621 
sation Society. "A very handsome climber, native of the more 
tropical regions of Queensland. The outer bark of the plant 
is used by the natives for stupefying fish. The green bark is 
tied in small bundles, weighted with a stone and dropped into 
holes where fish abound, the fish immediately becoming affect- 
ed and rising to the surface where they are easily caught." 
(Soutter.) For distribution later. 
GAULTHERIA SPP. (Ericaceae.) 34718-719. Seeds from 
Wellington, New Zealand. Presented by Mr. G. J. Clapham, 
Public Works Department. "The Gaultherias are the most at- 
tractive of the native New Zealand heaths with tiny white 
bell-shaped flowers." (Blackwell and 'Laing, Plants of New 
Zealand.) For distribution later. 
JATROPHA CURCAS. ( Euphorbiaceae . ) 34714. Seeds from 
Tampico, Mexico. Presented by Mr. Thomas H. Bevan, American 
Vice-Consul in Charge. "A shrub about the size of a hazel nut 
bush, with a trunk from six inches to a foot in diameter. Its 
production is most prolific, the limbs often breaking off from 
the weight of the nuts. The nuts when first taken from the 
husks have a dark brown luster, which becomes opaque after be- 
ing exposed to the air for a few days. When first taken from 
the tree they have a taste not at all unlike that of the fresh 
chestnut. They are said to contain about fifty percent of 
oil, which can be extracted and used for cooking, the same as 
cotton seed oil. These nuts can be seen growing in the yards 
of nearly all the Mexican houses in the outskirts of Tampico. 
The Mexicans prefer them to peanuts maintaining that their 
flavor is much more delicate. Along the narrow strip of land 
between the Tuxpam canal and the Gulf of Mexico in the State 
of Veracruz, they grow wild by the millions, and apparently 
thrive better in their native state growing in the sand dunes, 
than in the rich land in the valley of the Panuco." (Bevan.) 
Various botanists have described the oil as resembling that of 
the castor bean in its action so that due care should be taken 
in eating the seeds of this plant. For distribution later. 
METROSIDEROS TOMENTOSA. (Myrtaceae.) 34715. Seeds of 
the pohutukawa from Wellington, New Zealand. Presented by Mr. 
G. J. Clapham, Public Works Department. "This handsome tree, 
sometimes 70 feet in height with spreading branches and bril- 
liant scarlet flowers in large terminal cymes rarely grows far 
from the sea or an inland lake. It finds a foothold in all 
sorts of impossible looking places. Often it clings to the 
side of a cliff, and puts forth long twisted roots that attach 
it to the rocky wall. Specimens may frequently be found hang- 
