168 



FLORIDA FRUITS. 



is a fine shipping fruit, and will bear transportation safely to 

 great distances. 



The tree is highly ornamental ; leaves dark, glossy green, 

 shape symmetrical ; it is a very prolific bearer, is as hardy as a 

 pear-tree, and fruits sooner. The seedling tree bears in about 

 ten years, but is apt to "sport," and hence is not desirable, be-" 

 cause not reliable. 



Budded trees fruit in from one to three years ; they prefer 

 a light, sandy soil, are not afiected by curculio, grow to a large, 

 size, and attain the age of a hundred years, while losing none 

 of their vigor. 



A number of varieties have been introduced into the United 

 States ; and of these there are two principal divisions, one of 

 which is large, round, and shaped like a greening apple. The 

 flesh of this variety resembles that of the pear or apple, and is 

 eaten in the same way ; it is unsurpassed for the table, and con- 

 sidered equal to the peach and pear. Its color is a rich golden 

 hue, and the flesh " juicy, vinous, and firm." This variety should 

 be inclosed in a tight cask for a few days after picking, to ren- 

 der it perfect. 



The other variety is oblong, like a " Minie ball " in shape ; 

 " it is soft, sweet, and custard-like, is eaten with a spoon, and 

 with cream and sugar is one of the most delicious fruits that is 

 known," 



The fruit of this variety attains a very large size, and owing 

 to the large amount of saccharine matter it contains, is the sort 

 usually dried, and prepared like figs for market. In this form it 

 is sold as sweetmeats in the shops of Japan. 



Professor W. E. Grifiis, the author of " The Mikado's Em- 

 pire," tells us : 



" As regards the value of the Japanese Persimmon, there 

 can be but one opinion, the tree itself is one of the handsomest 

 of fruit trees, and in the fall, with its golden-hued fruit hanging 

 to the branches after the leaves have fallen, forms a beautiful 

 and striking picture in a landscape. As to the fruit itself, it is 

 nutritious, palatable, and to a high degree charged with those 

 chemical ingredients which give most fruits their value in pre- 



