Arracachia eseulenta, D. C. (A. xanthorrhiza Bancr.). Arracacha. Umbelliferaa. From Jamaica. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild from the Hope Botanical Gardens, Kingston. A carrot-like vegetable much used in tropical and subtropical South America, especially in Venezuela, where it is called apio. The roots are propa gated by subdivision, and the culture is much like that given to celery, though no blanching is necessary. Suc cessfully introduced into Porto Rico. In South America generally eaten in soups, but said to be best when fried.
Astragalus falcatus, Lam. Leguminosze. From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, December, 1898. A species native to the Caucasus. It should be tried as a forage plant in the Rocky mountain region.
Astrebla pectinata, F. Muell. Mitchell grass. Gram ineze. From Coolahah, New South Wales. Presented by Mr. R. W. Peacock, August 3, 1900. This is one of the famous Mitchell grasses and is regarded by some as the best of all native grasses, both for its drought-enduring qualities and for its fattening properties.
Blennodia lasiocarpa, F. Muell. Hairy-podded Cress. Cruciferm. Annual, 1 to 1i feet high, covered with pubes cence. Pod hairy. Peculiar to the Darling river, sandy plains near the Murray river, and generally over the arid plains of Australia. Makes its growth during the hottest part of the year. Valuable for forage. Reference : For age Plants of Australia, p. 4. Introduced by J. H. Maiden, Sydney Botanic Garden, March I, 1904.
Cvesalpinia brevifolia, Baill. Algarobillo. Leguminosm. From Santiago, Chile. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild, July, 1899. A desert shrub from the region about Huasco, growing where often no rains fall for an entire year. The shrub produces an abundance of small pods that are remarkably rich in tannin. The industry of their export has been very profitable in Huasco, and it has been proposed to cultivate the shrub in other sections of Chile. At present only wild plants furnish the pods of commerce. This is a shrub eminently suited to Californian desert conditions, and should be tested in Arizona as well. It may be expected to bear fruit in four years. The seeds should be taken from the pods, carefully sown in the open ground, and covered with about three-fourths of an inch of soil. Care should be exercised to give them only a little water. The plants could he potted and transplanted, but the better way would be to try a few in the open ground. This is worthy of serious attention. The amount of tannin borne by the pods is very great, and it is said that they contain a valuable coloring matter as well.
Ceesalpinia coriaria, Willd. Divi-divi. Leguminosto.
From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, March, 1899. A small leguminous tree 20 to 30 feet high, from the West Indies to Brazil. The pods contain a high percentage of tannin and are largely exported to Europe. The tree thrives only on the seashore or in salt marshes. For trial along the Florida coast and in the tropical pos sessions.
Capparis inermis, Forsk. Spineless Caper. Capparidem. From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, March, 1899. Caprier sans opine, an improved variety of the caper. The buds are much easier to gather than those of the ordinary spiny sort. This variety is said to come true from seed.
Caries heterophylla, Poep. and Endl. Jarrilla. Passi floracem. From Celaya, Mexico. Presented by Prof. Felix Fax. Received December 10, 1900. A curious fruit, being drunk as one would swallow a raw egg, and not eaten. The name is Jarrilla, or "little pitcher," because it is shaped like a pitcher and is always full of water. The water contained in it is fresh and slightly acid, resembling lemon juice. When the fruit is taken from the plant it acquires in a few days a bitter taste, something like lemon peel, but without its aroma. The plant is a perennial, half climber, and grows wild on the hills around Celaya.
Centaurea Jacea, Linn. "Jac& des ores." "Chevalon." Meadow Knapweed. Compositte. From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, December, 1898. Perennial ; a plant for aftermath in elevated meadows, suitable to enter into natural and artificial mixtures. Its presence among the herbage is considered an indication of good quality. The stem and leaves contain a yellow coloring matter. Under this name several species and varieties closely related to it and having nearly the same qualities are fre quently confounded in commerce and cultivation.
C7doris virgata, Sw. Rhodes Grass. Graminem. From Cape Town, South Africa. Received through Messrs. La throp and Fairchild, May 6, 1903. A species of pasture grass that, although scattered widely through the tropics of both hemispheres (according to the books), has probably not before been brought into culture. Mr. Cecil Rhodes had the seed of this plant collected several years ago and sown in large patches on his place near Cape Town, called " Groote Schur." The grass has done well there, forming heavy sods of a good herbage. This does not seem to be a drought-resistant form ; at least, it is not able to with stand very severe dry weather. However, a grass which has attracted the attention of so keen a cultivator as Mr. Rhodes and is meeting with favorable comment from many practical men at the Cape deserves a thorough trial in America.