BULLETIN OP FOREIGN PLANT INTRODUCTIONS. 
NO. 21. 
Sept. 2 to Oct. 1, 1909. 
NEW PLANT IMMIGRANTS. 
BERBERIS SANGUINEA. 25942. Prom Nan cy , Prance. Purchased 
from Mesers. V. Lemoine & Sons. Received September 14. 
"This is a little known species from North China and ap- 
pears to he closely allied to. B. nepalensis. The blooms 
are said to he deeper orange and than any other species. 
These plants are imported for hybridizing purposes. 
(W. Van Pleet. ) 
CALAMUS SP. 25858. " Prom Batanes Island. 25859. Prom 
Palawan Island. Presented by Mr. Wm. S. Lyon, Manila, 
P. I. Received August 16. "All the good rattans I know 
are strictly equatorial and not to be thought of in any 
of our occidental possessions other than the Canal Zone. 
As I remember it the rainfall on the Istnmus is probably 
about 2400-2500 mm. (94-98 inches), if it is less than 
2000 mm. (about 79 in. ) , I think rattans would not do 
much, altho at Perak the precipitation is less and they 
raise some good long-jointed canes. Por environment they 
want jungle and plenty of it. My remembrance of the Zone 
is that the hills were unbroken jungle. Calamus must 
have a thick mass of medium sjzed vegetation to scramble 
over. There is a single feature of calamus culture which 
differentiates it positively from every other sylvan pro- 
duct with which I am familiar. All are fit to survive 
under conditions where all other species would succumb. 
No amount of crowding or shading seems to choke off a 
young rattan. I believe it can be grown more nearly as 
a purely spontaneous crop than any other economic product 
known, not excepting common timber trees. There are two 
very serious drawbacks to a very general adoption of rat- 
tan planting for profit. One their shy fruiting habits 
and consequent scarcity of seed; the other, slow develop- 
ment. I can give you no idea of the time required to 
