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1 



167 



many localities, and is eaten raw or made into a conserve. It is 

 covered with a rind of some thickness, within which are the seeds 

 contained in the pulp, without any shell. The contained pulp is 

 of white, red or yellow color in the varieties, full of bony seeds, 

 as Lunan remarks'. Its cultivation has been carried on by the 

 primitive inhabitants of the main land of America from Mexico 

 to Brazil, from time immemorial, says Unger-, and it is frequently 

 without seed. 



Kaki, or Japanese Persimmon. DiosrvROS Kaki. 



(Ebenace^), 



In California Mr. E. J. Wickson^^ writes that some Japan persim- 

 mons bear seedless fruit the first year, but the second year seeds 

 appear. In a southern paper* the Zingi variety is stated to have 

 buttery melting sweet flesh, and to be without trace of seed. C. C 

 Georgeson-^, in 1887, figures and describes twelve sorts in Japan, 

 one sort with seed is described as " best"; one with the fact of 

 seedlessness or otherwise, or quality not noted ; two with seed 

 not noted, but quality best ; one, seed not noted, quality very 

 good; three seedless, quality hest\ three seedless and quality 

 delicious ; one seedless, quality very good, J. B. Berckmans^ fig- 

 ures and describes eleven varieties; of these one with seed is 



^ pronounced excellent ; oi two he gives no particulars ; one, wo 



statement regarding seed, but quality very sweet, and another 

 >vith no mention of seed, quality good ; of the seedless, one has 

 no statement of quality, one is pronounced good, two are very 

 sweet, one is excellent, and one is best. Mr. N. E. Vandeman^ 

 seems to be able to separate but three varieties In this country 

 as sufficiently well recognized out of the confusion of very many 

 names. Of these the Hachiya has numerous seeds, the quahty 

 below that of some varieties ; the Tane-nashi is seedless, and one 



> of the choicest sorts; the Yemon is seedless, and the best in 



iHort. Jam. i. 35U. 



2 U. S. Pat. Off. Rept. 1S59, 349. 



3LeUerdated Feb. 13, iSSo. 



4 Southern Enterprise, Dec. 1880, p. 72. 



5 Orchard and Garden, Oct. iSSy, Figures. 



6 Rural New Yorker, Oct. 8, 1887. 



7 U. S. Dept. Ag. Rept. 1SS7, p. 643- 



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