ftitfjfti topics. 
experiment (Lkouiut.s' of the l&ural 
gi^eui-^Jorker. 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS. 
A nett) white grape, 4 seed potatoes , quarter 
half and whole; fertilizer for potatoes 
and corn on poor land; a hybrid between 
a pear and ornamental Japan quince; a 
new blackberry. _ 
A New White Grape.— A viue of a new 
white grape originated by David Bundy, of 
Colerain, Belmont County, O., was planted in 
May of 1885. It is now fruiting for the first, 
and we are much impressed in its favor. Tt 
ripens here with Moore’s Early. The viue is 
quite vigorous and healthy, the berries free 
of rot. The Berries are of medium size, 
yellowish-green with little bloom, very juicy, 
small-seeded, with tender pulp, sweet, yet 
sprightly. The skin is thin but firmer than 
that of Lady or Niagara. The bunches are 
of medium size and not shouldered. Judging 
by this, its first season of fruiting, it is the 
earliest and for the earliest the best white 
grape we have yet tested. That the berries 
have not rotted in this season of general rot 
does not prove it will not rot next year even 
though it prove unfavorable to this grape 
scourge; yet the presumption is much in its 
favor. 
Size of Seed Potatoes —Twelve years 
ago in the sandy soil of the Rural Farm (Long 
Island) a series of experiments were made 
with the view of determining, as between single 
eyes, double eyes, three eyes, half pieces and 
whole tubers, which would yield the larg¬ 
est and most profitable crop. The same ex¬ 
periments were begun here four years ago but 
dropped at the end of that season. They were 
resumed the past season and the following is 
the first report of the series. The variety is 
an early seedling of our own. Its fault is that 
it yields too many small potatoes. The soil 
was a somewhat, impoverished loam. The 
seed was planted in trenches (four inches deep) 
and three feet apart, one piece dropped every 
foot. At the rate of* 800 pounds per acre of 
Williams, Clark & Co.’s potato fertilizer was 
strewn in the trenches after the pieces were 
lightly covered with soil. Season wet. 
Trench No. 1.—Rather small potatoes were 
cut into four pieces. Yield per acre at the 
rate of 230.41 bushels. There were 193 mark¬ 
etable potatoes and 56 small. The vines were 
rated June 27 as six, 10 being best. 
Trench No. 2. Half Potatoes were used 
in this trench. The yield per acre was at the 
rate of 350.06 bushels. There were 105 mar¬ 
ketable—2S2 very small, none large. The vines 
were rated June 27 as six. 
Trench No. 3. Whole Potatoes.— The 
yield per acre was at the rate of 278.00 bush¬ 
els, of which 230 were marketable and 310 
gm all. 
It will be seen that whole seed gave 48 bush¬ 
els pei 1 acre more than quarter pieces and 22 
bushels more than bait' pieces. But the num¬ 
ber of unmarketable potatoes increased with 
the size of the seed—the whole pieces giving 
the greati st number, the half pieces next and 
the quarter pieces fewest. This is quite in ac¬ 
cord with the Rural’s experiments of 12 years 
ago. 
Fertilizers on Poor Land. —We hired a 
few acres of laud near us last spring that has 
never had any manure on it so far as any one 
knows, and that wasso used up that corn would 
not ear upon it. Three eighths of an acre 
were planted with Blush potatoes, medium- 
sized tubers being cut in four pieces. A fur¬ 
row was plowed every three feet and a piece 
dropped every two feet and lightly covered 
with soil. Then a hag of Stockbridge potato 
fertilizer was strewn in the furrows and the 
furrows were filled. When the vines were six 
inches high, half a bag (lOOjpounds) of Mapes’s 
potato fertilizer was strewn a foot on cither side, 
which was mingled with the soil at the first 
and only hoeing. Thus the three-eighths of 
an acre received 300 pounds ol potato fertil¬ 
izer or at the rate of 800 pounds to the acre. 
The plot was cultivated but once. The yield 
was 90 bushels of splendid potatoes, nearly all 
of marketable size, which is at the rate of 240 
bushels to the acre. 
The season has been very wet so that the 
crop did not at any time suffer for water. 
