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Pruning is confined to thinning out and shaping the trees, which 
are grown as dwarf trees and not as espaliers. The fruit is picked 
when it is starting to colour, but whilst the flesh is still firm. 
Varieties in cultivation are: Peen-to, South China, Bidwell’s 
arly, Angel, Hall, Jewel, Bidwell’s Late, Waldo, and Millen’s 
Favourite. The best variety for the warmer parts of the country 
is Jewel. 
Persimmons.-—The Japanese Persimmons or Kaki were intro- 
duced some forty years ago, but new varieties are occasionally 
met with. The fruit finds a regular market. 
They are generally propagated by cleft or whip grafting, 
as budding has not proved successful. The stock used is seedlings 
of Japanese Persimmon or the American Diospyros virginiana, 
the latter being preferred as it is a more vigorous grower. 
Stock plants are first planted in seed beds and when 10 to 
12 in. high are planted out in rows 2 ft. by 6 in. apart, where 
they are grafted. When the grafts are established they are put 
out in the plantation during December and January at distances 
15 X 20ft. Varieties with an upright growth such as Castata, are 
planted closer, those with a more spreading habit like Hachiya 
are planted further apart. They do not need so much fertiliser 
as is given to other fruit trees, 5 lbs. containing 3 per cent. 
nitrates, 6 per cent. phosphates, and 10 per cent. potash is suffi- 
cient for six-year old trees. Pruning and cultivation is carried 
out as with the crops already mentioned. 
Fruits are cut or clipped from the trees when they are quite 
ripe though before they soften. The following varieties are in 
cultivation: Hachiya, a vigorous grower, bearing fine, large 
fruits with a deep yellow flesh; Okama, a vigorous grower and 
prolific bearer, the fruits are large and of fine quality with a 
light, clear flesh and a light-brown centre; Hyakume, a good 
grower and fruits freely, fruits large with dark-brown flesh, 
sweet and crisp; Triumph, ripens from September to December, 
medium size fruit, flesh yellow and but few seeds; 7'suru, a late 
variety, vigorous grower and good bearer, fruits large, flesh orange 
yellow, but astringent until quite mature; Gatley is planted 
between the rows as it produces great quantities of pollen and 
materially assists the fruit production of the orchard generally. 
Pecans.—This fruit is generally grown in the northern part of 
the State, and is similar to a Walnut, but smoother and more 
elliptic. Its fleshy kernels are in demand for candies and cakes, 
and when ground are used to flavour ice creams. — 
They are propagated by budding and grafting, but these 
operations require experience, as they are not always successful. 
Planting out takes place in January and February, the distance 
depending on the variety and varies from 40 to 75 ft., root pruning 
taking place previously. The trees take 10 to 12 years betore 
they carry full crops. Varieties in cultivation are the following, 
and are chiefly selected for the large thin “ shell of the fruit : 
