1998 
59325. "Kontoula." A highly esteemed summer pear, ripening from the first 
to the middle of July. Shape pyriform, size about 2 inches in length and 
diameter. Stem fleshy, one inch long; basin shallow. Surface light yellow, 
flesh juicy and of good flavor. 
59326. "Skopelitico." A somewhat coarse-grained fruit, ripening from the 
middle of July to August first. Tree of medium size, fruit rather large (2 1/2 
to 3 1/2 inches long and 3 to 4 inches thick), pyriform in shape, with a stem 
1 3/4 inches long. Basin corrugated and fairly large. Surface yellow, blushed 
red on exposed side. A good shipping fruit, if gathered before it is fully ripe. 
It is also considered first class for canning. 
59327. "Traconico." The winter pear of Greece, gathered in the autumn and 
kept until spring without cold storage. Shape pyriform, size medium (2 to 3 
inches long and 1 3/4 to 2 inches in diameter). Basin very shallow, with calyx 
almost wanting. Flesh juicy and of good quality. 
socratea exorrhiza (Phoenicaceae ) , 59279. Palm. From Rio de Janeiro, 
Brazil. Seeds presented by Prof. L. H. Bailey, Ithaca, New York. During 
his recent journey through southern Brazil, Professor Bailey was impressed by 
the beauty of this palm, and secured seeds for trial in Porto Rico, the Canal 
Zone and elsewhere. It may be possible to grow the species out of doors in 
extreme southern Florida. It is tropical in its requirements and will 
probably withstand no frost. The paziuba or pashiuba, as this palm is 
known in Brazil, is a tall-growing species, with a swollen trunk elevated 
upon a cone of cylindrical roots. It is said that these aerial roots some- 
times grow to such height that a man can stand within the center of the cone, 
the tall tree rising above his head. The leaves are pinnate, with somewhat 
trapezoid leaflets jagged on one side. Both sexes of flowers are borne on 
the same palm. The fruit is roundish or eggshaped, and contains a single seed. 
spartina townsendi (Poaceae), 58986. Grass. From London, England. Seeds 
presented by Prof. F. W. Oliver, University College, London, through A. S. 
Hitchcock, United States Department of Agriculture. In transmitting this 
seed, Dr. Hitchcock says that Prof. Oliver considers 5. town$endi a probable 
hybrid between S. strieta and S. altemiflora, the latter native to the shores of New 
Brunswick and Nova Scotia. It appeared at Hythe, Southampton, England, about 
1879, and has spread rapidly on mud flats, reclaiming the land in many places. 
It is eagerly eaten by cattle and pigs, and is considered promising as a 
papermaking material, though Prof. Oliver states that the cost of harvesting 
has so far prohibited its exploitation for this purpose. Dr. Hitchcock is 
inclined to view the species as synonymous with S. alterniflora. It will be tested 
experimentally at various places in the United States, to determine its value 
as an economic plant. 
trifolium AFRICANUM glabellum (Fabaceae ), 58987. Clover. From Cedara, 
Natal, Union of South Africa. Seeds presented by W. S. Hall, assistant 
