Discussion on Mr. Van Deman's Paper. 81 



year they sold over one liundred bushels, principally in New York cty, at 

 an average price of about $7 per bushel. The fruit ships remarkably well,, 

 as it siiouid be picked a little before it is ripe, and can then be transported 

 with perfect safety for thousands of miles. It matures and softens very 

 gradually, and makes an excellent fruit to handle by venders at ihe fruit- 

 stands. It has an alditioml advantage in being very attractive in appear- 

 ance. 



The fruit-growers in the sections in which the tree succeeds are begin- 

 ning ti) realize its importance, and one firm in Florida of which I know will 

 this winter plant over three thousand trees in addition to those already set. 

 If it continues to grow in favor it will soon be as commonly grown in the 

 southern states and California as any other fruit. 



DISCUSSION ON MR. VAN DEMAN's PAPER. 



Secretary Ragan, of Indiana — I do not care to speak of the 

 merits of this interesting paper, nor of the topics treated by the 

 writer, for they are of little interest to the people of our latitude, 

 but rather of the official position held by the writer. Xhe office of 

 U. 8. Pornologist is the creation of the present Commif^sioner of 

 Agriculture. The pomological interests of the country should be 

 greatly promoted through the instrumentality of this new bureau. 

 Fruit growers everywhere should avail themselves of the valuable 

 services of the chief of the department. There are very many ways 

 in which an efficient officer at the head of such a department of the 

 government may render himself useful to the cause of pomology. 

 He enjoys the frank of the Post-office Department, and through 

 this medium any citizen may transmit to him specimens of fruits^ 

 etc., from any section of the county, for identification or correction 

 of nomenclature. 



Mr. Van Deman, Washington, D. C. — In regard to the collec- 

 tion of specimens for purposes named by Mr. Ragan, I have had 

 prepared mailing boxes, of various sizes, which I will gladly send 

 out to persons wishing to use them in sending specimens to my 

 office. 



Mr. Buck, of California — The Japan persimmon thrives almost 

 anywhere in California. We grow a number of varieties. It is 

 a showy, handsome fruit, but we db not find it valuable. I know 

 of but few persons who really like it. I have propagated it on the 

 native Virginia persimmon, but even then it is not of good quality. 



