The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-08-03
A TooTHsoME MoRsEL


AWo yOoAo oBo = WOAb iOTI1 One
fine January morning to search the
surrounding country for some
plants ! needed for the plantations
in town. In due time found wba,
! wanted, but instead of being con.
tented with my easy success / wen,
farther on and soon came into trou.
ble-that is. lost my way, and din
ner hour came before / knew
where / was at" did not peed
to starve, however, and il was then
Snd there that the resources of this
seemingly so desolate country Ia.
came apparent to me, and, though
no hospitable shanty was visible
the woods laid the table, and a
dainty one IN the bargain, for 7
could feast on persimmons, drink
my own and the rest.Of mankipd'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 dis.
covered soon after that | had no,
been far from Pinehurst at all, only
had circled around the town instead
of cutting through. Since that dsv
l have preserved deep gratitude
toward our native fruits, and l al.
ways try to cultivate the taste Of
our guests from the north so that
they may share my liking.
For those who like to know Lit
tie more of the whereabouts of the
persimmons i write the following
notes: The persimmon (Diospyros
virginiana) grows nearly every.
where in North Carolina and is
found as far north as New York
state and Rhode Island, but CON-
monty it is not hardy beyond Phila.
delphia. 1t will be easily recogniz.
ed in our woods by its perfectly
symmetrical growth and its gray
ish, somewhat rough bark, and, last
but not least, by its fruits Though
, usually not higher than Is to 20 feet
with us, there are specimens in this
vicinity over 40 feet tall and Of a
trunk diameter Of about 15 inches
(MoKenzie's 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 by bees They
are followed 10y the quickly develop
ing fruit, which attains its full size
and color by August. But woe to
the investigating stranger who
might be tempted to try these in.
viting looking plumlike fruits. Holy
: horror will soon depict itself upon
his face, and his mouth will at once
take all kinds of forms from whis-
Ting tOa broad grin. He will swear
Oft the use of persimmons for all
: time to come, and-will like them
the more later on. For, mind ye, at
that time the fruits are puckering
and astringent above all things and
3 want to be left quite alone.
: Everything, however, cometh un-
TO him who waits, and the first early
frost will accomplish quite mar
velous metamorphosis. Instead OF
a looking smooth and plump any
more, they will then be somewhat
! withered, and, best of all, the des-
: picable astrlngent taste will have
made way to a delicious sweetness
resembling somewhat that Of dates
Now tho 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
s accordingly he shakes the tree and
7 does not mind TO pick Up the juicy
fruit from the ground The ripe
. fruits are sometimes used IN the
making of a beer 'simn on beer
0 which Is said to be mot bad, While
the fermented fruit furnishes
; brandy that improves with age
t The wood is found very useful for
D shoe lasts, mallets and violIns and
is regarded as an equal to ash OF
beech and nearly coming up TO
t hickory. A decoctiOn OF the astrln-
5 gent inner bark is supposed to Dc
salubrious against intermittent ,fe'
vers.
' There halls from Japan another
species of persimmOn, the Diospy.
ros kaki, WHICH offers some special
! advantages. 1t bears much larger
: and. if possible, sweeter fruits tnan
our native representative. and the
fruits are as delicious before as tney
a are after frosts- This japanese per,
e simmOn is fairly hardy with US ana
under propagation now in our nurS-
|. | eriea -Pinahnrsf Outlook