Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-26
PRRsrMMons WITHOUT SEEDS.
Experiments to BE Made by the Agri
cultural Department.

SN&S0Ao 0CHUA SAA0Ak.
Seedless persimmons are one OF the next
things to expect from the Department of
Agriculture. The matter was brought up
today In a rather curious way. A specimen
of seedless native persimmon was brought
to the Department by Mr.. John H. Drury
on whose place, near Washington, 1t grew.
and 1t is possible that something will be
done In the near future in the way of
grating the seedless fruit on other hardy
stocks.
The seedless persimmon is not absolutely
unique s a, but 1t is very rare; DR.. Weber of
or the bureau of plant industry, to whom
ehe specimen was shown. said that he had
seen some specimens In his experience.
But the general impression Ia that the
or nearly so In this country. Seedless speei-
mems are occasionally found in the big
japanese persimmon. but they are rather
rare; and the flavor is nothing to compare
to the native variety.
What attracted Mr.. Drurys attention to
the tree on his place was paragraph in
Maryland paper saying that there had
been destroyed near Ciaremont, Va, the
only seedless persimmon tree in this coun-
try. The tree was on the farm of J. T.
Rogers, near Claremont,~ and was recently
cut down in clearing some land. It was
believed by the local residents to be the
only seediess persimmon in the world.
When MI. Drury saw the paragraph he said
that he recollected what had before escaped
his memory-that there was a similar tree
on his place. He accordingly gathered a
few of the persimmons and took them to
the Agricultural Department to see whether
the tree was really such rarity. He had
been doing some experimental work In the
tobacco line for the Agricultural Depart
ment, and SO dropped in on DR.. Weber.
whom he happened to know.
The fruit in question proved to be a little
| smaller than the average native persimmon,
and was too far advanced in season to be
good eating. But Mr.. Drury says that
when just ripe It is really an excellent
solutely seediess. and while the fruit was
comparatively small, 1t had really more
meat in 1t than the bigger seed-bearing
varieties.
The Department of Agriculture will keep
its eye on the tree question and when the
season is right 1t will graft some OF the
seediess buds upon other stock and try to
breed race OF seedless persimmons. Ger
tainly the flavor of the fruit is attractive
enough, and If the trouble OF the seeds
could be eliminated, there is no reason why
persimmons should not be a. very market
able crop.
A good many Of the big Japanese persim-
| mons have been introduced in this country.
| and some of the specimens have proved
| hardy and do well as far north as WASH
ington But, although some Of the fruit Is
nearly as big as tomato. 1t Is insipid COM
pared with the native persimmon, yet IT
still has a little of the distinctive persim-
mon taste. At the same time 1t makes
pretty and unique resort Some OF the
scientists at the department are very fond
| Of it. and say that split in quarters and
laid open, bearing a dressing OF whipped
cream and sugar. it makes remarkably
delicate dessert and Is dish well worth IN
vestigating by the numerous class in wash
ington to whom money is no object COM
pared with the satisfaction or nndlng
table novelty.