The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-11-12

when the oil sells Were ruptured. but
which might easily occur if the rust
were deposit wholly or partially re-
movable by atmospheric or other
causes.
One of the new fruits, Just now at
tracting considerable interest and
promising well, is the Japan persim-
mon (Diospyros Hdki). Some fit
teen years ago, Captain Thomas
Lloyd, who ran the clipper ship, Snow
Squall, between New Y ork and China,
was telling me of q wonderful fruit
that he had often eaten in the antip.
odes, but had neNer seen it upon
this side of the world He described
it as most deliciousggrowing to the
size of large apple, very sweet and
luscious, and gave It as his opinion
that it would thrive in our southern
states, and when generally known
would become great favorite.
Since my own residence in Florida
l have many times sought to ascer-
tain or identify the fascinating fruit to
which the Captain alluded, but vainly
till reading a description ofthe Kaki,
couple Of years ago, it came to
me like flash that this was it, and
like Archimedes, Iksxclaimed eureka!
eupera! Or courseeI lost no time in
procuring several trees from Calitor-
MIA, through Mr.. Parsons, of FLUSH
ing. They arrived in sorry condition
dry from having been so long out
OF the ground, mutilated and almost
destitute of roots. And that four of
them survived and grew sturdily
bears evidence to the wonderful vigor
OF the tree, and adaptability to our
soil and climate. Truly, this stranger
from over the sea tIskes kindly to the
removal, and flouTtshes here as if it
were native to tie manor born.''
The leaves resembA those of the ap.
! pie, but are. large sS sstSsaa deeper and
more glossy green She tree showed
no signs OF life until midsummer, and
then after enduring4 Teks of scorch.
ing sun and parchilg drought, was
revived by the coplpus showers of the
rainy season. Last spring it bios
somed, and now, though only four
feet high, ana no thicker than mans
finger, brought to perfection three
fruit. They were of a golden yellow
color mantled with delicate bloom
fattened like tomato, weighing nine
or ten ounces each, and measuring
over ten inches around. They con.
tanned no seeds, but the whole inte
rior was perfect mass of sweet. iuicy
pulp, resembling the texture and con-
sistence OF Washington Gage plum.
A slight, and almost imperceptible
astringency could be detected next
the skin. One specimen was left upon
the tree till so soft as hardly to bear
its own weight, and even then ii
showed no signs of loosening Oh
dropping, but had to be cut off with
a knife.
Another specimen was taken when
the deepening orange tint indicated
the near approach OF maturity, and
ripened up within a week, showing
ing that it could be plucked and ship,
ped to a distant market. How far
north the Japan Persimmon NAV
be grown it is as yet impossible to
say. The Chinese claim that it grows
in very cold and frosty sections of
their empire. Mr.. Berckmans, of
Georgia, told me that even as far
south as Augusta, he had, on two oc.
casions, lost young trees through the
inclemencY of the winter. On the
other hand, it is stated that a tree had
borne fruit in the open air in New
York, but if it should prove so tender
that the Atlantic side be. reduced to
the necessity of looking to Florida
for their supply, it behooves Floridi-
ans to bestir themselves and plant the
trees, for the demand will be great.
and myriads Of mouths stand ready
to consume all that can be raised tor
many years to come.
On piece OF wet land, unfavorable
to the orange and most other fruit
trees, planted stocks of our com
mon wild persimmon, which were
grated with the Japan. The gratis
made fine growth and the junction
was perfect. Most trees do best on
their own stocks, and whether these