ZINZIBER SP. (Zinziberaceae. ) 29355. Roots of ginger from Tsinan- 
fu, Shantung, China. Presented "by Mr. J. S. Whitewright, 
Tsinanfu Institute. Imported for investigations of the hardy 
forms of ginger in the hope of introducing the culture in the 
United States considerably farther north than has heretofore 
"been thought possible. For distribution later. 
ZIZANIA LATIFOLIA. (Poaceae.) 29173. Roots of wild-rice from 
Canton, China. Presented by Mr. G. Weidman Groff , Canton 
Christian College. "Woo kau or kau sun.* 1 (See Bulletin No. 30, 
this series, for description.) Introduced for trial of the 
succulent vegetable shoots produced from the perennial root- 
stocks. The grain may also be of some food value. For distri- 
bution later. 
NOTES FROM FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS . 
ALGERIA, Algiers. Dr. L. Trabut writes December 26, 1910 that he 
will send us scions of pears from the Aures Mountains, and 
also of his new Pyrus gharbensis, which grows on tufas in 
northern Algeria. He will also include scions of a new pear 
which comes from an alkaline district near the Great Chott. He 
puts his large collection of wild forms of Asiatic Pyrus at 
our disposal. Of carobs he writes/ "as for the perfect carob, 
it is a variety which the Spaniards consider as male, and use 
it as such. In reality the flowers are complete and the ova- 
ries sometimes become very good carobs. 11 
C0BA, Isles of Pines. Mr. F. R. Ramsdell writes January 1 that 
he is using bamboo plantings along his east boundary to modify 
the ever-blowing northeast wind. "A hedge fence of carissa I 
find a very efficient low windbreak and also gives a good lot 
of fruit. I reproduced from one carissa by layering, 240 well- 
rooted plants which extended our fence quite a little. I hope 
in time to enclose 100 acres in this hedge. It can be made so 
tight that chickens cannot get through and is so high and 
strong that nothing can pass. It is a beautiful fence." 
DOMINICA, Comendador. Mr. M. B. Beall, Inspector of Customs 
writes December 18, 1910 of an interesting Dominican plant, 
the "auyama n . "It is a pumpkin, rather oval in form, mottled 
green skin, from twelve to fourteen inches long by nine inches 
in diameter, yellow flesh, and very delicious when roasted. 
The peculiar feature of the plant is that here it will run 
for, I dare say, a hundred feet. My plants were not prolific 
bearers." He will send us seed if we wish, as well as of the 
native muskmelon, which on trial did not prove to be savory. 
He writes further, "I am in a gardener's paradise here. Today 
for dinner I had green corn, tomatoes, radishes and watermelon. 
