JAPANESE PERSIMMON. 285 



the Japanese persimmon, or date plum, as it is often more 

 properly called, is a fine shipping fruit, and will bear trans- 

 portation safely to great distances. 



The tree is highly ornamental; leaves dark, glossy 

 green ; shape symmetrical ; it is a very prolific bearer, is 

 as hardy as a pear tree, and fruits sooner. The seedling 

 tree bears in about ten years, but is apt to "sport," or 

 not bear fruit at all, and hence is not desirable because 

 not reliable. Budded trees fruit in from one to three years ; 

 they prefer a light, sandy soil, are not affected by curculio, 

 grow to a large size, and attain the age of a hundred years 

 while losing none of their vigor. 



A number of varieties have been introduced into the 

 United States, and of these there are two principal divis- 

 ions, one of which is large, round, and shaped like a Green- 

 ing apple. The flesh of this variety resembles that of the 

 pear or apple, and is eaten in the same way ; it is unsur- 

 passed for the table, and considered equal to the peach and 

 pear. Its color is a rich, golden hue, and the flesh "juicy, 

 vinous, and firm." This variety should be inclosed in a 

 tight cask for a few days after picking to render it perfect. 

 The other variety is oblong, like a " Minie ball" in shape ; 

 "it is soft, sweet, and custard-like, is eaten with a spoon, 

 and with cream and sugar is one of the most delicious fruits 

 that is known." 



The fruit of this variety attains a very large size, and, 

 owing to the large amount of saccharine matter it con- 

 tains, is the sort usually dried and prepared like figs for 

 market ; in this form it is sold as sweetmeats in Japan. 



Professor W. E. Griffis, the author of " The Mikado's 

 Empire," tells us : 



' 'As regards the value of the Japanese persimmon there 

 can be but one opinion ; the tree itself is one of the hand- 

 somest of fruit trees, and in the fall, with its golden-hued 



