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REPORT OF THE POMOLOGIST. 643 
Texas, and/California. The names attached to the same variety were 
only in a few cases the same. Generally no names were given, or ~ 
those evidently wrong, and scarcely a person sending them laid claim 
to their correctness. Great pains were taken in studying and compar- 
ing these specimens with each other and with the best original draw- 
ings and paintings of the named varieties of kaki made in Japan by 
native artists. This work is to be vigorously prosecuted the comin 
year (1888), and I trust that all persons who have bearing trees wil 
send specimens here, and thus assist in carrying it forward. 
As the result of these investigations three varieties—Hachiya, 
Tane-Nashi, and Yemon—have been quite clearly identified and are 
illustrated on Plates 2 and 3 of this report. Their size and shape are 
exactly given, and their color as nearly as could be copied. 
A great many of the trees sent out by this Department (which in- 
cluded many of the first seedlings grown by Mr. Saunders) died from 
being planted in too cold a climate, and some that were planted where 
they ought to have done well were very much neglected and, having 
done poorly, created little interest. But’some of them, under more 
favorable circumstances of both climate and culture, produced ex- 
cellent results, and the nurserymen of the country began to import 
and sell trees. New seedling varieties are now being originated in 
the Southern States, and some are of excellent quality. It is hoped 
to cross this species with our native persimmon and thus get kinds 
that will be hardy and bear large fruit. 
After repeated trials all over the United States it is now known 
that the species will not thrive in a climate where the temperature 
falls to zero even occasionally, and some varieties are still more ten- 
der, as there is considerable difference in the varieties as to hardiness. 
The northern limit of successful growth is about like that of the fig, 
being on a line with Charleston, §. C., southern Tennessee, and north- 
ern Texas, but extending several degrees farther north along the At- 
lantic and Pacific coasts. Georgia, Florida, the Gulf States, and 
California seem well adapted to its culture, and by experienced travel- 
ers in Japan is said to do better here than there, the fruit here being 
larger, fairer looking, andof better quality. In California the fruit 
does not seem to be as large or as luscious as that grown this side the 
Rocky Mountains, and is not thought so highly of in that State. 
This is, perhaps, owing to the dry climate. The tree is a more 
luxuriant grower than our native species, D. virginiana, and makes 
a handsome ornamental tree, with large, glossy leaves. 
After another year’s observation I have determined that the flowers 
are sometimes perfect and sometimes the stamens are abortive. 
The perfect flowers are always found in the axils of the leaves and 
always solitary. The imperfect flowers are sometimes found in 
clusters. The species may be said to be diceciously polygamous. 
The fruit, in size,is from 14 to 384 inchesin diameter, and an occa- 
sional specimen has been known to weigh 20 ounces. In shape it 
varies from flat to round and oblong-conic. In color it is from 
chrome-yellow to bright orange-red, the latter being the most com- 
mon. In flavor it is very sweet and the pulp is usually very soft. 
There is, however, considerable variation in both these respects. 
Some of the varieties require frost to make them at all palatable or 
before their natural acridity will leave them. Others are never 
acrid in any stage of their growth. Many kinds are entirely seedless. 
As a fruit it is steadily winning its way into the markets of our 
larger cities and may occasionally be found on the fruit stands of 
