606 
the 'pili' cannot be surpassed as a table dish. The nuts are 
very hard and thick-walled, and rather difficult to crack. 
The local practice is to crack the nuts, then roast the seeds 
and remove the thin brown coating after roasting, as it is 
rather difficult to remove this coating from the fresh seeds." 
(Merrill.) The pili nut is the triangular double-pointed 
very hard- shelled nut which has been introduced into the mixed 
nuts of the holiday season the last year or two. For distri- 
bution later. 
CAPSICUM ANNUUM. ( Solanaceae . ) 34613. Seeds of red 
pepper from Rome. Presented by Dr. Gustav Eisen, San Fran- 
cisco, Cal. "Ercole giallo or Golden Hercules. Some reach 
the length of 6 inches by 4 inches in diameter, with flesh 
from | to j inch thick. The flesh is sweet, and tender, and 
can be eaten raw like an apple, or stewed, boiled, roasted, 
fried in oil, etc. For three months these giant peppers are 
our best vegetables and in Naples you see whole cartloads sold 
on the streets. The flesh has rarely any trace of heat, and 
is frequently as juicy as an apple. This in my opinion is the 
best, and I have eaten it raw every day for three months with- 
out any ill effect." (Eisen.) For distribution later. 
CASSIA BEAREANA. ( Caesalpiniaceae . ) 34367. Seeds from 
East Africa. Presented by Mr. Pliny W. Keys, Superintendent 
of the Limpopo district, Methodist Episcopal Missions, Inham- 
bane , Portuguese East Africa. "A small tree attaining 20 to 
30 feet, with leaves about 8 to 10 inches long. The seeds are 
blackish brown, oval, about 7/16 of an inch in length." (E. M. 
Holmes.) The roots of this tree are said to furnish an un- 
usually valuable remedy for the blackwater fever so much 
feared in East Africa. For distribution later. 
CASTANEA SP. (Fagaceae.) 34517. Seeds of chestnut from 
Tientsin, China. Procured through Mr. Samuel S. Knabenshue , 
American Consul-General. A large quantity of chestnuts of a 
Chinese species which has shown indications of being resist- 
ant to the chestnut blight. For distribution later. 
CITRULLUS VULGARIS . „ ( Cucurbi taceae . ) 34484. Seeds of a 
watermelon from the Kalahari desert. Presented by Mr. J. 
Burtt-Davy, Government Agrostologist and Botanist, Pretoria, 
Transvaal. "Tsama melon, collected in the heart of the 
Kalahari desert. It is one of the most useful desert plants, 
being the sole source of water supply for cattle trekking 
through the desert in the dry winter months; animals which 
are eating the melons do not seem to require any water. When 
'the water supply of travelers gives out, the moisture is ex- 
