1504 
pinnate leaves and long, dense, clublike racemes of 
tiny flowers bristling with long stamens. This plant 
yields the true "gum arable" of commerce, which is 
used for giving luster to crepe and silk, for thicken- 
ing colors and mordants in calico-printing, in the 
manufacture of ink and blacking, as a mucilage, and 
for confectionery and medicinal purposes. It is more 
abundant in the dry season, exuding usually at the 
forking of the branches. In Kordofan, the gum is ob- 
tained from both wild and cultivated trees, and in the 
gardens the trees are artificially cut, strips of the 
outer bark being removed, shortly after the rains cease; 
the first collection of gum is made about 60 days after 
cutting and the garden is completely picked over every 
fourth day thereafter until the rains begin again and 
new leaves appear , at which stage the exudation ceases. 
The period of production is given at from 3 to 20 
years, beginning when the trees are 3 or 4 years old. 
A plantation of about 10 acres has been estimated to 
yield from 1,200 to 1,500 pounds of gum in the course 
of a season. (Adapted from Holland, Useful Plants of 
Nigeria, pt. 2, p. 293; and Engler and Prantl, Die 
Natiirlichen Pf lanzenf amllien, vol. 3, pt . 3, p, 112, 
fig. 68.) 
Astrocaryum sp. (Phoenicaceae ) , 47997. Palm. From 
Bogota, Colombia. Seeds presented by Mr. M. T. Dawe . 
"In my recent journeys I came across a palm known as 
'Giiere.' It is found in the forests of the Darien 
country, and grows from sea level to altitudes of a- 
bout 400 meters [1,300 feet]. The palm is about 10 
meters [33 feet] in height and bears large, hanging 
racemes of scarlet-colored fruits, the nuts of which 
yield a useful oil." (Dawe.) 
Berberis pruinosa (Berberidaceae ) , 48015. Barberry. 
From Paris, France. Seeds presented by Vilmorln-An- 
drieux & Co. A robust evergreen shrub, probably 10 
feet or more in height , native to southwestern China. 
Its leaves are of a leathery texture , up to 2| inches 
long, lustrous green above, often grayish beneath, 
not unlike in general appearance those of the Himala- 
yan B.aristaia. It gets Its name from the rich prulnose 
(plum-colored ) bloom that covers the fruits. (Adapted 
from The Gardeners' Chronicle, Nov. 15, 1913.) 
Beta vulgaris (Chenopodlaceae ) , 48022. Sugar beet. 
From Naarden, Holland. Seeds presented by Kuhn &Co., 
