PERSIMMO V. 365 



At the present time the Japan varieties (Dii)fij>ijros Kaki) are attracting 

 much attention in sections of tlie South wliere the thermometer does 

 not fall Ik'Iow ten th's^rees above zero. In tlie coast re!;ion, from 

 Korfoll^ soutliward, and (juite o-cncrally in tlie cotton belt, they 

 reach perfection of tree and fruit, jiy buddint:; or grafting; them 

 above ground on native stocks their culture has Ijecn extended north- 

 ward to New Jersey and South Ohio, but tliey suffer during sevei'c 

 winters. At this period varieties are Ijeing introduced from A'orth 

 Japan and from Cliina. Hon. Charles Denby, thi' United States 

 Minister to t'liina, sent scions of liardier Chinese varietie ^ to the Depai't- 

 ment of Agriculture, which «'ere lost l>y drying during the voyage. 

 But the seeds he sent at the same time grew, and about thre<> hundred 

 seedlings have been sent out for trial. Some (.if these may extend 

 the culture of large and good varieties northward. IteceTit attempts 

 have also l)een made, we are told, t:i introduce tin- hardy and good 

 varieties of south Central .\sia. .\s the Japan vai'ieties bear ^^"hen 

 onlv from two to four years old, and the fi'uit is set so abundantly 

 that thinning is needed to keep up needeil size and t(.i ]ir('Vi>:it the 

 trees breaking do^'u, the jiroductiou of train-loads I'or niar];et iu 

 congenial climates is t'asily possilile. hhit it is a new fruil and our 

 peojile must be cducateil to its use. 'the i-ound or llattened varieties 

 with dark desh, sucli as the Mazeli, will prove most [jrolital)le htr 

 market here, as lias already lieen experienced in France, a; they are 

 sweeter, less astringent, and can be eaten l)eforc they are entirely 

 softened. These varietie? can also be picked when hard, and will 

 ripen up in the crates lil;e tomatoi's. In the near futui-e the best 

 varieties will l)e sliijjped, wrapped in tissue-paper, as in France, and 

 instruction given tlie grocers not to expose for sale until in (!ie proper 

 condition for dessert use. 



When grown in larger (juantity the best varieties ^^■i]l also be 

 dried like figs. The \\riter, in connection with man}' .Vniericau 

 visitors, at the great commercial fair at ,\ ishni-.Xovgoroil in ISSL', 

 decided that the dried and pressed .\siatic persimmons were far more 

 delicious and healthful than the Adriatic (igs prepared in tlie same 



'\\'ay. 



The earlier \-arieties of these persinnnons mature gradually. Hence 

 growers go over the plantations several times at inter\'als, select- 

 ing the fruits in proper condition for shi|iment. This is easy 

 after a little experience, as the color varies in ripening with 



