CHAPTER XXIIL 



JAPANESE PERSIMMON, OB DATE PLUM. 



Among the fruits quite recently introduced into Florida, 

 and, indeed, in the United States, is the Diospyros Kaki, or 

 Japanese Persimmon. 



Wherever it has been tried — and many are now scattered 

 all over the State — it has done well ; even the imported trees 

 have given a satisfactory account of themselves ; and now that 

 our nurserymen have succeeded in propagating it on the wild 

 persimmon stock that grows luxuriantly on pine land and ham- 

 mock alike, we may look for still better results. 



Its successful culture and great profit to the grower is fully 

 established, and henceforth the Japanese Persimmon will rank 

 as one of Florida's favorite fruits. 



In Japan, it is considered the choicest and most popular of 

 all the many fruits of that favored country. 



There are several varieties, some conical in shape, some 

 round, and do not at all resemble in any respect the typical 

 "persimmon" of our own land. 



The fruit of the finer varieties is of a beautiful yellow or 

 red color, and measures from three to four inches in height, and 

 from eight to nine inches in circumference ; of seeds, it has from 

 five to seven of a small size. 



The fruit ripens without frost from September to March 

 and its flavor is so delicious that it is said to be readily under- 

 stood why it is so great a favorite in Japan, where its different 

 varieties have been so carefully crossed and recrossed, that it 

 has become, to that country, what the apple is to the United 

 States. 



The dried fruit is as palatable as the fresh, is fully the equal 

 of the fig, and can be kept a long time ; moreover, the Japanese 

 Persimmon, or Date Plum, as it is often more properly called 



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