TRUNK OF POTANIN'S PEACH (AMYGDALUS PERSICA POTANINI, S. P. I. No. 40007). A wild peach of the type of A. davidiana, but seldom growing so large; maximum 30 feet. Occurs at altitudes of 4,000 to 7,000 feet in side valleys, especially in well-sheltered warm mountain pockets. Its fruits are not edible, but as a stock for stone fruits it may prove more drought resistant even than davidiana. Its behavior on a hillside location is shown in the illustration. Photographed by Frank N. Meyer, October 29, 1914 (P12108FS).

A HARDY WILD PEAR TREE IN KANSU, CHINA (PYRUS SP., S. P. I. No. 40019). This remarkable wild pear, according to Rehder, stands close to if it is not identical with Pyrus ussuriensis, which has aroused so much interest because of its resistance to pear blight. It occurs in the mountains at altitudes of 8,000 feet in company with the Siberian crab, Populus tremula, and Picea obovata, all northern plants. Though the fruits from the wild tree are hard, acrid, and inedible, the species appears to have given rise to cultivated forms of this pear, which, unlike the true Chinese pear (Pyrus sinensis), are melting in character and not hard and gritty. As a stock or for breeding purposes such a vigorous wild pear can hardly fail to be of value. Photographed by Frank N. Meyer near Tchenyatau, Kansu, December 1, 1914 (P12129FS).

39983 to 39998-Continued.

"The typical form of L. principis rupprechtii as represented by the specimens from Wutaishan (collected by Purdom and Meyer) looks quite distinct from typical L. dahurica, but the specimens from Weichang, together with others from Manchuria, Amurland, and Korea, form a series which gradually merge into typical L. dahurica. With L. sibirica Ledebour, with which it has been compared, it agrees only in the size of its cones, but differs in their perfectly glabrous, more spreading, and thinner scales not incurved on the margin, truncate, or (particularly in the Weichang specimens) even emarginate at the apex, and in the more conspicuous bracts which are often, particularly in the lower part of the cone, more than half as long as the scales; in all these characters L. principis rupprechtii agrees with L. dahurica, and it seems therefore best to consider it a variety of this species, distinguished by the more numerous scales. Purdom and also Meyer speak of this larch as forming forests on the northern slopes of Wutaishan and in its neighborhood where, according to Meyer, the snow does not melt until well into May. In the Weichang region Purdom remarks that the tree is now becoming very scarce." (Rehder and Wilson, Plantae Wilsonianae, vol. 2, p. 21, 1914.)

39996. PICEA KOYAMAI Shirasawa. Pinaceæ.

Wilson No. 7528.

Spruce.

The young trees Young twigs red

A small, cone-shaped Japanese spruce, up to 10 m. (324 feet) high; the trunk reaches a diameter of 25 cm. (10 inches). present an appearance similar to those of P. excelsa. dish brown, smooth; buds cone shaped, short; scales brown, covered with resin; needles short, thick, obtuse, four sided, standing thickly and obliquely on the twigs; straight or often somewhat bowed, 7 to 13 mm. (one-fourth to one-half inch) long, seeming blue-white from a distance. Cones elliptic oval, obtuse, brownish yellow-green, 3.5 to 6 cm. (1.4 to 2.4 inches) long, 2.5 cm. (1 inch) broad. (Adapted from H. Shirasawa, Mitteilungen der Deutschen Dendrologischen Gesellschaft, p. 254, 1914.) 39997. TAXUS CUSPIDATA Sieb. and Zucc. Taxaceæ.

Wilson No. 7778.

For previous introduction and description, see S. P. I. No. 39861. 39998.

VIBURNUM FURCATUM Blume. Caprifoliaceæ.

Wilson No. 7624.

Yew.

"A native of Japan and China. This also has the showy sterile marginal flowers, but its stems are more uniformly erect. It differs also in the shorter stamens, which are only half the length of the corolla, and in the shape of the furrow in the seed. It succeeds in gardens no better than V. alnifolium, although there was a healthy plant at Abbotsbury, near Weymouth, a few years ago. It is a native of northern Japan at low levels and of the mountainous parts of the south. The foliage turns brilliant scarlet to reddish purple in autumn. It is a bush 12 or more feet high in a wild state." (W. J. Bean, Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles, vol. 2, p. 642.)

Distribution.-The Provinces of Hupeh and Szechwan in China and on Sakhalin Island and in Japan.

39999. QUERCUS sp. Fagaceæ.

Oak.

From Zacuapam, Vera Cruz, Mexico. Presented by Dr. C. A. Purpus.

Received March 5, 1915.

Selected from a lot of Quercus insignis.

40000 to 40039.

From China. Collected by Mr. Frank N. Meyer, Agricultural Explorer for the Department of Agriculture. Received March 2, 1915.

notes by Mr. Meyer, except as otherwise indicated.

40000 to 40006. AMYGDALUS spp. Amygdalaceæ.

40000. AMYGDALUS PERSICA L.

(Prunus persica Stokes.)

Quoted

Peach.

"(No. 2138a. July to November, 1914.) Cultivated and escaped peaches, collected along the roadsides in the Chinese Provinces of Honan, Shansi, Shensi, and Kansu at various altitudes. To be sown to obtain new types, possibly."

