702 
Amygdalus persica. ( Amygdalae eae . ) 36485. Seeds of a 
peach from the Kurram Valley, Northwest Frontier Province, 
India. Presented by Consul-General flenry D. Baker, who 
secured them from Major G. J. Davis, Commandant, Kurram 
Militia, Parachinar, Kurram Valley. "The Shalil grows 
like a peach which it much resembles, and has about the 
same blossom. The flesh is yellow and sweet, but it is 
not so juicy as that of the peach. Major Davis considers 
that it would be a particularly valuable fruit for cooking 
or canning, as the flesh being harder than that of a peach 
would probably not break so easily and could be more 
easily manipulated for such purposes. It grows at about 
5600 feet elevation. The only reference I can find to the 
Shalil in any book I have on India is in the Imperial 
Gazetteer of the Northwest Province, wherein it states as 
regards the Kurram Valley: The climate varies. In the 
winter even Lower Kurram is very cold and a bitter wind 
prevails while in the summer it is hot and dry. Upper 
Kurram is never unpleasantly hot even In summer, while in 
winter snow covers the ground for weeks. Wherever water 
is available for Irrigation the soil is highly productive, 
but owing to the absence of a settled government and the 
internal feuds of the people, the cultivable area is not 
all under cultivation, and irrigation is only carried on 
by small canals constructed and maintained by a single 
hamlet or family. Apples, pears, grapes, cherries, pome- 
granates, peaches, and a fruit peculiar to the Kurram and 
Tirah, known as the Shalil, also grow; and with improved 
communications fruit-growing will probably become an im- 
portant industry. Famine is unknown in Kurram." (Baker.) 
For distribution later. 
Arbutus canariensis . (Ericaceae.) 36529. Seeds of the 
madronho from Teneriffe, Canary Islands. Presented by 
Dr. George V. Perez, Puerto Orotava. "The madronho is be- 
coming very rare here, but it is still found in the moun- 
tain ravines. It will not stand frost." (Perez.) "It 
Is one of the most beautiful shade trees that is grown 
around Naples and should be tested for park and street 
purposes in Florida and Southern California. Its clean 
pink and green bark and dark green foliage make it a most 
strikingly beautiful object." (Fairchild.) For distri- 
bution later. 
Carica papaya. (Papayaceae . ) 36273, 36275-278. Seeds 
of papayas from Theophilo Ottoni, Minas Geraes, Brazil. 
Presented by Mr. Fred Birch. Several varieties of pa- 
payas, some with small seed cavities, and of excellent 
quality, others from so-called "male" trees, others of 
good keeping and shipping qualities. For distribution 
later. 
