. Dr. Whit- 
ten says that the Surprise pear is apparently a pure 
Pyrus communis. He further says that he received three 
trees for trial from Stark Bros., Louisiana, Mo., some 
years ago. This variety is a large, vigorous grower. 
It early begins the formation of short, spur-like 
branches, which spread horizontally, with few of the 
upright rank shoots customary to Kieffer and other 
hybrids. The fruit is small, not much * larger than 
Seckel. It is moderately late, ripening only a little 
ahead of Kieffer, and Is of poor quality. The variety 
bears profusely, however. Dr. Whitten says that he 
does not remember having seen a trace of blight in any 