40001 to 40006. AMYGDALUS spp.

40001. "(No. 2139a. Sianfu, Shensi, China. August 30, 1914.)
Wild peaches having larger fruits than the ordinary wild
ones, said to come from near Tzewu, to the south of Sianfu,
but some also probably collected from trees in gardens which
were raised from wild seeds. When seen wild this peach
generally assumes a low bush form of spreading habit; when
planted in gardens and attended to, it grows into a small
tree, reaching a height of 12 to 20 feet, with a smooth trunk
of dark mahogany-brown color. The leaves are always much
smaller and more slender than in cultivated varieties, while
their color is much darker green. They seem to be somewhat
less subject to various diseases than the cultivated sorts, and
they are most prolific bearers, although the fruit is of very
little value, on account of its smallness and lack of flavor.
In gardens around Sianfu this wild peach is utilized as a
stock for improved varieties. It is also grown as an orna-
mental; said to be literally covered in spring with multitudes
of shell-pink flowers. See also No. 2123a [S. P. I. No. 39428].”
40002. "(No. 2140a. Tsing Range, Shensi, China. September,
1914.) Wild peaches, occurring in the foothills of the higher
mountains at altitudes of 2,000 to 5,000 feet, generally found
at the edges of loess cliffs and on rocky slopes. There is a
great deal of variation to be observed as regards size and
shape of leaves, density of foliage, and general habits."
40003. "(No. 2141a. Near Paichiatien, near Fenghsien, Shensi,
China. September 17, 1914.) Wild peaches found on a moun-
tain side, at an altitude of 4,000 feet; these small trees and
bushes had borne such a heavy crop that the ground beneath
them was covered with a layer, a few inches thick, of the
small, yellowish, hairy fruits. The local inhabitants didn't
consider them worth collecting even, and they were rotting
and drying up."

40004. "(No. 2142a. Kagoba (south of Hsiku), Kansu, China.
October 3, 1914.) Wild peaches occurring as tall shrubs in
loess cliffs at the Tibetan frontier at altitudes of 6,000 to 8,000

40000 to 40039-Continued. (Quoted notes by Mr. F. N. Meyer.) feet. Save for some children who eat these wild peaches, they are otherwise considered worthless wild fruit. Local name Yeh t'ao, meaning 'wild peach,' and Mao t'oa, meaning 'hairy peach.'"

40005. "(No. 2143a. Near Kwatsa (on the Hsiku River), Kansu, China. November 10, 1914.) Wild peaches found on stony mountain slopes in a wild, very sparsely populated country. No fruit trees whatsoever are cultivated by the local settlers in the mountains, and the way some of these peach bushes grow excluded them from ever having been brought there by any man or even any quadruped; only birds might have transported them.”

40006. "(No. 2144a.

Tchutsaitze (near Hsiku), Kansu, China. November 2, 1914.) Wild-growing peach of tall, bushy growth, having the looks and habits of a type midway between the wild peach and Potanin's peach. Collected at an altitude of 4,500 feet, at the foot of a dry mountain."

40007 to 40009. AMYGDALUS PERSICA POTANINI (Batal.) Ricker. Amyg(Prunus persica potanini Batal.)

[dalaceæ.

40007. "(No. 2145a. Tchutsaitze (near Hsiku), Kansu, China, October 29, 1914.) Potanin's peach, collected at an altitude of 4,300 feet. Scions sent under No. 1223 [S. P. I. No. 39899], which see for further remarks."

For an illustration of the trunk of this peach tree as found growing in China, see Plate VII.

40008. "(No. 2146a. Near Tchutsaitze (near Hsiku), Kansu, China, November 3, 1914.) A variety of Potanin's peach having very much larger stones than the ordinary variety. Collected at an altitude of 6,000 feet. Of value especially as a stock for stone fruits; also recommended as an ornamental spring-flowering tree, especially for the drier parts of the United States."

40009. "(No. 2147a. Near Paoji (near Hsiku), Kansu, China. November 9, 1914.) Potanin's peach, collected from mountain sides, where it is much cut for its fine straight shoots, which serve for pipestems and for whip butts. Altitude, 7,000 feet."

40010 and 40011. AMYGDALUS TANGUTICA (Bat.) Korsh. Amygdalaceæ.

40010.

(Prunus tangutica Koehne.)

"(No. 2148a. Lantsai (near Hsiku), Kansu, China. October 29, 1914.) The Tangutian almond, collected at an altitude of 4,200 feet. Scions sent under No. 1222 [S. P. I. No. 39898], which see for further notes."

40011. "(No. 2149a. Near Kiucheng (New Taochow), Kansu, China, November 27, 1914.) The Tangutian almond, collected along the banks of the Tao River, at an altitude of 9,450 feet. It was here that the Russian traveler G. N. Potanin obtained some of his material in 1885. For further remarks, see No. 1222 [S. P. I. No. 39898]." 40012 and 40013.

PRUNUS ARMENIACA L. Amygdalaceæ. Apricot. 40012. "(No. 2150a. Near Lantsai (near Hsiku), Kansu, China. November 3, 1914.) Wild apricots, occurring very commonly in