1975 
rather inconspicuous plant which grows in all sorts of places. I tried 
it first as a cover crop in the orange grove, in the hope that it might 
restrain the Bermuda grass. It not only smothered the Bermuda grass, 
but as it appears now in its second year it has made a very heavy stand. 
As the plant is well supplied with root nodules I believe that it will 
prove valuable as fertilizer." (Ennis.) 
FICUS CARICA (Moraceae), 58643. Dottato fig. From Saonara, Padua, 
Italy. Plants purchased from Fratelli Sgaravatti. This variety, well 
known in parts of Italy, has been introduced at the request of the Office 
of Crop Physiology and Breeding Investigations, for trial on the Pacific 
Coast. 
Dr. Gustavu8 Eisen, long with this Department, and instrumental in 
bringing about the introduction of many fig varieties into the United 
States, describes Dottato as the best known fig of Tuscany. A large 
proportion of the figs exported from Italy are of this variety. The 
tree is said to love rich, moist soils, and is not suitable for dry 
lands. Under proper environmental conditions, it is a strong grower 
and heavy bearer of medium-sized fruits, oval-pyriform in shape, smooth, 
and yellowish green in color. 
hordeum sp. (Poaceae) , 58530. Naked barley. From Kansu, China. 
R, C. Ching, who accompanied F. R. Wulsin, of the National Geographic 
Society, during his recent exploration of Kansu Province, northwestern 
China, has sent to thi» office seeds of many plants collected in that 
remote region. He has supplied the following note regarding the barley 
represented by this number: "The Tibetan barley is very hardy, and is 
usually grown at an altitude of more than 10,000 feet, where other ce- 
real crops do not thrive. It is sown in early April and harvested at 
the end of September, and is the staple cereal crop of the inhabitants 
of the Kaneu-Tibet border." 
malus sylvestris (Malaceae) , 58464. Apple. From Simla Hills, 
Punjab, India. Scions presented by S. E. Stokes. "A russet apple of 
good size and excellent flavor, greatly appreciated in Simla by the 
English. The tree, which is a strong grower and heavy cropper, ripens 
its fruit in October, and we have often been able to keep it until April 
or May. While in storage the fruit turns to a golden yellow. At the 
altitude of 7,000 feet in Kotgarh, where this tree grows, many other 
temperate crops are also grown, such as potatoes, corn, and barley, and 
such fruit as cherries, plums, and apricots." (Stokes.) 
pyrus sp. (Malaceae), 58512. Pear. From Simla Hills, Punjab, 
India. Seeds presented by S. E. Stokes. In connection with the Depart- 
ment's endeavor to find the best stock plants for the cultivated pears 
