228 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



the VOWS with a lioed crop may be practiced if the soil is fertile, but if 

 not, green manuring accompanied by deej) plowing and thorough till- 

 age is recommended. Mulching is desirable for young orchards. 



Directions are given for spraying against insects and fungus diseases 

 with a lye wash and a combination of Bordeaux mixture and Londou 

 purple. 



Descri])tive notes are given for 9 summer, 19 autumn, and 4 winter 

 varieties, the following being recommended: Summer Doyenne, Law- 

 son, Manning Elizabeth, Bartlett, Lucrative, Flemish Beauty, Seckel, 

 Sheldon, and Easter Beurre. 



A summary embodying tlie main points of the bulletin is appended. 



The American persimmon, J. Troop and O. M. IIadley {IntUana 

 HUi. Jiiil. CO, pp. 4o-'>l, pis. 6', Jigs. S). — This bulletin discusses the 

 botanical characters, horticultural possibilities, culture, i^ropagation, 

 varieties, use, and composition of the ]iersimmon or date plum {Dios- 

 pyros virginuoia). It is believed that more attention should be paid to 

 the iDersimmon, and that in consequence of efforts to improve the fruit 

 instead of the neglect it now receives this species may be developed 

 into a valuable horticultural product. The species grows wdd in most 

 of the Southern States, but will ripen fruit as far north as the Great 

 Lakes, and seems especially adapted to the soil and climate of the 

 southern half of Indiana. The trees vary in height from 20 to 80 ft., 

 according to the land on which they grow. 



The flowers are ditecious, both the staminate and i)istillate being 

 born on the same tree, although some ti ees i)roduce only staminate 

 blossoms. The flowers are rich in nectar. The fruit is subgiobose, 

 from one-half to 2 in. in diameter, and borne on a very short Iruit 

 stalk. The number of seeds in the fruit varies from 2 to sev^eral, 

 although some varieties are practically seedless. All persimmons 

 possess a ]ieculiar astringency when green, which is lost upon the fruit 

 becoming ripe, from August to December, the time varying with the 

 variety. 



The propagation may be from the seeds or by means of budding or 

 grafting, which should be done in the spring. The stocks for grafting 

 should be at least 2 years old. The top working of old trees has been 

 successfully performed, and is believed to be desirable in many cases. 



The transplanting of persimmons is difficult on account of the long 

 taproot; hence it is safest to transplant trees only 1 to 2 years old. 

 The transplanting is best done in the autumn. 



Persimmons grow on almost any kind of soil, from a rich bottom land 

 to the poor thin soil of hilltoi)s; but a warm, rich soil, with sunny 

 exfjosure, is best adaj^ted. They give best results under judicious cul- 

 tivation and pruning. 



The varieties Shoto, Early Bearing, Golden Gem, Daniel Boone, 

 Hicks, Kansas, Smeech, and Early Golden are described, and several 

 of the varieties illustrated from photographs. These varieties have 



