Page:Report of the Puerto Rico Experiment Station (IA CAT31294391015).pdf/15



E. P. Hume, N. Almeyda, and others

Most of the 469 packets of seed distributed were ornamentals, representing 361 species, and were sent to 45 countries and 8 states. The local distribution of plants totaled 14,313. A total of 114 square feet of Manila grass, Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr., was distributed in small lots. A collection of 8 varieties of yams, Dioscorea spp., and yautias, Xanthosoma spp., was sent to Centro Nacional de Agronomia de El Salvador. The distribution of sweet corn var. USDA-34 amounted to 59 pounds. Ten pounds of seed pieces of Chinese ginger were also distributed. A total of 166 pounds of tropical kudzu seed was distributed to 28 different countries. Eighteen Latin- American counties requested seed of this tropical legume, Cuba being the highest with 11 requests. Thirty-eight requests were received from native farmers.

E. P. Hume, N. Almeyda, and others

Two hundred and ninety introductions were received from thirty countries. These consisted of: Ornamentals, vegetables, fruits, cover crops, tobacco, and bamboo. One of the most interesting of the new introductions is the cocona, Solanum hyporhodium, recently publicized by the Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Turrialba, Costa Rica, as a fruit for preserving, pies, and sauces.

A number of species of legumes were introduced from Australia for testing and for use in the plant breeding program at the station. The Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering sent two bamboo species:Semiarundinaria fastuosa, P. I. 112080, and Schizostachyum funghomii. Five papaya species were also received. Fifteen strawberry varieties were received from Maryland and 10 sorghum varieties from Arizona.

The Lansium domesticum Jack., a small tree, is prized by the people of the Far East for its fruit. A heavy crop was produced in November and sampled by members of the station staff. This translucent, mildly flavored fruit met with reactions varying from worthless to delicious. Apparently it would require considerable cultivation of the taste before the fruit would become generally accepted.

During the past 2 years a general survey of the woody plants in the station collection has been in progress. Whenever time was available the plants have been examined and located on a field map. This map is divided into quadrants 500 feet square. Permanent concrete markers have been placed at the quadrant boundaries, to facilitate locating the plants. A card index has also been prepared listing all known species and the quadrants in which they are growing.

E. P. Hume

An experiment was carried out to determine the possibility of inducing growth of dormant axillary buds of mango, Mangifera indica L., by treating them with concentrations of nicotinamide in concentrations varying from 50 to 50,000 p. p. m. The petioles treated with water, 50, and 500 p. p. m. of nicotinamide abscissed in 7 to 10 days, the normal time when the leaf blades are cut off. No injury was observed from any of these treatments.