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Seedlings are, however, uncertain as to whether the plants will be male 

 or female, and it is impossible to tell the difference till they flower. 

 Seeds should be planted an inch deep in light sandy soil. They may be 

 sown at any time, but the most favourable periods are at the end of 

 summer or in the spring. When three or four inches above ground the 

 young plants should either be placed singly in small pots or transplanted 

 into beds. The following se'ason they will be ready for planting out 

 permanently. The more reliable and most generally adopted means of 

 propagation is by suckers that are freely produced at the base of the 

 stems of old plants. These should be taken up carefully with as large 

 a proportion of roots as possible, avoiding exposure to sun and 

 wind. These sucker plants will be of the same sex as the trees they 

 are taken from, and consequently planters can make sure of having 

 them in due proportion. 



DATE PLUM. 



HISTORY AND USES. 



This fruit is obtained from a tree known botaiiically under the 

 name of Diospyros kaki, and belonging to the natural order Ebenacese, 

 or the Ebony family, most of the species of which are remarkable for 

 the hardness and dark colour of their wood. The name is derived 

 from dios (divine) and pyrus (a Pear) in allusion to the rich flavour 

 of the fruit and the shape of some of the varieties. The common 

 name Date Plum has originated from the adaptability of the fruit for 

 drying and packing in the same way as the Date. Very commonly 

 the fruit are called Persimmons, but that name more properly 

 applies to the American species of the family, which differ widely 

 from Diospyros kaki in appearance and uses. The Date Plum is 

 peculiar to China and Japan, and is highly esteemed for its fruit in 

 both these countries, where several varieties are cultivated exten- 

 sively. Large quantities of the fruit are dried and preserved in the 

 same way as Figs, and in this form the Date Plum is very popular. 

 In fact many consider it to be greatly superior to the Fig. Several 

 other species of Diospyros yield edible fruits, yet all of them are 

 vastly inferior to the Date Plum. Diospyros decandr", found in 

 Cochin China, bears a yellow fruit that is largely eaten by the 

 natives. Diospyros edulis yields an edible fruit, used in some parts of 

 China and India. Diospyros lotus, a species common to the south of 

 Europe and indigenous to the greater part of Asia, yields the ordinary 

 Date Plum or Lotus, that famous fruit which, according to the 

 traditions of the ancients, had the power of causing oblivion. The 

 fruit in appearance is somewhat similar to black Cherries, is edible, 

 and used both fresh and preserved. Diospyros Mabola, an evergreen, 

 shrubby species, yields the Mabola Plum of the Philippine Islands. 

 The fruit of Diospyros melanoxylon is eaten in some parts of India, 

 though inferior to other kinds. An American species (Diospyros 



