THE PERSIMMON. 671 



no way of distinguishing a male from a female tree, until they 

 have blossomed, and nurserymen are therefore unable to tell 

 •what they are selling, it is rather a drawback to the cultiva- 

 tion of the fruit beyond its native habitat. — Ed.] 



By fermentation an excellent beer and by distillation an in- 

 ferior spirit is made from the persimmon. The fruit is also 

 greedily devoured by birds and by the opossums, insomuch 

 that an abundant crop is interpreted by the countrypeople 

 as a sign of fat 'possums and a hard winter. 



The Japanese have worked upon their own r^alCwQ.diospyros 

 till it has become the most highly esteemed of all the fruits 

 of the island empire, and the original little berries have not 

 only improved in flavor but increased in size till some exceed 

 a pound in weight. Planted everywhere, it is now a con- 

 spicuous feature of their landscape, and, aside from its value 

 as food, travellers unanimously agree in extolling the beauty 

 of the broad, glossy leaves, and the brilliant crimson and 

 golden tints of the fruit clinging to the branches after the 

 foliage has fallen. This species, D. Raki, although brought 

 into Europe from China over a century ago, has only within 

 a few years been known here. In the spring of 1863 the first 

 seeds were received and planted in the garden of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture at Washington. These grew off well, 

 but were killed by frost in winter. The experiment was re- 

 peated with the same results, proving the climate of that lati- 

 tude to be too severe for the varieties then introduced. About 

 ten years later, some grafted trees of the best varieties were 

 imported and distributed throughout the Southern States. A 

 more extended experience proved them to be about as hardy 

 as Magnolia grandiflora. Some are more tender than others, 

 but all are perfectly safe where the mercury does not fall be- 

 low ten degrees for any considerable length of time. In the 

 coast region from Norfolk southward, and all through the 

 cotton-belt, they seem to be perfectly at home and vie in 

 vigor and productiveness with the native species. From parts 

 of New Jersey we hear reports of their survival during mild 

 winters and of satisfactory fruitage, and it is possible that 

 when varieties from the more northerly and colder parts of 

 Japan have been tried here, some may be found even more 

 resistant than any we now have. Much about the same time 



