134 Tram. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



correct the trouble, the Japan persimmons have contin- 

 ued to behave in the same manner. 



While it is undoubtedly true that an unhealthy con- 

 dition of the trees, due to the attacks of borers or other 

 insect pests, or fungi and bacteria, and an insufficient 

 supply of plant food, do effect the holding of a crop of 

 fruit, yet it has been demonstrated that the large cause 

 of the lack of fruitfulness in D. Kaki in the Southern 

 and Southeastern states is due to lack of pollenation. 

 It has likewise been amply demonstrated that staminate 

 trees of D. virginiana will not serve as pollenizers, no 

 artificial or hand pollenation between the two species 

 having yet been made which resulted in viable seed. 



Having in mind these facts, the value of the discovery 

 of dependable varieties of D. Kaki, producing pollen 

 bearing flowers, to act as pollenizers, becomes readily 

 apparent. Of the varieties now commonly in cultiva- 

 tion, viz., "Costata," "Hachiya," "Hyakume," 

 "Okame," "Taber's No. 23," "Taber's No. 129," 

 "Tanenashi," "Triumph," "Tsuru," "Yeddoichi," 

 "Yemon" and "Zengi," only one variety, ' ■ Tanenashi, " 

 a seedless variety, can be depended upon to produce a 

 crop of fruit. This variety does not readily produce 

 seed even when pollenated, hence the production of 

 seedless fruit would not be affected by the proximity of 

 staminate flowers. "Okame" and "Triumph" occa- 

 sionally bear a fair amount of seedless fruit, but no 

 reliance can be placed on them to do so each time they 

 bloom. The others, and the two last mentioned, as well, 

 are generally worthless unless pollen is provided to 

 fecundate the blossoms. Nectar is secreted abundantly, 

 the flowers are visited freely by bees and other insects, 

 and the blooming periods overlap. Hence there is noth- 

 ing to interfere with a revision of orchard and garden 

 planting practice to insure the pollenation of D. Kaki 

 flowers and the setting of fruit. 



i 



