646 A HANDBOOK OF CONIFERiE 



Company, who discovered it in 1690 and published in 1712 a 

 description, with a good figure, of the foliage and fruit.^ The 

 tree was introduced into Europe in 1730, being first planted in 

 the Botanic Garden at Utrecht. It was introduced into England 

 in 1795. Most of the earlier trees raised, both on the Continent 

 and in Britain, appear to have been males, and the first recorded 

 female tree was one found by De CandoUe near Geneva in 1814. 

 Scions from that tree were grafted upon a male tree in the 

 Botanic Garden at Montpellier, where the first perfect seed is 

 reputed to have been produced in Europe in 1835. So far as is 

 known " fruits " (seeds) were not produced in England before 

 1919, when a grafted branch raised from a scion obtained from 

 Montpellier Botanic Garden in 1911 ^ produced five fruits on the 

 large male tree atKew. In 1922 a female tree at Bath produced 

 a good crop of fruit.^ Several cases have been recorded of female 

 trees, far removed from male trees, " maturing fruits," '* also of 

 male trees suddenly bearing fruits, which has cast doubt on the 

 dioecious character of the tree, and even suggested the idea that 

 female trees may be parthenogenetic. There is, however, a pos- 

 sibility that grafting has been practised on both male and female 

 trees many years ago, and that records of the operation have 

 been lost. Owing to the disagreeable odour of the fallen " fruits " 

 the male tree is the best for gardens, but it is doubtful whether 

 these can be recognised before flowers are produced. Some 

 observers say that certain differences besides the flowers exist in 

 male and female trees, the former being pyramidal and upright 

 in habit, and losing its leaves earlier than the latter, which is 

 moreover closer and more compact in habit. Both Sargent and 

 Wilson, however, who have had a wide experience with the tree 

 in China, Japan, and the United States, say that it is impossible 

 to distinguish the sexes until the trees flower. 



A peculiarity of growth is noticeable on old trees, particularly 

 in Japan. From the larger lower branches peg -like structures 

 develop which grow downwards, and on reaching the ground 

 develop true roots from their apex and give off branches above. 

 The growths are often very numerous and are sometimes as much 

 as from 12-16 ft. long and 1 ft. in diameter. 



Ginkgo wood is light, brittle, yellowish in colour, and of little 

 value. It is said to be used in China and Japan for chess boards, 

 chess men, and chopping blocks, also for firewood. The seeds 

 are a regular article of commerce in Chinese and Japanese towns. 

 They are eaten roasted at feasts, and are credited with promoting 

 digestion and diminishing the effects of drinking wine. 



The tree is perfectly hardy in England, where it thrives in 

 a great variety of soils. Many well-grown trees, ranging from 



^ Amoenitatum Exoticarum, 811. ^ Kew Bulletin, 47 (1920). 



^Loc. cit. (1923). *Loc. cit. 262 (1922). 



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