Diplachne fuses, Beauv. Swamp Grass. Graminem. From Coolabah, New South Wales. Presented by Mr. R. W. Peacock, August 3, 1900. This annual grass grows plentifully in damp and swampy places and is worth culti vating on low-lying waste lands. It makes desirable hay and ensilage. The plant produces an abundance of seeds which ripen late in the winter.
Eueommia ulmoides, Oliver. Trochodendracem. From London, England. Purchased from Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, Ltd., November 25, 1904. At one time much spoken of as a possible new source of rubber. Its leaves contain a substance similar to India rubber, but as yet no large quantity has been experimented with. For experi mental plantings in the South. China.
Eutrema hederoefolia, Franch & Say. Dry-land wasabi. Cruciferm. From Yokohama, Japan. Presented by Mr. H. Suzuki, of the Yokohama Nursery Company, through Mr. David Fairchild. Received April 18, 1904. This dry land wasabi, or Japanese horse-radish, is said to grow well in shade, but, being native of the central part of Japan, might not resist our climate. It seems much easier of cultivation than the ordinary wasabi (Eutrema Wasabi„), though it will take some years before it grows to the size of ordinary wasabi roots ; but, as the leaves have a very good flavor, it is said to be eaten by the natives as one of the best kinds of spice. Wild ; not in culti vation yet.
Eutrema IVasabi, Maxim. Japanese horse radish. Cruciform. (Fig.
102.) From Yokohama, Japan. Presented by Messrs. Lathrop and Fair child. Received December 7,1903. The wasabi takes the same place in Japan that the horseradish does in America, furnishing, when served at the table, a delicate, light green condiment, with a sharp, agreeable, pungent flavor, in some respects superior to horse-radish. The plant is cultivated in mountain valleys, in springy land where there is an abun dant supply of moisture.
Half shade is given. The method of cultivation is described in Bulletin No.
42, Bureau of Plant In dustry, Department of Agriculture.
Festuca pabularis, Sodiro. Graminem. From Quito, Ecuador. Presented by Mr. Luis Sodiro, S. J., a botanist and student of Ecuador agriculture, through Mr. David Fairchild. Received May 25, 1904. Mr. Sodiro remarks that this is one of the most remarkable forage grasses of the mountain region of Ecuador. It is likely to prove of
value in certain parts of this country.
Careinia Celebica, Linn. Guttiferm. From Buitenzorg, Java, Dutch East Indies. Received from Dr. Treub, Sep tember 28, 1904. Designed for use as a stock on which to graft the mangosteen, or for breeding purposes.
Carcinia Cochinchinensis, Choisy. Guttiferm. From Durban,Natal. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fair child, November 9. 1904. This tree is a more vigorous one, and easier to adapt to cultivation than G. Mangostana, the true mangosteen. It is also a heavier bearer, and it is valuable in connection with experiments on the cultivation of the mangosteen in Porto Rico and Hawaii. The fruit is of a golden yellow color, one-seeded, with characteristic agreeable acid-favored pulp.
Per Paraguensis, A. St. Hil. Paraguay tea. Mate. Ilicinete. From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, March, 1899. The leaves of this shrub or small tree are extensively used in South American countries as a substitute for tea. This is a small tree reaching the height of 15 or 20 feet, which grows all through southern South America. The leaves are prepared by drying and roasting ; but instead of being handled separately, as in preparing Chinese tea, large branches are dried by a wood fire and then placed on the hard floor and beaten with sticks until the dry leaves fall off. These leaves are then used in much the same way as ordinary tea. It is used as a beverage by millions of people in South America and is used as medicine to a small extent. The tree is not culti vated in South America, but there are said to be numerous and extensive forests where it is the predominating species.
Lotus uliginosus, Schkuhr. Bird's-foot trefoil. Legu minosse. From France. Received through Mr. W. T. Swingle, December, 1898. Perennial; a very good plant for meadows and damp woods, demanding more humidity than L. eornieulatus ; taller and gives more fodder ; suc ceeds well in the shade, in peat bogs, heaths and acid marshes, not calcareous ; has been suggested for the for mation of artificial prairies and is very suitable for mix tures for meadows and natural pastures. This lotus is a little more prolific in its seeds than L. cornieulatus. It may be sown from March to May and even in autumn.