49? 
. U3 
BENINCASA CERIPERA. ( Cucurbltaceae . ) 32104. Seeds of 
wax gourd from Trichlnopoli , India. Collected by Prof . C. ¥«? 
Piper. "Large, cylindrical, twelve to eighteen Inches long 
by six to eight inches in diameter. Very white and waxy 
fruit." (Piper.) This vegetable commonly used by the Chines© 
for vegetable soups, and also candied as a sweetmeat wherever 
it grows, is recommended to amateurs who are experimenting 
with new vegetables. It has been grown successfully neap 
Washington. For distribution later. y, 
BERBERIS SP. (Berberidaceae . ) 32102. Seeds of a barberry 
from Nuwara Eliya^ Ceylon. Collected by Prof. C. V. Piper. 
"A common species at an altitude of 6000 feet. It closely 
resembles B. vulgaris, but the fruits are black." (Piper.) 
For distribution later. 
CALAMUS VIMINALIS. (Phoenlcaceae . ) 32108. Seeds of a 
rattan from Trichinopoli , India. Collected by Prof. C. V, 
Piper. "A peculiar fruit said to be used in curries. Flesh 
very aciV" (Piper.) "It is a stout scrambling and climbing 
species, with cane thin, but strong. It makes excellent walk- 
ing sticks, and is the chief rattan of the Malay Peninsula," 
(Watt, Commercial products of India.) For distribution later, 
CASTANOSPERMUM AUSTRALE. (Fabaceae.) 32087. Seeds 
of the Moreton Bay chestnut from Brisbane, Queensland. 
Presented by Mr. Frederick Manson Bailey, Colonial Botanist. 
"In the scrub near Kuranda we noticed trees bearing pods 
about the size and shape of a banana, but at least twice the - 
diameter. Upon opening the pods they were found to contain 
huge beans that look very much like chestnuts. They have a 
leathery skin and the interior is white and not very hard, 
about the consistency of a nut. I tasted one of the beans, 
although I was told that it was poisonous. It tasted very 
much like a nut, but had no distinctive flavor. In spite of 
the poisonous nature of the bean the 'black fellows' have 
learned to use it as food. They first roast the beans in hot 
ashes, then skin them and pound the white flesh into coarSe 
flour. They fill a basket with this flour and place It in 
running water over night. In this way the poisonous principle, 
is washed out." (Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, at whose suggest 
tion these seeds were procured.) For distribution later. ;r 
COFFEA SPP. (Rubiaceae.) 32160-162. Seeds of coffee 
from Mayaguez, Porto Rico. Presented by Mr. D. W. May, 
Director, Agricultural Experiment Station. Three varieties 
of coffee from the Porto Rico Station's experimental bree^-s 
ing. For distribution later. 
