464 
established, if it is cut down, it immediately springs into life 
again, "but does not sucker as the growth comes from the trunk. 
It seems absolutely healthy and resistant. It is a tree much 
prized to grow near the home of the colonist or estanciero of the 
plains of Argentina." (Wing.) For distribution later. 
PISTACIA INTEGERRIMA. (Anacardiaceae . ) 31725. Seeds of 
zebra wood from Lahore, India. Procured by Mr. R. S. Woglum^ of 
this department from Mr. W. R. Mustoe, Superintendent of the 
Botanical Gardens, Lahore. "This is the famous zebra wood of 
Kakra, India, which grows to be a tree 40 feet or more high, with 
a trunk in diameter from two and one half to three feet, or even 
as much as four and three quarters feet. It grows on the warm 
slopes of the Himalaya Mountains in northern India, usually at an 
altitude of from 1200 to 8000 feet. The wood is very hard and 
close grained^ brown in color, and beautifully mottled with 
yellow and dark veins, whence the name, 'zebra wood 1 ." (Swingle.) 
For distribution later. 
RHUS VERNICIFERA. (Anacardiaceae.) 31639. Seeds of the 
lacquer tree from Japan. Presented by Mr. Thomas Sammons, 
American consul general, who procured them from Mr. Matsunosuke 
Yamaguchi, Nagano, Japan. "A slender-branched tree with winged 
leaves, attaining a height of 20 feet. It is common throughout 
Japan, and is cultivated for its sap, which flows from its stem 
and branches on being wounded. It is first cream-colored, but 
on exposure to the air soon turns black, and is the varnish 
which the Japanese use for lacquering their furniture or orna- 
mental articles." (Smith, Dictionary of popular names of economic 
plants, p. 426.) "The varnish or lacquer is valuable because of 
its great hardness without brittleness or becoming cracked; its 
high lustre and mirror-like surface which remains untarnished 
for centuries; its resistance to the agencies which attack 
resinous varnishes as it is net injured by boiling water, hot 
ashes, hot alcoholic liquors, acids, etc." (J. J * Rein, 
Industries of Japan.) "Unlike ordinary paints which dry be- 
cause of oxidizing properties of the oil in them, this Japanese 
lacquer dries better in moist than in dry air as the result of a 
supposed enzyme which acts upon an albuminoid in the presence of 
a vegetable acid and a gum. The industry is one well worthy the 
serious consideration of paint manufacturers." (Fairchild.) 
Experimenters with this tree should remember that the volatile 
sap causes a painful eruption on the^skin of certain persons 
similar to that caused by our common Rhus species known as poison 
ivy, though probably more intense even than the latter. For 
distribution later. 
ROSA SPP. (Rosaceae.) 31692-695. Seeds of wild roses from 
near Ghapsagai and Bogh-dalak, Mongolia. Among these are tee 
