The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-03-24

grass, and gives the same testimony
respecting it as Mr.. Taylor. He
thinks it will prove a valuable ac.
QUESTION to dairy farmers in the west
and southwest, especially as means
OF furnishing supply OF green food
during the periods of drouth which
occur almost every season.
10 those who have written to me
inquiring where roots or seeds can
be obtained, | would say have none
for sale, but l presume that Mr.. Nix
and Mr.. Taylor can furnish the roots,
and Mr.. Post the seeds, if desired
The Japanese Plum. O.Kaki.)
Peter ]. Berckmans in Southern Enterprise.
/! 1.-TWO years ago procured speci-
men trees OF seven sorts. They
reached me in bad condition,-roots
much mutilated, or rather, scarcely
any roots at all, so that had grave
doubts about their surviving. Four
of them grew however-Mikado,
Daimio, Nihon, and Kanosan. One
did not put forth till the following
July, after standing dormant for
months during hot and dry weather.
The latter blossomed the following
spring and early in October ripened
three specimens. They were fatteued
in shape like tomato, of bright
yellow color, measured ten inches
around, and weighed eight to nine
ounces each. One was left upon the
tree until fully ripe, and so soft as
hardly to bear It's own weight. Even
then it chung SO tenaciously to the
stem as to require cutting off with
knife. Another was picked just as
the deepening hue indicated approach
ing maturity, and ripened in the
house in about week, showing that
1t could be gathered at that stage
and sent to distant market. The
other was sent to Jacksonville for
exhibition The fruits were beauti-
full in appearance, like balls of wax,
and mantled with a delicate bloom.
Flavor sweet and pleasant, with
slight astringency next to the skin,
moderately juicy, texture resembling
a Washington Gage plum, and no
seed. The variety was labeled
Daimio, but answers better to the
description of Mikado. The tee
was about four feet high, with stem
the thickness Of mans middle
finger.
Il heard OF several specimens
ripened up the river. My soil is low,
moist, heavy, pine land, drained by
tile and open bitches. The trees
seem very hardy and grow as vigor-
ously as if they were natives instead
Of foreigners"
The following are considered the
best varieties, according to the
description OF japanese fruit growers
Among-Round, somewhat fiat
tened, average diameter, three in
ches.
Hyakume or Pound-Very large
globula, average diameter, five in
ches; said to be of the best quality.
Gosho-Flat, medium, reddish
| color, IIlcn anu uellCdIo III HaNol'
Hachiya-Oblong, shaped like a
minnie ball Two aud half by five
inches This is principally used for
drying. 1t is doubtless the same as
the variety called Imperia by some
growers.
Round, large; aver
age diameter, four inches.
Zingi- Globular; average dame
ter, two and a.half inches. Said to
be very delicately favored.
Seedless or acknowledgements
ed as being the largest and best, and
often without seed; round, with a
slight apex; dark red, with black
spots.
AS regards the hardness of the
trees OF this climate, an experience
OF five years, during which they have
withstood the highest and lowest
degrees OF temperature, demonstrates
that they are perfectly adapted to
the cotton belt, and perhaps farther
north. From all the reports obtain
able, it may be expected that the
predictions Of those who first de.
Scribed this fruit and said it would
become great tavorite if once intro
duced here, will be verified.
The TeOSinte Plant.
/