The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-08-29

Kansas and new kind of oats from
northern Finland, which is being
grown in Alaska. We have new al
fa'fas from Arabia and Chinese Tur-
kestan. We are starting q SiSal hemp
Industry in Porto Rl.o ana We are
growing japanese bamboos which. il
IS thought, take the place OF the old
cane brakes of the South. We have
also valuable paper plant from
Japan, wood OIL trees from China. and
are setting out in California hundreds
of plants which it is thought Will
make varnish We have also u pedi-
greed barley which is especially de-
sired by the brewers, and altogether
$50 many other fruits, grains and
trees that TO mention them would
be like quoting a botany.
lerSimInOns as Big as ISsSt,sa'ls.
Among the fruits in which the ,'e-
pa artrent IS especially interested just
now is the perSim Not the little
tpersimmOn as big as walnut which
grows in our South, but the Japanese,
Chinese and Korean persimmons
which are as big as base balls or lar
ger. | have eaten them in all of these
countries and l verify believe they
are the most delicious fruit upon
earth. Some kinds look like mann
moth tomatoes, and when ripe are 50
fSOft they can be ScOoped up with L
spoon. Others are eaten while still
! hard like apples, and others are frozen
| and served like a sherbet or Roman
punch.
These Asiatic persimmons are beau
tiful They are sometimes OF an
orange red color, measuring from
three to five inches in diameter. and
often weighing more than a pound.
Mr.. Frank \. Meyer, one OF the most
expert of cur agricultural explorers.
has discovered one which Is as seed
| less as navel orange, which has
l. "a FHa
green and hard. 1t is known as the
fTamopan persimmo and was found.
| believe, somewhere near the Ming
Tombs. north Of Peking, in climate
colder than any Of our States OF the
South He has sent cuttings which
will be grated on our persimmon
trees, and it may be that this fruit
will some day be almost as common
as apples. The trees are said to be
hardy They bear so heavily that the
limbs break, and they last TOT lorty
or ffty years before the fruit fails
There are many other persimmonS
lin Asia which have seeds, but they
all grow large and they are one or
the most common fruits in the mar
kets The natives have a method OF
taking out the astringency or pucker
by leaving the fruit several days IN
a cask or tub which has once con
|tained a spirituous liquor. The erect
of the liquor which is soaked into
the wood seems to take out 'he
pucker. We are now raising some
japanese persimmons IN florlda'
where the crop is said to be com
Imerc.ally profitable. There is no doubt
that the fruit can be grown wherever
lour native persimmOns now thrlNeS,
and it is probable in many places
much farther North
Frank Meyers Work.
Indeed it is impossible to estimate
the value of our agricultural explOra-
Itfons They cost US comparatively
little. but they yield bigger dividends
than any other money appropriated
by Congress.
Take. for instance, the work Of
Frank n Meyer. the man who has
sent us the rersimmons l have just
mentioned He is now in Chinese
Turkestan, west Of Tibet travelling On
foot and on camels, looking up NV
plants and seeds for arid lands. lie
receives, all told. something like 30
900 a year, and out OF this pays has
travelling expenses, doing the Work
more as an enthusiast and for the
good Of the country than as a means
of making a living. He is one OF the
most famous OF our botanlsts ana plant
experts. and like Powell. who recently
belonged 10 the same bureau. n could
easily command a salary OF $4,000
"A year if ne chose 70 leave the de-
partment.
Mr.. Mever has travelled All over
China Manchuria and Siberia, send
ing Us new fruits. nuts ana grains IN
addition 10 the perSin1mon ne has
given rs a score or more new peaches.
which are now being tested. Some
OF these are a. large ss navel oranges.
iothars have a flesh which is blood
CONTINUED on Page Two.)