This was not intended as an experiment at all, 
and we speak of the results only because all of 
our neighbors are surprised at so large and 
fine a yield of potatoes on land that no one 
supposed could be induced to yield a paying 
crop of anything. Now the rest of this field 
(eight acres) after receiving a somewhat larg¬ 
er quantity ol fertilizer, broadcast and in the 
bill, was planted to corn. But the yield of 
grain will scarcely pay for the labor and 
manure. How shall we account for the 
splendid yield of potatoes and the poor yield 
of corn? The season has hereabouts 
been as favorable- for the one as for the other. 
A Hybrid Pear-Quince. —For several 
years past horticulturists have been exercising 
themselves over the old question “whether 
the fruit is changed in any way by foreign 
pollen?” For example, if the ovary of a 
Bartlett Pear blossom were fertilized with 
the pollen of a Seckel, would the pear, in 
shape or quality resemble the Seckel? Or in 
the ease of true hybrids, if the ovary of a 
pear were fertilized by the pollen of an apple, 
would the pear resemble an apple in any way? 
Many careful experimenters are convinced 
that pistillate strawberries are influenced in 
shape, color, size and flavor by the male 
parent. For example, a Jewel fertilized with 
Sharpless may resemble the Sharpless. Other 
careful experimenters bold that strawberries 
are not in the least influenced by the male 
parent. This is our own belief from general 
observation through many years, though we 
have never made test eases. But if it he 
granted that the strawberry is influenced by 
the pollen of other kinds, this gives no evi¬ 
dence that fruits are thus influenced, since, as 
we all know, the so-called seed of the straw¬ 
berry is the true fruit while the pulp is 
merely a growth of the receptacle which sup¬ 
ports it. 
As bearing upon the real question, the fol¬ 
lowing queer caso may be worthy of record: 
A young Lawson (Comet) Pear tree bore six 
blossoms. The stigmas of two of these blos¬ 
soms were pollenatod with the pollen of the 
ornamental Japan Quince. Of the six blos¬ 
soms, these two alone set fruit Both ma¬ 
tured and were of the shape shown in Fig. 351, 
an exact portrait of one. One of them was 
seedless; the other had four seeds, hut they are 
shriveled and do not look as if they would 
germinate. 
TnE new blackberry, “Topsy,” was re¬ 
ceived from J. T. Lovett, in October, 1885. 
Its leaves are notably small aud thick. The 
stems are armed with terrible hooked thorns' 
the fruit is of medium size aud inferior quali¬ 
ty. Its distinct appearance is its one poor 
claim to any notice whatever. 
ptmo Logical. 
JAPANESE PERSIMMONS. 
(Diospyros kuki.) 
PRES. P. J. BKRCKMANS. 
First experiments;propagation and cultiva¬ 
tion; insects; dropping of the f ruits; pro¬ 
portion of male seedlings; hardiness; Bal¬ 
timore the northern limit of fruitage; 
gathering; commercial value; varieties; il¬ 
lustrations. 
While the numberous notices of this fruit 
which for several years past have appeared in 
the Rural New-Yorker have described 
many of the varieties, yet the whole has not 
been said, ami I therefore submit whatever 1 
have been enabled to observe in the extensive 
cultivation of the fruit during the past twelve 
years. 
As with most new pomological products, 
the first experiment swith Japanese persim¬ 
mons did not all result satisfactorily, and for 
several years their cultivation was restricted 
to amateurs’ gardens,as the fruit was supposed 
to be merely interesting and ornamental rather 
thau possessing any commercial or edible 
value. The early importations from Japan 
consisted of trees of small size, usually imper¬ 
fectly rooted,and this added to defective pack¬ 
ing made their survival uncertain. As a large 
proportion of the trees fail to start in growth 
until midsummer, unless carefully treated by 
mulching, they are often prematurely up¬ 
rooted. Not until trees of better quality be¬ 
gan to reach us and others propagated here 
were added, did this fruit really begin to show 
its value, aud become recognized as one of 
our pomological resources. 
Propagation and Cultivation. — The 
early introducers stated that it was impossible 
to propagate the several varieties unless 
grafted upon seedlings grown from Japanese 
seed. This was soon discovered to he unten¬ 
able as our native spe< ies is eminently suitable 
for stocks, and as subsequently proven supe¬ 
rior for that purpose to the seedlings of the 
Kaki. Our native seedlings have better aud 
more numerous roots,and, unlike the Japanese, 
have branched tap-roots, the latter usually 
forming a single but enormously long tap¬ 
root with few laterals, and thus they are diffi¬ 
cult to dig up and transplant. 
