IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 109 



than an ordinary apple ; it can readily be dried on strings. A hard 

 and soft variety occur. It has ripened at Sydney, and as far north 

 as Philadelphia (Saunders). The most famed varieties are, accord- 

 ing to the Rev. Mr. Loorins, Ronosan, Nihon, Micado, Daimio, 

 Taikoon, Yamato, the latter particularly large and saccharine, and, 

 with the Jogen variety, particularly used for drying. In Japan 

 thought to be the best of its native fruits (Christie) ; attains one 

 pound in weight. There is also a small seedless variety. Dried 

 Kaki fruit is considered superior to figs. For drying the fruit is 

 peeled, and requires a month to exsiccate. The Hyakuma variety 

 when shrivelled measures up to 4 by 3 inches (Jarmain). The 

 green fruits serve as medicinal adstringents (Dupont). 



Diospyros Lotus, Linne. 



From Northern China to Caucasus. The ordinary Date-Plum. 

 The sweet fruits of this tree, resembling black cherries, are edible, 

 and also used for the preparation of syrup. The wood, like that 

 of D. chloroxylon, is known in some places as Green Ebony. It 

 resembles Mottled Ebony ; it must not however be confounded 

 with other kinds, such as are furnished by some species of Excoecaria, 

 Nectandra and Jacaranda. 



Diospyros Texana, Scheele. 



Mexico and Texas. Tree to 30 feet height ; fruit globose, black, 

 luscious (A. Gray.) 



Diospyros Virginiana, Linne. 



The North American Ebony or Parsimon or Persimmon. A tree 

 70 feet high. Wood very hard and blackish. Valuable for shuttles 

 instead of Buxus wood (Jos. Gardner). The stem exudes a kind 

 of Gum-arabic. The sweet variety yields a good table-fruit. Hot 

 summers promote the early ripening and sweetness of the fruit, the 

 delicious taste not depending on early frost. Ripens fruit to 4 1 north 

 in Illinois (Bryant). The final sweetness depends upon chemical 

 decomposition. 



Diposis Bulbocastanum, Candolle. 



Chili The tubers of this perennial herb are edible (Philippi). 



Dipsacus fullonum, Linne. 



Fuller's Teazel. Middle and South Europe and Middle Asia. A 

 tall biennial herb. The thorny fruit-heads are used for fulling in 

 cloth factories. The import during one of the last years into 

 England was valued at .5,000. The plant is most easily raised. 

 The use of these Teazels has not yet been superseded by any adequate 

 machinery. 



