VIRGINIAN DATE PLUM. 369 



Varieties. The varieties recognized under this species are as follows : 



1. D. V. PUBESCENS. Pubescent-leaved Vi/'gi?iian Date P linn-tree : Diospyrns 

 pubesce7is, of Pursh, Don, and others. The chief distinction between tliis variety 

 and the Uiospyros virgniiana is, in its fruit having fewer seeds, and the downiness 

 of its leaves on their under sides, which are also slightly different in their shape. 

 Micliaux makes this only a variety of this species, occasioned by difference of 

 climate; which, he observes, exerts an extraordinary influence on the develop- 

 ment of all trees that are common to different parts of the United States. 



2. D. V. DULCis, Prince. Siceet-fndted Virginian Date Plum-tree.^ character- 

 ized in having sweeter fruit tlian that of the species. 



Geography and History. The Diospyros virginiana is found wild in the 

 United States from the forty-second degree of north latitude to Texas. It is 

 quite common in New Jersey, still more so in the middle and southern states, and 

 abounds also in the west. When it was introduced into Britain is uncertain : 

 but it has been in cultivation, in England, though not very common, ever since 

 the time of Parkinson. 



The largest tree of this species in Britain, is in the arboretum at Kew, which 

 exceeds forty feet in height. 



In France, Germany, and Italy, there are specimens of about the same height 

 as at Kew. 



The largest recorded tree of this kind on the globe, is in the Bartram botanic 

 garden, at Kingsessing, near Philadelphia, which exceeds seventy feet in height, 

 with a trunk two feet in diameter. 



Soil, Siiitation. Propagation, ^'c. The Diospyros virginiana seems to prefer 

 a soft, black soil, rather moist, and requires a sheltered situation, ft is usually 

 propagated from seeds; but may be increased either by grafting or by layers. 



Properties and Uses. The fresh sap-wood of the Virginian date plum, is of a 

 greenish colour, which it preserves after it is seasoned; and the heart-wood is 

 brown, hard, compact, strong, and elastic, but liable to split. At Baltimore, 

 screws and mallets have been made of it; at Philadelphia, shoe-lasts; and in 

 Carolina, v/edges for splitting trees. Michaux says that he was assured by the 

 coach-makers in Charleston, that they had employed it for the shafts of chaises, 

 and found it preferable to the ash, and all other species of wood, except the lance- 

 wood of the West Indies. The inner bark, which is exceedingly bitter, is said to 

 have been employed with success, not only by the American Indians, but by 

 the inhabitants of the regions where this tree aboimds, in the cure of intermittent 

 fevers. The bark of the root has also been considered a tonic favourable to the 

 treatment of dropsies. A greenish gum exudes from the tree, but in very small 

 quantities, which never has, as yet, been apphed to any useful purpose either as 

 a medicine or in the arts. In the middle and western states, the fruit is some- 

 times collected, pounded up with wheaten bran, formed into cakes, which are 

 dried in an oven, and kept to make beer. Fox this purpose, they are dissolved 

 in warm water, with the addition of hops and yeast. The fruit itself, bruised 

 and fermented, yields an ardent spirit, which is said to improve with age. It 

 has been asserted by the farmers of Virginia that, grass grows more vigorously 

 beneath the persimon than beneath any other tree, and tins fact is attributed to 

 the speedy decay of its leaves, as well as to those of the common locust, which 

 form an excellent manure. ^^ 



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