100 
BOTANICAL INDEX. 
Imperial, or Yamato — Color vermillion, often with dark stripes on the surface; 
oblong, or acorn shaped; large; flesh soft, and very sweet when ripe. When peeled 
and dried, it is covered with sugar that exudes from the fruit, and resembles figs. 
Will ripen on the trees, but is usually picked and ripened in casks. Season from 
October to January. 
Mikado — Bright yellow or orange; flat, or tomato shaped; flesh solid; usually 
picked and packed in casks to ripen ; young trees are said to produce seedless fruit. 
Daimio — Yellowish red, with black or dark stripes about the eye; oblong, with 
rounded apex ; flesh soft, fine flavor; medium size. “Yeddo’s best persimmon.” 
Ripens in October. 
Boyal — Light, yellow, hut darker than the last; round, large; fine for drying. 
Gosho, or “Emperor’s Palace” — Red, tinged with orange; round; medium size; 
claimed to he superior to all others in richness of flavor. Ripens readily on the tree. 
Nihon — Yellowish red, with black spots on the surface, often reaching down into 
the flesh; round, or slightly oblong; flesh solid, very sweet; rather small; very pro- 
lific; keeps well. Ripens on the tree in September. 
Taikoon — Greenish, or pale yellow; rouxxd; large. Ripens on the tree in October. 
A great favorite in Western Japan. 
Kanosan — Yellowish red; oblong; apex bent to one side; medium size. Must be 
picked and packed to ripen. 
Maine Gaki — Not edible, but the juice is used for paint. The only one producing 
a valuable wood for cabinet ware, etc., being of fine grain, mottled and black, like 
ebony. 
The Diospyros Kaki is also cultivated in China, where the fruit, after pressing and 
drying, forms a very important article of exportation under the name of “ Chinese 
Fig.” In China, as well as Japan, thei’e are several distinct varieties produced by 
hybridizing and cultivation, that are very fine, particularly the Ox, Heart, which is 
deep red and very sweet. 
The trees grow quite large and attain great age, some being known to be 100 years 
old. They are very ornamental and graceful, when planted singly on the lawn ; but 
the seedling trees would not be likely to prove true to the desired variety, any more 
than our natural fruit of apples, and seedling trees do not fruit until about ten years 
old. The choicest cultivated (grafted) varieties are the only ones worth growing 
here. They will commence bearing in four years from grafting, but the fruit for the 
first year or two is often astringent. The older the trees the better they will fruit, 
and the finer the flavor and size of the fruit. Like our apples and pears, they prefer 
a light or gravelly soil to come to perfection, and will probably prove hardy from 
about 42° north latitude to the Gulf of Mexico, which is about the ran ge of the Amer- 
ican species. In Nipon, Japan, latitude 40 Q , where the snow falls to the depth of 4 
or 5 feet every winter, and remains on the ground from about the middle of December 
to the middle of April, the fruit grows 10 inches in circumference. The tree has 
proved a great success in California, where large numbers are being planted. It is 
pronounced hardy at Flushing, N. Y., and some have also stood the past winter in 
central New York, or about latitude 43^. There is probably a difference in the har- 
diness of varieties, as some are reported as injured by the cold in the same or even 
warmer localities. It seems established, however, that it can be grown successfully 
in a lai'ge portion of this country. 
Pxuce List. — Trees, 1 year old, $ .50 
“ 2 “ “ 1.00 
Seed, per dozen, 50 
Trees sent by mail, 10 cents postage. 
GEOGRAPHICAL BOTANY. 
EASTON, PA., FEPNS. 
BY MISS IDA HAY. 
A di amt urn. pe datum, L. 
AspUnium trichomanes , L. 
“ ebeneum. Ait. 
Aspulium marginale , Swartz. 
u acroatichoides , Swartz. 
[We are pleased to have the privilege of again presenting to our readers a carefully 
prepared list of Fern, from a new locality, and hope to be furnished with a new list 
for each number. We find names of very rare species from this locality, which adds 
value to all these lists. — E d.] 
Botrychium Virginicum* Swartz. 
Lygodium palmatum, Swartz . 
Osmunda cinnamomea, L. 
Polypodium xulqare, L. 
Pteris aquilina, L. 
Pellcea atropurjnirea , Link. 
Woodsia obtusa. Torr. 
Camptosorus rhisophyllus, Link. 
