468 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



seed of American persimmons should be sown in seed beds and transplanted to the 

 nursery after they have attained a height of 10 to 12 in. In the nursery it is recom- 

 mended that they be set 6 in. apart in rows 2 ft. apart. Grafting rather than budding 

 is considered advisable, and crown grafting is considered much superior to root graft- 

 ing. Whip grafting is preferred to cleft grafting in Florida. The authors state that 

 budding is not successful with the persimmon in Florida, and this method of propa- 

 gation should not be employed. In the orchard Japanese persimmon trees should 

 stand 15 to 20 ft. apart each way. 



As a result of experimental work at the station it is recommended that fertilizers for 

 the persimmon should contain 3 per cent nitrogen, 6 per cent phosphoric acid, and 

 10 per cent potash. They should be applied at the rate of about 5 lbs. per tree for 

 trees 6 years old. Experiments to determine the relation of the amount of potash in 

 the fertilizer and the dropping of the fruit of the persimmon have given only neg- 

 ative results. It has been noted that older trees do not drop their fruits to as great 

 an extent as younger trees. Persimmons should be gathered when fully matured 

 but still firm. 



Shipments to a number of northern horticulturists were made of persimmons in 

 boxes and baskets. Generally, the fruit arrived in good condition, which shows that 

 with care there need be no difficulty in the shipment of this fruit to northern 

 markets. Directions are contained in the bulletin for preserving persimmons. 



Pineapple culture, II. Varieties, H. H. Hume and H. K. Miller (Florida 

 Sta. Bui. 70, pp. 36-62, pis. 10, figs. 4)- — This bulletin classifies and describes the 

 pineapples cultivated.in this country, noting the botanical features. Pineapples are 

 divided into 3 groups, namely, the Queen, Cayenne, and Spanish. The typical 

 variety of the Queen group is the Golden pineapple. The fruit of this variety "is 

 characterized by yellow flesh, pointed eyes sloping upward from the sides, deep yel- 

 low fruit, and sirupy juice; flavor rich and sweet. Plants usually not adapted to 

 open field culture." The Smooth Cayenne is taken as the type of the Cayenne group. 

 "The flesh is a light yellow, the eyes broad and flat, not elevated at the nipple. 

 The leaves are smooth or serrated; the plants are strong, upright, vigorous growers." 

 In the Spanish group the typical variety is Spanish. "The flesh is white, the eyes 

 are flat but elevated at the corners of the bracts. The leaves are strong, stiff, and 

 serrated." 



It is stated that the varieties of pineapples cultivated in this country have been 

 introduced from Brazil, the West Indies, India, or from the greenhouses of England. 

 Of the varieties now grown in Florida fully 95 per cent are of the Spanish variety. 

 At least 99 per cent of all the plantings in the State are Spanish, Cayenne, Abachi, 

 Porto Rico, and Golden. This list contains practically all of the varieties grown for 

 commercial purposes. "For extensive open-field culture the Spanish pineapple is 

 the only variety which can be recommended." The other varieties mentioned may 

 be grown in a small way in the open field, but plantations of the same are too short 

 lived to compete with the Spanish variety. Under sheds the varieties Cayenne, 

 Abachi, and Golden are given the preference; and of these Cayenne is considered the 

 best. The edible portion of a number of varieties and the composition of the same 

 varieties with reference to ash, nitrogen, sugar, juice, etc., were determined by the 

 authors and are shown in the following table (p. 469). 



