214 3Iississippi Valley Horticultural Society. 



wood, hard, fine-grained, fine dark color, receiving a splendid polish, and 

 said to be fine for wood engraving. It would make most beautiful furniture 

 and pannelings. As we have now skilled horticulturists luoking up and 

 propagating the finer varieties of this valuable but long-neglected fruit, we 

 will leave it in their hands for the present. But all lovers of fruit, where it 

 is indigenous, should give it attention and seek out the finest varieties and 

 ]>erpetuate them. It seems to be a fruit without an enemy in the insect 

 world, its astringent, acrid pulp protecting it from all enemies until ripe. 



THE JAPANESE PERSIMMON— (Z'ic.S;^^*'^^ kuki). 



The Japan persimmon was introduced into this country some ten or twelve 

 years ago, if I recollect rightly, by Thomas Hogg, of New York, and by him 

 disseminated with great liberality. I tried to grow trees of it of his impor- 

 tation in Northern Illinois, but found that it would not withstand our win- 

 ters, the trees killing down to the surface of the soil each and every winter, 

 but springing up in the spring. It will probably prove a very valuable fruit 

 everywhere south of Memphis, Tenn. In Southern Arkansas the experience 

 so far shows it to be everywhere reliable, the climate and soil both suiting it 

 admirably, so far as known. But right here I must call a halt, for I have not 

 seen enough of this fruit growing in garden and orchard to pass an opinion 

 on it from personal observation. I have seen the trees growing in many 

 places South with fine health and vigor; have seenand eaten of the fruit and 

 know it to be both very handsome and very good. The indications are that 

 its Northern limit will equal or surpass that of the very hardiest figs. That 

 thorough horticulturist, Mr. Berckmans, of Georgia, should be able to tell you 

 all about the Japan persimmon; therefore I pass — I mean that I pass the sub- 

 ject over to him. 



I am very, very sorry, for the reason that I was informed in the first place 

 that my subject was to be "Ar-kan-saw; its Great Diversity of Fruits." But my 

 good friend, the Major, who runs the Sjyirit of Ar-kan-saw, or lets it run him, I 

 forget which, after seeing me place myself outside of about a peck of fine, ripe 

 persimmons, thought, I suppose, that I had laid the foundation for a good 

 solid paper on the persimmon subject, so he switched me ofT. If he had let 

 me have the other subject I would have spread myself out big. I would have 

 told you how she of the tropics and he of the North each spring made love 

 •'Over the garden wall " in Arkansas, and brought with them all the knick- 

 knacks and finest fruits and flowers of two zones, even figs. Yon should have 

 seen what magnificent yearly crops of figs we have on the Arkansas prairies.. 

 But what has all this got to do with persimmons ? 



The President — We have now come to the last paper which our 

 too limited time will permit us to hear read at this meeting. And 

 as the apple is our longest keeping fruit, we have kept this subject 

 in reserve to the last of the meeting. Mr. W. M. Samuels, of 



