70 Transactions Tennessee Academy of Science 



The Native Persimmon. 



Being equaled in food value by one other fruit, and that the date, 

 I must place the native persimmon (Diospyros Virginiana) first. 

 Fortunately, the persimmon thrives over the greater parts of the 

 State of Tennessee. The native persimmon offers a challenge to 

 ambitious plant breeders for improvement, and the persistence of 

 the plant to grow in almost any kind of soil, and its ability to pro- 

 duce abundant and regular crops, make it a most desirable fruit, 

 yet it must be admitted that it has been sadly neglected. The per- 

 simmon is found growing wild as far north as 38 degrees latitude, 

 yet it is known that it will thrive and ripen its fruit as far north as 

 the Great Lakes. Of the fourteen wild varieties, the most of which 

 are found growing in Tennessee, it is claimed that six originated in 

 Indiana, four in Missouri, one each in Illinois, Kentucky, Missis- 

 sippi, and Pennsylvania. When the varieties receive more attention 

 in the future, other varieties will be added to the now small list. 

 In this State, the erroneous impression has gone abroad that the 

 persimmon is unfit for food until the frost has fallen on it. I have 

 been observing different varieties for over ten years, and the one 

 that I consider the best ripens its large oblong fruit in early August. 

 Other varieties follow until the tenacious ones (which are usually 

 marked with a great degree of astringency) hold on with a tight 

 grip until they are eaten by boys, birds or wild animals in the dead 

 of winter. 



Persimmons are easily propagated from seed, in the same manner 

 as peach trees, but as the varieties will not come true, they must be 

 either budded or grafted. The native persimmons of Tennessee are 

 easily top-worked with the Japanese persimmon. I know a man in 

 Knox County who has been quite successful, and the large luscious 

 persimmons that he produces on our native trees are equal to any in 

 size or flavor that are produced anywhere in the extreme South. In 

 Tennessee, the size of the tree depends entirely upon the variety and 

 soil. (The tree is a difficult one to transplant on account of its large 

 tap-root. j Trees in our State grow anywhere from 15 to 80 feet in 

 height, but from my own observation, I have noticed that the smaller 

 trees, or those ranging from 15 to 30 feet in height, are the heaviest 

 and most regular bearers. As a food for the human family, the 

 persimmon should lake an important place. It is not generally 

 known lliat fioiii lliis fruit may be made most delicious ice cream, 

 candy, cake, and bread. It may be used in various other useful ways. 



