1938 
size of a grape) which cling to the core, and each segment contains 
a whitish seed nearly one-half inch long. 'When the fruit is ripe, 
by passing a knife around and through the rind, with a little care the 
halves may be separated from the flesh, leaving this like a bunch of 
white grapes. 1 In the Philippines it ripens in August. 
"The tree is strictly tropical in its requirements and probably 
will not succeed in regions where the temperature falls below 32° F. It 
likes a moist atmosphere and abundant rainfall." (Wilson Popenoe.) 
avena sterilis (Poaceae) , 58033. Oats. From Lincoln, New Zealand. 
Seeds presented by Dr. F. W. Hilgendorf, biologist, Canterbury Agri- 
cultural College. "'College Algerians.' This strain, also known as 
'A 86,' is characterized by high tillering power, a creeping habit, 
quick recovery after feeding-off , and a high yield. Under our condi- 
tions of climate and soil it has yielded about 10 bushels per acre 
more than commercial varieties sown under the same conditions." (New 
Zealand Journal of Agriculture, vol. 26, p. 147.) 
CUCUMis MELO (Cucurbitaceae) , 56026. Zarda Melon. From Bare illy, 
United Provinces, India. Seeds presented by Rev. N. L. Rockey. "The 
culture of the superior kinds of melon requires considerable attention, 
but there is hardly a fruit that better deserves it. The kind which 
ranks as finest of all, called the Surdah (Zarda), is a native of Kabul, 
and has not, that I am aware, been cultivated with success in any part 
of India. The fruits are brought occasionally to the Punjab for the 
wealthy natives, and a friend told me that when at Mooltan an offer of 
six rupees which he made for a single one was refused, so highly are 
they prized. I have several times raised plants in my garden at 
Firozpur. They throve moderately well, but bore only one or two fruits, 
which always rotted on the under side before beginning to ripen. From 
a portion of one which remained partially sound, I was enabled to dis- 
cover how delicious this fruit must be when raised in perfection. The 
seeds of this kind are at once to be distinguished from those of any 
other, being fully four times larger." (Firminger's Manual of Garden- 
ing for India, ed. 5, p. 225.) 
fragaria CHlLOENSis (Rosaceae) , 58024. Chile strawberry. From 
Honolulu, Hawaii. Seeds presented by Dr. H. L. Lyon, in charge, Depart- 
ment of Botany and Forestry, Experiment Station of the Sugar Planters' 
Association. "These seeds were sent to Dr. Lyon from Ecuador, where 
they were collected by Dr. Francis X. Williams, probably in the vi- 
cinity of Arabato. Not far from this town there are large fields de- 
voted to the cultivation of this plant, the only ones in all Ecuador. 
The soil is a light volcanic sand, the rainfall not over 15 or 20 
inches a year, and the elevation about 9,500 feet. 
