Paspalum digitaria, C. Mita. Graminete. From Cape Town, South Africa. Presented by Prof. P. MacOwan, Government Botanist, through Messrs. Lathrop and Fair child. Received May 6, 1903. Seed of a grass which, according to Professor MacOwan, is promising for moist bottom land. It will not endure cold weather, but is suited to subtropical conditions.
Pentzia virgata. Less. Karoobosch. Compositie. From Ward No. 3, Jansenville, South Africa. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild, May 2,1904. A low-grow ing, spreading bushy composite, which layers naturally when the tips of its branches arch over and touch the ground. In the eastern provinces of Cape Colony, where rains occur in summer, but where long, severe droughts are frequent, this Pentzia is one of the most valuable of all the Karro plants for fodder purposes. It is especially good for sheep and goats, which eat it down almost to the ground. Though tested unsuccessfully in Australia, the plant is of such great value that it deserves a thorough trial in America and should be used in experiments on the dry lands in Hawaii and in southern California. It has grown and fruited for several years at Berkeley, California, where it was intro duced previous to 1904.
Phaseolus viridissimus, Tenors. Gram. Leguminosm. From Athens, Greece. Received through Mr. D. G. Fair child May 9, 1901. One of the smallest and most delicate beans in the world. The beans are not much larger than grains of rice and are of a deep green color. They are said to be most delicious when cooked alone or with rice in the national Greek dish called pitqff. Their culture in Greece is restricted and the beans are con sidered a great delicacy. Prof. Th. de Heldreich, of Athens University, called attention to this species, of which he has made a special study. Probably a variety of the gram of India (Phaseolus Mango). Has proved of value for cultivation on barren soils in the South.
Phleam Boehmeri, Wibel. Boehmer's timothy. Gra, minere. From the experiment grounds of the agricultural academy, Moscow, Russia. Received through Mr. M. A. Carleton, March, 1899. A promising grass for dry regions.
Pistacia Vera, Linn. Pistachio or Pistache. Annear discos. The introduction of the pistache into California promises to be a success, inasmuch as trees of this species have already fruited well at Niles, California. The work of introduction has been largely in the hands of Mr.
Swingle, and the best varieties have been secured from Sicily; the hardiest stocks have been collected by Mr. Swingle from Asia Minor and Italy, and still hardier species than these are being sought for by the Office in Northern and Central China and Persia. The advantages of this pis tacks industry, from which the delicious table nut used extensively in the Levant is secured, is that the plants will be likely to grow and bear well in localities where the almond has proved a failure, owing to the late spring frosts. The nut furnishes the flavoring extract known by the same name, and is also a most delicate table nut when roasted and salted.
Pon mulalensis, H. B. & K. Graminem. From Quito, Ecuador. Presented by Mr. Luis Sodiro, S. J., through Mr. David Fairchild. Received May 25, 1904, Mr. Sodiro remarks that this is one of the most remarkable forage grasses of the mountain regions of his country.
Polygala butyracea. Polygala. Polygalacem. From Paris, France. Received May 8, 1900. Presented by A. Godefroy-Lebeuf. This plant produces a vegetable butter. It will grow in summer in the hot sections of California and Florida, and as the plants can be grown as annuals it will probably prove successful.
Polygonum Weyrichii, F. Schmidt. Polygonacem. A species apparently having all the good qualities of Poiyg onum Sachalinense, but with leaves more tender and branches not so woody as in the latter species, which forms the latter's chief objection. This species was dis covered by the Russian physician Dr. Weyrich. It came originally from Sachalin island, and was introduced by Mr. M. A. Carleton. It has been grown at the Imperial Botanic Gardens of St. Petersburg.
Portulacaria afro, Jacq. Purtulacem. From Durban, Natal. Received through Messrs. Lathrop and Fairchild, November 9, 1904. A native South African shrub, or small tree, with succulent shoots which are said to be keenly relished by live-stock. The plant is reported to grow on dry, waste places without requiring attention. The cuttings take root easily, and the plant may even be propagated from the leaves. This species will probably thrive only in a Crestless region. It grows on hot, rocky slopes, preferably of a doleritic nature, and is now being grown for trial on the dry islands of the Hawaiian group. Trials in Arizona showed it susceptible to the low temper atures there.