River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-11-16
THE oiNKGO.
A Living Specimen of the Vegetation of
the Mesozoic Period.

A Living Specimen of the Vegetation of
the Mesozoic PERIOD.
There are few fine specimens of the
ginkgo as a fruit-bearing tree from
Japan in the country. and the cultiva-
ton of it for its fruit is one of the pos
sibilities of American horticulture.
The tree has long been used here for
ornamental purposes, and it makes a
magnificent appearance in the garden.
Before 1877 there was only one ginkgo
in this country that had produced
fruit, and that one had been growing
for twenty years on the grounds of the
Kentucky military institute at Farm
dale. Fruit bearing specimens are now
met with quite frequently, and one of
the finest is growing in the grounds of
Ellwanger & Barry, tree that was
planted in 1860, and has now a circum-
ference of six feet and height of over
fifty feet. Ii has an average from one
to two pecl1s of fruit for the last FIVE
years.
From all accounts, the ginkgos were
at one time tribe of trees that flour
ished quite extensively in North Amer
lea, and our present type is about the
only relic that remains TO us of the
queer vegetation of Mesozoic period.
Its gradual disappearance from the
face of the earth has been due to I'M
known cause, for. now that it Is Guilt
waited here, il fiourishes again and null
tiplies quite rapidly. Had Il not been
for the one survivor in eastern Asia.
the type would have entirely disap-
peafed, and knowledge of the tree
would have been confined to the fossil
remains occasionally dug up in rocks
and limestone beds. We would have
known nothing of the flavor or general
appearance of the fruits. but now
we see them displayed oc-
caslonallv as specimens of q
rare plant. They resemble greenish-
yellow pIums very much, and the meat
has an agreeable nutty flavor. The
stones are small, hard and smooth. The
trees are not prolific bearers, but what
may be accomplished through cultiva-
tion remains to be seen.
Cultivation of the trees is not difficult
when the right situation is given. A
rich, sandy soil is best adapted to the
nature of theairee and above all an
open sunny space. II crowded in be-
tween either trees or shrubbery, the
ginlfgo refuses to develop evenly and
smoothly To make its ornamental ap-
pearance more striking il should stand
alone, for il is capa BILE of identifying
a larg, space without the help of other
plant -pecimens. 1t is heavy feeder,
and improves greatly with a
rich well-worked soil. A light
mulch arounu the roots in very
hot weather prevents the roots
from being dried and burned. The
trees are slow-growers naturally, but
Under careful training they appear to
accelerate their growth remarkably.
In France they are found growing in
perfection. and many of them are mod
els of beauty, surprising in some in
stances those of Japan.
The possibility of making a profit
from the trees is still very remote. The
fruit is little known in the markets, al
though it is gradually being intro
duced. and a demand may eventually
be created for it. But high prices must
be obtained if at all profitable, for one
tree yields only small crop, and that
only after nearly a quarter of a cen
fury of growth. At present the trees
are for ornament and for curiosity, and
the fruits will only add to their pres
ent value.