10 
BOTAXICAIi IXDEX. 
announce our purpose to add a native fruit department to the Index, which we hope 
to make of interest, particularly as very many of our readers never have the oppor- 
tunity of seeing them growing. Most of these fruits are not considered of any 
commercial value, consequently are seldom seen in cultivation and only imperfectly 
known. We have no doubt, however, that they will all or nearly all some day be 
cultivated as ornamental trees, or- that they will also be improved and cultivated 
for their fruits. We shall have them illustrated in our usual superior artistic style, 
and shall strive to present their claims for attention in a careful manner. We would 
be pleased to receive any observations and facts from others, for which due credit 
will be given. 
There is very little probability of the American Persimmon being cultivated for 
its fruit for some time to come — at least in the Northern States — for the fruit has 
such an exceedingly sour and astringent taste until frost has eradicated it, that no 
pomologist will care to risk his reputation on them. However, we think it quite 
probable they will eventually be improved by hybridizing and cultivation, for, like 
all other native fruits, we often find single trees producing quite superior fruit. To 
illustrate this point still further, we would refer our readers to the very interesting 
article, by Mr. Loomis, of San Francisco, Cal., in the October number of the Index, 
on the Japanese Persimmon. Here we find a fruit naturally no better than our own, 
but which, by cultivation and improvement, is said to have few superiors in point of 
excellence, and still retain its durability and hardiness. But let us finish talking 
about the tree. 
As a rule, all trees when growing near together or in communities, i. e., forests, 
send up a single tall trunk, evidently seeking light and fresh air from the summit of 
the surrounding forest, with usually only a few, often short, scraggy branches. Now, 
the Persimmon is no exception to this rule, being often found 60 and 70 feet high, 
but like many other trees their whole nature is changed when grown alone on a 
lawn, or even with only a few others in a park, with plenty of light and air upon all 
sides. Then they seldom grow more than 20 or 30 feet high, with long, slender 
branches and a handsome pyramid-shaped head. It is then we think it worthy a 
place on our lawns and in our parks. The wood is very hard and of quite a dark 
color — almost black; indeed, it is really a valuable one, or would be if the tree grew 
a little larger, but as it only grows about 18 or 20 inches in diameter, its commercial 
value is somewhat impaired. But as it belongs to the valuable ebony family of trees, 
perhaps some day when it is better known it will be more sought after for the wood ; 
for the fact is becoming more apparent each day, that something must soon be done 
to replace the wholesale destruction of timber, especially in the older settled portions 
of our country; and already we hear of tree planting for a future supply of timber, 
not only in the treeless prairies but in some of the older settled States. It is becom- 
ing quite a serious subject of inquiry among foresters as to the most valuable kinds 
to plant. Certainly it would be poor policy to plant anything without due regard to 
its future commercial value. 
We have prepared an illustration (Figs. 80 & 81) of a branch with fruit and leaves 
attached, as they are usually seen growing, which conveys a better idea than words 
can do. The leaves are nearly smooth, thiekish, ovate-oblong, and grow alternately 
on the limb. The flowers are produced in May or June, and are small, greenish, and 
dioecious, (£. e., sterile and fertile flowers borne on separate trees), the fertile ones 
(Fig. 80 a) borne singly in the axils of the leaves ; the sterile ones smaller, and usually 
in clusters. Fig. SO, b, represents a fertile flower laid open, showing the position of 
the stamens upon the inside of the corolla. Fig. 80, d, represents a single, globular, 
plum-like fruit, surrounded at the base by the persistent thiekish calyx which remains 
attached to the fruit until it decays. Fig. 80, c, is a section across the fruit and seed, 
showing the eight large, flat and bony seed in their relative position. (For the use 
of this cut we are indebted to the kindness of Prof. Asa Gray.) Fig. 81 shows the 
fruit as they are seen growing upon the branch singly, but so near together that they 
seem to be in clusters. The fruit is very bitter and sour while green, but sweet and 
juicy (in the Southern States) when ripe, and of a bright orange-yellow color. In 
the North they are not eatable until after exposed to one or more severe frosts. But 
the action of the frosts is not followed by an immediate decay of the fruit, as is 
usually the case with fruits, but it still adheres to the tree, and, in the language of 
the country, is edible and good nearly all the winter. This property of preserving 
its edible condition for so long a period, without the aid of artificial preserving, 
should be an incentive for some pomologist or nurseryman to attempt their skill at 
improvement, and add another fruit to our list of fresh winter fruits. 
There is a second American species, (Z>. Texana, Scheele,) growing in Texas, that 
produce a dark-brown or black fruit when ripe, that is rather sweet and juicy, but 
usually considered insipid. The trees are small— or, rather, they should be called 
large shrubs — growing in clusters, flowering in March and April, and ripen their 
fruit in August. ( Young's Flora of Texas.') 
