188 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



glossy, like those of the orange. The blossoms are green, 

 and inconspicuous. 



The Persimon has no importance as a tree to recommend 

 it ; but it may be admitted in all good collections for its 

 pleasing shining foliage, and the variety which its singular 

 fruit adds to the productions of a complete country residence. 

 The common sort, {D. Virginlana,) grows readily from the 

 seed. 



There is an European species, (Diospyrus Lotus,) with 

 yellow fruit about the size of a cherry, rather less palatable 

 than our native kind. The specimens of this tree which we 

 have imported, appear too tender to bear our winters unpro- 

 tected, so that it will probably not prove hardy in the north- 

 ern states. 



The Peperidge Tree. Nyssa. 

 Xat. Ord. Santalacese. Lin. Syst. Polygamia, Dioecia. 



The Peperidge, Tupelo, or sour gum tree, as it is called in 

 various parts of the Union, grows to a moderate size, and is 

 generally found in moist situations, though we have seen it 

 in New- York State, thriving very well in dry upland soils. 

 The diameter of the trunk is seldom more than eighteen 

 inches, and the general height is about forty or fifty feet. 

 The flowers are scarcely perceptible, but the fruit borne in 

 pairs, is about the size of a pea, deep blue, and ripens in Oc- 

 tober. 



The leaves are oval, smooth, and have a beautiful gloss on 

 their upper surface. The branches diverge from the main 

 trunk almost horizontally, and sometimes even bend down- 

 wards like those of some of the Pine family, which gives tne 

 tree a very marked and peculiar character. 



