682 
deniya, Ceylon. Presented by Mr. H. F. Macmillan, super- 
intendent. "A small semi-herbaceous tree with a crown of 
large coarse palmate leaves, native of Colombia and Ecua- 
dor, similar to the papaya, but with fruit only about one 
fourth the size of the latter. It has been introduced at 
Hakgala Gardens, Ceylon, in 1880, and is now commonly 
grown in hill- gardens for the sake of its fruit, being 
often found in a semi -naturalized state about up-country 
bungalows. The ovoid angular fruit is in season all the 
year around; though too acid to be used for dessert, it is 
-very agreeable when stewed, and it can also be made into 
jam and preserves. When ripe the fruit has a pleasant 
apple-like odor." (Macmillan, Handbook of Tropical Gar- 
dening and Planting. ) 
Castanea sp . (Fagaceae.) 35891. Chestnuts from San 
Tun Ying, China. "A. good quality of seeds of a Chinese 
chestnut coming from the best chestnut district of north 
China. This north China chestnut has no value as a lumber 
tree, being of a low branching, open-headed growth, while 
the trees do not grow tall, specimens over 40 feet in 
height being rare. It seems however much more resistant 
to the bark fungus disease than the American chestnut and 
it might be utilized in certain hybridization experiments 
trying to combine the good qualities of both the American 
and the Chinese parents in one tree. This chestnut loves 
a well drained, decomposed granite soil, preferably at the 
foot of hills or of mountains; it also seems quite averse 
to strong winds and therefore thrives best in well shel- 
tered valleys. In its native localities it is but little 
cultivated, the peasants being content to plant a few 
trees here and there along the bases of the hills and on 
sloping fields and the trees in general look much thrif- 
tier v/hen close to rocVs and boulders than on fairly level 
fields. From the nature of the trees and the climate 
where it grows one might conclude that sheltered valleys 
in the foothill section of the Rocky Mountain region will 
suit this chestnut better than any other section of the 
United States, and some serious attempts should be made to 
establish it in these regions as. a hardy nut-bearing tree. 
The Chinese roast these nuts in winter time in large open 
pans in a mixture of sand with some coarse sugar' or mo- 
•lasses in if. This treatment gives the chestnuts a glossy-—- 
appetizing appearance." (Meyer's introduction.) For dis- 
tribution later. It was at San Tun Ying that Mr. Meyer 
made his very important discovery of the chestnut bark- 
disease in China, a discovery which may result in an expe- 
dition to the chestnut region for the proper study of the 
