1362 
eaten after prolonged soaking In water. The red, re- 
ticulated wood is used for joiners' and turners' orna- 
mental work. (Adapted from This el ton-Dyer, Flora Capensis, 
vol. 5, p. 504.) 
Cajan indicum (Fabaceae), 46480. Pigeon-pea. From 
Zacuapam, Mexico. Presented by Dr. C. A. Purpus. Frijolito 
garbanzo. "The pigeon-pea, or guandu, supposed to be a na- 
tive of India, is cultivated widely for food in the 
tropics and subtropics. It is perennial In frostless 
regions, but is usually cultivated as»an annual. The 
plant develops into a large, semi-woody bush reaching 
a height of from 5 to 10 feet. Although the skin of 
the pigeon-pea is a little tough the flavor of the peas 
is good. In India this vegetable is commonly called 
dhall or dahl." (Young. ) 
Mr. H. V. Krishnayye, Officiating Director of the 
Mysore Department of Agriculture, states that in pre- 
paring dhall for the market it is soaked for twenty-four 
hours in puddled red earth and then dried. In the re- 
moval of the dried earth the skin, or husk, of the seed 
also comes off. The product is then ready for market. 
This letter contains the following further statement: 
"The pulse as it is sold in the market is dehusked and 
split and is ready for cooking without further treat- 
ment. Dhall enters into the composition of many Indian 
dishes, where it supplies the nitrogenous constituents 
in a vegetarian ration, but these will probably not be 
relished by non-Indian palates. However, I think it 
is safe to say that dhall could be substituted for len- 
tils in all your dishes wl th satisfactory results." 
"Krauss, of Hawaii, reports that an excellent 
forage is secured there from pigeon-peas by lopping 
off the tops and drying them with the peas attached 
and then reducing these tops to meal. He asserts that 
this rivals alfalfa meal In food value." (Fairchild.) 
Ceiba pentandra (Bombacaceae ) , 46522. Kapok. From 
Mexico. Presented by Mr. John R. Silliman, American 
Consul, Guadalajara. "The kapok tree, native in the 
American tropics, is widely distributed In the tropics 
of both hemispheres. It attains a height of from 75 to 
100 feet with wide-spreading horizontal branches , making 
an attractive ornamental or shade tree. It is often, 
planted along the borders of fields for fence posts. 
It begins to bear seed pods with down, when about 
five years old and the yield of pods increases with the 
age of the tree. Well-developed trees under favorable 
