The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-04
LIKED BY NEGROES ANDPossuM'
The Persimmon After 1t Has Beer
Wrinkled BY Frost.

The Persimmon After 1t Has Been
Wrinkled BY Frost.
| Just two years ago went forth one
| fine January morning to search the
surrounding country for some plants
/ needed for the plantations in town
| In due time found what l wanted,
but instead of being contented with
my easy success went further on and
| soon came into trouble-that is, l lost
my way-and dinner hour came before
| / knew where was att l did not
need to starve, however, and it was
then and there that the resources Of
this seemingly so desolate country be-
came apparent to me, and though no
hospitable shanty was visible, the
woods laid the table, and a dainty
| one in the bargain, for | could feast
on persimmons, drink my own and the
rest of mankind's health in clear ice
cold spring water, and finish up by
finding my dessert in prickly pears. 1t
may not be quite devoid of interest
| that discovered soon after that l had
not been far from Pinchurst at all,
only had circled around the town
| instead of cutting through. Since that
day have preserved a deep gratitude
toward our native fruits, and l always
try to cultivate the taste of our guests
| from the North so that they may share
my liking.
For those who like to know little
more of the whereabouts of the persim-
mons write the following notes: The
| persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
grows nearly everywhere in North
! Carolina and is found as far north as
: New York state and Rhode Island, but
commonly it is not hardly beyond
| Philadelphia. 1t will be easily re-
cognized in our woods by it's perfectly
| symmetrical growth, and it's grayish,
somewhat rough bark, and, last but
not least, by it's fruits. Though usually
not higher than is to 20 feet with us,
there are specimens in this vicinity
over 40 feet tall and of trunk
diameter of about Is inches. (McKen-
zies farm). The foliage is bright green
and glossy, appears early and changes
to purple before dropping. The rather
insignificant whitish blossoms open in
June, are fragrant and much relished
1 by bees. They are followed by the
quickly developing fruit, which attains
its full size and color by August. But
woe to the investigating stranger who
might be tempted to try these inviting
looking plum-like fruits. Holy horror
| will soon depict itself upon his face,
and his mouth will at once take all
kinds of forms from whistling to a
broad grin. He will swear off the use
of persimmons for all time to come,
and-will like them the more later on.
For, mind We, at that time the fruits
are puckering and astringent above all
things, and want to be left quite alone
Everything, however, cometh unto
him who waits, and the first early
frost will accomplish quite marvellous
metamorphosis. Instead of looking
smooth and plump any more, they will
then be somewhat withered and, best
Of all, the despisable a stringent taste
will have made way to a delicious
sweetness resembling somewhat that
of dates. Now the time has come for
man and 'possum to revel in Simmons.
The gourmet will fare even better yet
by following the old druggists adage,
Shaken before TAKEN" and accord
ingly he shakes the tree and does moi
mind to pick up the juicy fruit from
the ground.t The ripe fruits are some
times used in the making of q beer
simmon beer-which is said to be mot
bad:" while the fermented fruit fur
nishes brandy that improves with
age. The wood is found very ueseful
for shoe lasts, mallets and violins, and
is regarded as an equal to ash or beech
and nearly coming up to hickory. A
decoction Of the astringent inner bark