1781 
Aeanthosieyos horrida (Cucurbitaceae) , 55486. Prom 
Pretoria, Transvaal. Seeds presented by Dr.I.B. Pole- 
Evans , through Dr. H.L. Shantz , physiologist in charge 
of Plant Physiological and Fermentation Investigations . 
" ' Narras . ' A remarkable cucurbitaceous plant which 
grows on the dunes of the Namib where subterranean 
waters exist. The plant subsists even when this water 
is at great depths. It forms thorny thickets on the 
sand hills of Southwest Africa, and is adapted to a 
hot, dry climate, with little or no rainfall. The fruit 
is about the size of an ostrich egg. Both the pulp and 
seeds are used as food by the natives. The fruits are 
produced in abundance and for about four months of the 
year the more primitive Hottentots are said to survive 
with practically no other source of food or water. The 
fruits are eaten and water is secured from them. The 
seeds when ripe are plump, about the size of a water- 
melon seed. 
"The plant is one which should be of great value 
to our Indians of the Southwest if once established 
on the sand dunes of Arizona and southern California. 
It is doubtful if any plant can be secured which seems 
offhand to give greater promise in that region than 
does this cucurbit." (Shantz.) 
Amygdalus persiea (Amygdalaceae) , 55487. Peach. From 
Santa Ines, Chile. Plants presented by Sr. don Salvador 
Izqulerdo, Santiago, Chile. "'Pomona Improved.' Sr. 
Izquierdo writes that this Is an improved form of the 
variety Pomona, grown at his nursery at Santa Ines. 
Preserved fruits which he has sent us to show the 
character of the variety, Indicate that it is a fruit 
of unusually large size, deep yellow, clingstone, and 
of excellent quality for canning. It should be tried 
in California, where it may prove to have real value. 
Its season of ripening is not known." (Wilson Popenoe.) 
Amygdalus persiea (Amygdalaceae) , 55549. Peach. "Good- 
man's Choice." From Eastwood, New South Wales. Plants 
purchased from C.E.Vessey, Mount Tomah Nursery , through 
H. R. Wright, Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand. The 
following notes concerning the merits of this peach 
have been received from nurserymen in Australia: 
From Herbert J. Rumsey, Dundas, New South Wales, 
June 13, 1922: "We have sent out a number of letters 
to friends who are in a position to know the behavior 
