PROMISING NEW FRUITS. 433 



characteristics. One of the most promising thus far is the Cecil, 

 which originated at Miami, Fla. 



In 1902 x about 200 mango fruits of the " Philippine " type were 

 received by Mr. S. A. Belcher of Miami, Fla., from some point in 

 Cuba. The seeds of these fruits were planted in pots and later about 

 100 trees which grew therefrom were transplanted to permanent 

 places on Mr. Belcher's homestead, now owned by Hickson Brothers, 

 2 miles west of Miami. 



The tree to which later the name " Cecil " was given bore a few 

 fruits for the first time when it was 5 years of age. It was named in 

 the spring of 1908, after the unusual merits of the fruit had become 

 apparent, the name having been first published in a local paper. 

 Its commercial propagation was begun in 1910. 



The tree is said to be a very vigorous grower, symmetrical in form, 

 and a heavy bearer. The fruit begins to ripen at Miami about the 

 first week in June. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Form oblong reniform, rather slender; size large; cavity regular, 

 small, shallow, slope gradual; stem medium slender, fleshy where it 

 joins the fruit ; tip an inconspicuous beak, usually about half an inch 

 from the longitudinal apex of the fruit ; surface nearly smooth ; color 

 rich greenish or golden yellow, marbled lightly with brownish yellow ; 

 dots numerous, russet, sometimes subcutaneous, green or gray ; bloom 

 whitish; skin medium thick, tenacious; flesh yellow, tender, juicy 

 with but very little fiber; seed thin, oblong, large; flavor sweet or 

 mild subacid, rich, aromatic, pleasant; quality good to very good; 

 season June to August at Miami, Fla. 



Apparently adapted to Florida and worthy of testing in Porto 

 Rico and Hawaii. 



The specimen illustrated in Plate XXXIX was grown by Hickson 

 Brothers, Miami, Fla. 



TAMOPAN PERSIMMON. 

 [PLATE XL. ] 



HISTORICAL NOTES. 



The introduction of the Japanese persimmon into the United States 

 aroused -widespread interest throughout the country on account of the 

 precocity of the trees and the large size and great beauty of the fruit. 

 For many years large importations of grafted trees from Japan were 

 made by commercial nurseries, with the result that the varieties 

 obtainable from Japanese nurseries were widely tested throughout 



1 Letters from Hickson Brothers, November 9 and 17, 1910. 



