PERSIMMON. ANON A 441 



in the Japanese persimmon kaki, the pulp becomes more abun- 

 dant, and the seeds are reduced in number from five in the wild 

 state to two or even one, and often quite disappear, and the 

 fruit becomes absolutely seedless. 



The persimmon is an ornamental tree, shapely and sym- 



Fig. 122. Native persimmon, cultivated. Natural size. 



metrical in form; its bark and leaves are distinctive, and its 

 wood is dense and heavy. It grows readily but slowly from 

 seeds, is a gross feeder, and with good cultivation and care, will 

 produce fruit in its sixth year. It is perfectly hardy as far 

 north as Hartford, Conn., and will bear fruit on Long Island 

 from year to year without interruption. 



The Custard -Apple Tribe 



In the tropics, the various custard -apples (anonas 

 and their kin) are much esteemed, and some of them 

 are grown in extreme southern Florida. We have 

 only one native species. This is the pond-apple of 



