1529 
Citrvllus vulgaris (Cucurbitaceae ) , 48761. Watermelon. 
From Johannesburg, Transvaal. Seeds secured by Dr. 
H. L. Shantz, agricultural explorer, from G. W. Lau- 
rence, of Prieska, .who collected them at Gibeon, Pro- 
tectorate of Southwest Africa,. "M'Tsama melon which 
grows wild on the great Kalahari desert and constitutes 
-the chief water supply to travelers and dwellers of 
the desert. This seed may contain both the bitter 
and the sweet variety. Iam unable to determine whether 
it is annual or perennial. It is by far the most im- 
portant plant of the Kalahari, if we except the forage 
grasses. It is valued here as a stock feed and as a 
food for the natives. It is cooked and water extract- 
ed. Buried in the soil it forms a reservoir of water 
and a storehouse of food for both man and beast. I 
see no reason why it should not thrive in a wild state 
in our warmer deserts, and it may survive on drylands 
throughout the great plains ,and intermountain region. 
• "I have not seen.it growing and have not seen the 
fruit except in pictures, but it is worth giving a 
thorough trial in the United States." (Shantz.) 
, Combret urn salici folium ( Combretaceae ) , 48809 . From 
Pretoria , Transvaal. Seeds collected by Dr.H. L. 
Shantz', agricultural explorer . "A valuable tree for 
desert river banks, such as those of the .Southwest and 
the southern Great Plains; yields quantities of gum. 
It is a beautiful tree which grows along all water 
courses in this semidesert country, especially along 
the Vaal and Orange rivers. Excellent color and good 
shade . " ( Shantz . ) 
Cueumis sp. (Cucurbitaceae), 48834. From Natal,. 
South Africa,. Presented by Mr. W. W. Masterson, A- 
merican consul, Durban. "Seed and dried rind of a cu- 
cumber that. is of a very different variety from the 
ordinary kinds that are raised in gardens the world 
over. The fruits present the appearance of the ordi- 
nary cucumber in regard to size and shape except that 
they are possibly, a little rounder and shorter; but 
the thing that particularly attracts the attention is 
the long prickles over the outside like those on the 
seed pod of a Jimson weed. The vegetable is so tender 
and so easily digested , that I have with some difficulty 
procured this ripened specimen for introduction into 
the United States. The taste is like that of the cu- 
cumber, but the flesh cuts so easily, and is so juicy 
and well-flavored that I feel that the cultivation of 
this variety is well worth while." (Masterson.) 
