1872 Tlie Western Fomologist and Gardener. 89 



Persimmons. 



It is well knowu that we have growing all over pur Southern States the native persim- 

 mon, Diospi,ros Virginiana. It is also found as far North as central Ohio, and in Indiana 

 and Illinois. The fruit, we also know, is acrid, astringent and unpleasant — indeed, not 

 palatable until frost has, in a measure, perfected it, and then it is not only healthful hut 

 agreeable to many, and becomes quite a pleasant, if not delicate fruit. It may be safely 

 Siiid thai " the niggers " all like it, if not fatten on it. 



It seems, then, quite remarkable that this fruit, so predominant, has not been improved 

 and is not more fully appreciated. That it may be greatly improved, and is both a health- 

 ful and valuable fruit, cannot be doubted. 



In Japan, it is, unexceptionably, the finest and most valued of fruits. The people use it 

 as freely as we do the peach, and in almost as great a variety of ways. At all seasons of 

 the year they may be bought preserved in the same manner as Smyrna figs, and looking 

 not unlike them, and everywhere enter largely into the domestic economy, as well as 

 internal commerce of the people. It has been crossed and grafted in and recrossed until 

 it is to Japan what the apple is to America ; and, in its season, is incomparably the best 

 and most useful fruit in that country. We have seen the fruit, in bearing, as large as 

 ordinary oranges ; the variety, too, is remarkable, though but two varieties, to us, seem 

 specially desirable for cultivation here. 



The first is a large, round-shaped fruit like an old-fashioned Rhode Island Greening 

 apple — hard-fleshed, and is mostly eaten as one eats an apple, having many of its charac- 

 teristics. Its color is rich golden, and the meat juicy, vinous and firm. It ripens iu 

 November and keeps well until March. We have seen them three to four inches in diam- 

 eter, and we think it in all respects a most delicate and splendid fruit, very desirable to 

 introduce into Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and part of Alabama, Mississippi and 

 Texas. 



The second variety is more oblong than round, resembling in its shape almost exactly a 

 minnie rifle ball. This is of a deeper, darker shade than the other ; soft, sweet and cus- 

 tard-like, and is usually eaten with a spoon as one eats a custard. These we have fre- 

 quently seen as large as an ordinary sized tea cup — say two to two and a half inches in 

 diameter, and from point to top, from three to three and a half inches. This fruit ripens 

 the last two weeks in October, and is the variety mostly dried and prepared like figs for 

 market. It is a delicate fruit aud very much liked by those who are fond of sweet fruits. 

 It keeps until Christmas. 



Besides these there are many other varieties which, if introduced and grown here suc- 

 cessfully, might be highly desirable — perhaps an invaluable acquisition to pomology and 

 the country at large. 



We beg to commend this recommendation to your horticultural friends, and unhesitat- 

 ingly predict for both these fruits the endorsement of all we may say in praise of them. — 

 Cor. Parmer and Gardener. 



English Walnuts. — The Los Angeles Star says: "The first English walnuts were 

 planted in Los Angeles county, in 1857. They commenced bearing in three years, the 

 crop increasing every year. In the year 186i the crop amounted to 9,300 pounds. 

 Previous to 1860 the walnuts used in California were all imported from China and Chili, 

 to the amount of 30,000 pounds annually. The flavor of the Los Angeles walnuts is finer 

 than that of the imported nuts." 



Gkowino Peanuts — Varieties. — The New York Standard dwells learnedly upon pea- 

 nuts. First as to varieties : " There is the African peanut, the Georgia peanut, the North 

 Carolina peanut, the Tennessee peanut, and the Virginia peanut. Their qualities improve 

 in the order in which they are here set down, the first being the poorest, and the last the 

 best. If you want peanuts, see that you get the sort coming from the old Dominion." 



