\^ I N D FALLS . 



Grafting the Persimmon. — Robert A. Mills read an 

 interesting paper before the Florida Horticultural So- 

 ciety on the Japanese persimmon. After giving its his- 

 tory in America he said that he had 300 trees all grow- 

 ing on native stock. " My choice of all the processes for 

 propagating the kaki is root-grafting on native persim- 

 mon stock, and if possible where the native tree comes 

 up. The best size is '2 to i inches in diameter at the 

 crown. It is not a serious objection if they stand within 

 a foot of each other, or the roots can readily be trans- 

 planted in grove form, and when the leaves are off and 

 at the end of the following year root-grafted. Grafts 

 will grow if put in from November until the leaf-buds 

 begin to swell on the native persimmon. Kakis 'leave 

 out' in this portion of Florida later than the native trees. 



"Grafting is so simple a process that even a novice 

 may succeed with very little previous experience. After 

 selecting the stock to be grafted, it is cut or sawed off at 

 the ground, or below the surface if the ' stock ' is long 

 enough to allow splitting and inserting the graft. The 

 graft should be cut wedge-shaped, the slopes about 

 three-fourths of an inch long, leaving more bark on the 

 (to be) split stock. Then place a piece of old cloth or 

 paper over the top of the stock and heap damp earth on 

 it, just covering the top of the graft. Grafting wax is 

 not required. 



" Frank Phillips, a neighbor and expert nurseyman, 

 has adopted the plan of cutting the stock to be grafted 

 at an angle of 45°, cutting the sharp end square off 

 about the width of the graft, and then applying grafting 

 wax, as he usually grafts above the ground. His theory 

 is, that the sloping cut will heal quicker than a horizon- 

 tal one. I have adopted the slanting cut when grafting 

 kakis, omitting the grafting wax, as I prefer the root 

 graft and damp earth, but apply crude pine gum, using 

 the cloth or paper for protecting the split from the soil 

 falling into it until the healing takes place. (Crude 

 pine gum is a valuable application to freshly pruned 

 trees or to large limbs taken off when they are to be 

 transplanted). 



"In this vicinity one fruit grower has planted out 

 twenty acres to kakis and several others have from a 

 few hundred to a thousand or more. 



"Very few insects are enemies to the kaki. An ex. 

 caption is the 'girdler ' beetle, which is quite destructive 

 to all trees it may attack, but its ravages can be check, 

 mated if one will carefully gather the several branches 

 in which the eggs are deposited (before girdled) and 

 burn them. " 



A Well Merited Kick at Transportation Weak- 

 ness. — The Philadelphia Produce Exchange delivers 

 itself as follows; 



"Resolved; First, That we pay no lump freight bills. 



' ' Second, That after May 25 we pay no freight bills ex- 

 cept those bearing shipper's name, with itemized freight 

 charges. 



' ' Third, When goods come as routed we decline to pay 

 a higher rate of freight than that named in the bill of 

 lading. 



' ' Fottrth, We protest against the diversion of freight to 

 any other route than that selected by the shipper, and 

 when such diversion shall be made by any carrying 

 company to a slower route than that named in the bill 

 of lading, we shall claim damages for any loss in condi- 

 tion of such shipments growing out of a delay in transit. 



" Fifth, That we will demand payment for damage 

 caused by delay in transit or from improper handling. 



• ' Sixth, That we will render bills to the transportation 

 companies for shortage in shipments at same price the 

 balance of shipment sold for, and will in no case dis- 

 count said bills. 



" Seventh, That we recommend the appointment by the 

 Exchange of a special committee of five, to consider all 

 grievances arising in the transportation of goods, and 

 with full power to act in case individual firms cannot 

 get a satisfactory adjustment thereof, and to communi- 

 cate with the Inter-State Commission as to our legal 

 rights in the points submitted, provided, that any ex- 

 pense incurred by this committee shall first be approved 

 by the Board of Managers. 



' ' Eighth, That we recommend the Exchange to supply 

 its members with issued tariff freight rates and with 

 time schedules from all points, as may be required. 



" Ninth, That we recommend the appointment by the 

 Exchange of an inspector under control of the above 

 committee to visit transportation depots and docks at 

 any and all times when goods are unloaded and delivered 

 to consignees, and that the Exchange shall request the 

 transportation companies centering at this point to recog- 

 nize the authority, and as far as possible, facilitate the 

 work of this inspector, provided, that any cost of such 

 inspector shall be defrayed by subscriptions from mem- 

 bers of the produce trade. 



Plums in Louisiana. — Plum growing in southwest 

 Louisiana is gaining ground. Our soils seem to be fitted 

 by nature to produce nearly all varieties of plums. The 

 "Old Field," or Chickasaw is a success, and many of 

 the fruits are excellent — very large, rich and juicy. 

 The Wild Goose grows and bears right along. Mariana 

 is healthy and strong. All the Japan family find a 

 pleasant home in our warm climate, and come into 

 bearing early. It is really wonderful to see them grow. 

 Satsuma is something to be proud of. It commences to 

 fruit early, and is very large ; but for beauty of foliage, 

 the Primus Pissardii stands at the head. I crown-grafted 

 a single cutting of the pissardii into the peach in Feb- 

 ruary last ; it is to-day, by measure, 3 feet 10 inches in 

 height — a perfect beauty. The fruit is a little acid ; said 

 to be fine for cooking and preserving. — W., Haasville 

 P. O., La. 



Large Sweet Potatoes. — Keep the vines from root- 

 ing outside the row or hills. Keep free from weeds and 

 grass, as they pump up the moisture from about the 

 plants and obstruct the sunlight. One of the largest 

 sweet potatoes I ever saw was grown in hard, black soil, 

 by training the plant up the side of the house. This 

 vine grew 20 feet long, and bloomed as freely as any of 

 the other vines. — A Correspondent. 



