5. 
of robust growth and bearing yellow flowers. It is quite dis- 
tinct from ether medicagos and may not readily hybridize with 
them, but looks very promising as a fodder plant. MEDICAGO 
CRETACEA occurs in cliffs in the Caucasus; it is a rather small 
and stunted perennial species of apparently little value from an 
economic point of view. MEDICAGO RUTHENICA is very variable 
and the big forms look promising as a fodder plant. It occurs 
mostly in Central and Western Siberia. MEDICAGO DAGESTANICA, 
a small perennial species from a small district in the Caucasus 
(Awarsk, province Dagestan), does not promise to be of econ- 
omic value. MEDICAGO LITTORALIS , perennial of small growth, 
very tomentose, from the Caucasus. MEDICAGO GLUTINOSA, a per- 
ennial of robust growth, yellow flowers, quite variable, appar- 
ently very promising; occurs in the Kuban province, Caucasus. 
MEDICAGO RUPESTRIS, a small, perennial, more or less alpine 
species, occurring in the Caucasus. Of no economic value. 
ARISTIDA PENNATA has been of very great service as a sand- 
binder in building the Central Asian railway.. He thinks this 
and the Saxsaul (Hal imodendron) will be of value in the South- 
west. Also describes several species of AMYGDALUS , wild and 
cultivated, from Central Asia; and some semi-desert species of 
PINUS. In a letter of December 24 he sends a small sample of 
a fiber coming from a climbing leguminous plant growing in the 
interior of German East Africa and much used by the natives 
there. Dr. C. Brunner of the Hamburg Botanical Institute says 
it is one of the strongest fibers of the world. It is unknown 
botanically . 
Printed inventories 18 and 19 are now out, including 
S.P.I, numbers 24430 to 25717. Among the things listed in 
these inventories are to be found Prof. Hansen's introductions 
from Central Asia, notably three very promising species of 
Medicago resistant to cold and drought; also a number of durum 
wheats from Siberia and some remarkable winter muskmelons ; 
Persian clover or Shabdar , now being tried for the irrigated 
Southwest, and sand-binders used along the Transcaspi an rail- 
way. Another notable importation was that of more than 3000 
bamboo plants from Japan including two of the best known 
timber species and one species having edible shoots. Among 
fruits there are three delicious ones from Java - the Doekoe, 
