Evening star., 1914-11-27
FRUIT Of THE G|NGK0
NOW BEING GATHERED
Chinese Residents Of Washington
Are Alone in Finding It
Desirable.

Just at this season the gardeners in
the grounds of the Department of Ag-
riculture are raking up the golden
leaves Of the gingko trees. At the same
time Chinese laundrymen of the city
are gathering up in their fingers the
pulpy fruits. Passers-by, who inquire
of the Cinnamon. with their laden bas-
kets and their sticky fingers. what is
to be done with the gingko fruits, are
met with no response whatever or by
the curt words, "med cine or "eat
'um."
Both these statements are true After
the outside pulp is removed the kernel
has the satiny surface and soft color
Of old ivory. These nuts. roasted or
boiled. are esteemed both as a relish
and as digestive. They are served
at oriental banquets, much as we serve
salted almonds. The noxious odor of
the fresh pulp on the ground makes
most Americans extremely skeptical
The fruit of the gingko is described as
drupe-that is, single kernel sur
rounded by pulp. 1t is of a yellowtsh
color with light bloom upon it and
IS IN appearance not unlike a small
hght-colored persimmon.
Its Fruit Not Popular.
The odor of the fruit has been va
riously described. One authority says
that the flesh is Juicy, sweet. puckery
and malodorous-a combination not
unlike green gage, alum and asafetida"
Others have described it as very ILL
scented when ripe" "fetid and nau-
seous," fruit with an unpleasant odor:
while they are dropping they keep the
sidewalks in a bad, disgusting state"
hot
known"
Even with all these diverse opinions
the tree can be characterized as extreme
ly desirable for planting on streets. lawns
on the other side of the balance sheet
more than make up for the d.sagreeable
rev weeks In the fall when it drops it's
fruit. In this country the tree must be
from rs to 80 years old before it begins
to bear, and during these years at least
1t has no drawbacks. Because of its
characteristic foliage it is known also
as the maidenhair tree. During the sum
mer the leaves are a .resh. clear green.
and in the fall a brilliant golden yellow.
1t has no important insect enemies. and
in immunity from insect attacks heads
the list of all shade trees in Washington
1t Is generally hardy over a wide range
OF country. 1t grows rapidly. and during
the first states of Its life somewhat re-
semblee in its aspiring character the
Lombardy poplar. Later on, however, 1t
develops wide, lateral branches, and is
not dissimilar in general form to a
spreading oak tree.
Among Oldest of Trees.
The gingko is one of the Oldest tree
forms known. and represents a type
which dates from remote ages. Curious
ly enough it has never been ,ound in
wild state. and those which have been
introduced into ether parts of the world
have come from trees planted in China
and Japan, generally about temples.
There is fossil proof that 1t is related to
the first land plants which appeared on
the earth. and is Of type Of vegetation
now generally extinct. 1t has botan ca
points Of resemblance to a &C infer. not
withstanding its fiat broad leaves. The
ony one Of the nspecies which has sur
vived Is theogingko-
The most notable plantation OF these
trees in the United States Is the one on
both sides the avenue which leads
north from the main building Of the De-
partment Of Agriculture in Washington
This plantation is about thirty years old
and is one Of the sights of the capital
which is noted for is extensive and well
planned tree planting.