The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-08
NOTES FROM A CAROLINA GARDEN.

Our American persimmon is one of the
neglected fruits that should receive more
attention than it does. There is notion
that frost is needed to ripen the fruit.
This has arisen from the fact that many
varieties are late in ripening. But l
have one tree now loaded with fruit
which was perfectly ripe and sweet the
first week in September, with frost
months away. Another tree, standing
close by, is full of perfectly green fruit.
1t is time that the natural varieties of
this fruit should be investigated, for
there is very great variation IN size,
quality and season. Those now ripe are
as sweet and free from any roughness
as those that ripen after the frost comes,
and these tend to make the persimmon
season longer. The japanese persmmons,
of which 1 planted 500 some years ago,
are well suited to our climate here, and
the fruits are immense Our trees are
of the Hyakume variety, and the fruit
is as large as a large apple. But in
quality the smaller native persimmon is
better.
Passing bed yesterday of the old
Begonia Evansiana, loaded with mass
of its rosy flowers, reminds me to say
that it is rather surprising that this
hardy begonia has been so much neglected.
The tubers are perfectly hardy anywhere,
for l have had them where the mercury
fell a good many degrees below zero with
out any hurt to the tubers. Years ago
grew them in beds with tulips The
begonias appeared just as the tulips were
failing, and when the leaves of the tulips
were cut away the begonias soon ntdue
mass of foliage, and in the fall a mass
of bloom.
The dry weather IS hindering the germ
ination Of the first sown lettuce, and IT
Is now time for the second sowing to
produce plants for the frames TO head IN
January and February and we are wait
ing anxlously for rain. The Florida storm
was due here yesterday, according to the
weather reports, but it seems to have
played out, and the sun still beats down
on the parched ground. We have been
studying the new cannas. In Washington
few days ago, we saw bed in one of
the public squares planted with that
splendid Gamma, Mrs. Gray, and made a
rote to plant bed of it here, and border
1t with the white Gamma, don't Blanc,
which We saw at Briar Crest, the beauti-
full place of VIM. Henry Maule, near
Philadelphia. Mrs. Gray makes a tall
growth and great heads of scarlet suf-
fused with gold, and the dwarfer white
one will make a splendid edge for it.
The hardy oranges set a wonderful
crop of fruit this season, and are now
loaded with the golden fruit. 1t is a
pity that the oranges are not edible. At
the Department of Agriculture in Wash
lngton they are experimenting with
crosses of this orange on sweet cues II
the hope OF getting an edible variety
that will be hardy outside the orange
belt grower In Louisiana claims to
have produced variety that has good
fruit and will stand zero weather How
he has proved this 1 cannot say, for they
certinly do not have zero weather in
Louisiana.
We have been greatly interested in the
effect of nearby plants on Inc quality Of
the vegetables produced by others. Last
year we lad two rows iappers, one the
Tobasco, and the other the Ruby King,
side by side. The Ruby King is usually
a very mild pepper, but last year it was
entirely too hot to be used for stuf-
ing. This year l planted them away
from thee Tobasco, and they are as
mild as usual. 1t was evidently the
pollen from the hot little Tobasco blooms
that affected the Ruby King. We grew
also the Giant Chinese, but do not think
1t equal to the Ruby King. 1t IS far less
productive and not of as good shape for
stuffing. 1t is, however, fully as mild and
sweet as the Ruby King. We will discard
1t in the future. Anyone who wants hot
pepper sauce can get an abundance OF 1T
from the Tobasco. 1t is wonderfully pro-
ductive of its little pods. and grows here
over six feet tall. Ny family decided
that it was entirely too much of good
thing, too hot for use.
The dry weather is retarding the sec
end crop of Irish potatoes and it will
take late fall to make a crop. We once
made crop. however, from potatoes
planted September 18th so we do not des-
pair of crop this fall, though the tops
are yet small