Budding is best performed upon 
young seedlings during May or 
early in June, while they are still 
in a semi-herbaceous stage of 
growth; Inter in the season bud¬ 
ding is less successful. But the 
surest method of propagatiug is 
by cleft-grafting upon the collar 
of the roots, three or four iuclies 
below the surface, and in the 
Southern States during Febru¬ 
ary. Top-grafting is less success¬ 
ful, although many old trees of 
our native type have been thus 
converted into fruitful Japanese 
persimmons. 
Wherever practicable trees 
should not be removed after the 
seed is planted; it is best to sow 
the seed in permanent places and 
graft the seedlings the following 
year. The proportion of trees 
that will staud successful trans¬ 
planting varies very much, unfa¬ 
vorable weather during March 
and April following later may 
entail a loss of 50per cent., where¬ 
as in normal seasous 90 per cent, 
are often secured. This refers 
to home-grown trees, and upon 
native stocks; the loss iu imported trees 
is often 75 per cent. This arises mainly 
from their imperfect condition of maturity at 
the time they were dug. Many varieties 
keep in vegetation far into the fall, and in 
order to meet the demand of American 
dealers, their Japauese friends are compelled 
to ship the trees before they are fully 
matured. Such trees, if exposed to a slight 
frost here, are usually iujured, but if carried 
through safely the first winter, they can 
stand afterwards through our coldest weather. 
The cultivation is quite simple and similar to 
that given to peur trees. Finning seems fatal 
to some varieties, especially Okame and 
Ziughi, but others staud close trimming with¬ 
out injury. No special soil is required for 
their success; but a high, well-drained situa¬ 
tion gives the best results. Low and rich soils 
of a swampy nature will almost always cause 
the trees to die, or if they survive transplant¬ 
ing. the after-growth is slow aud unsatisfac¬ 
tory. 
Insects and Failures. —The fruit is en¬ 
tirely free from insect depredations, but when 
fully matured, birds will fiud out the sweet¬ 
ness of the soft pulp and together with bees 
and wasps will soou destroy every specimen 
allowed to remain on the tree in that condi¬ 
tion. So far the only insects which have 
caused auy injury to the trees are, first,borers 
(Saperda ?) which eat out the pits ami roots, 
often barely leaving the bark untouched, and 
this mere shell crumbles upon being touched. 
Sawyers orgirdlers (Oncideres cingulatus) are 
often exceedingly troublesome, large limbs 
being frequently cut off, while smaller twigs 
are dipped every fall, thus destroying the ter¬ 
minal buds and injuring the symmetry of the 
trees. The remedy suggested for borers is a 
dose examination of the trees and an mme¬ 
diate removal of the larva 1 by using a knife 
or a barbed wire. For sawyers or girdlers 
the remedy So far known is preventive only, 
and consists iu burning all the fallen twigs, 
thus destroying prospective broods of insects. 
But by far the most serious drawback is 
what is commonly called “die-bark.” The 
foliage of a branch, or even the larger part of 
the head suddenly assumes an unhealthy ap¬ 
pearance; after a few days the leaves fall off 
and the wood is found to be completely dead. 
Still the remainder of the tree may continue 
in most vigorous condition during the re¬ 
mainder of the growiug season; but with sel¬ 
dom an exception the whole tree will die dur¬ 
ing the following winter. No well substantia¬ 
ted cause has so far been discovered for this 
failure, as trees of any age and iu the most 
luxurious condition of growth are stricken. 
Removing the deseased limbs so soon as there 
is evidence of weakness, is so far the only par¬ 
tial remedy suggested. 
Dropping of the fruit.— If much rainy 
weather occurs during April or May, a large 
proportion of the fruit will fall off aud no pre¬ 
ventive has so far been discovered. Many 
varieties set. fruit iu such profusion that thin¬ 
ning by hand should follow iu some instances 
even if part of the fruit has dropped. 
Seedlings.— Seeds, whether imported or 
home grown, germinate readily. Fully 50 
per cent, of the seedlings die during summer, 
and if in good soil, those that survive make 
a growth of from six inches to four feet. 
Those seedliugs show a great variation of 
forms, the foliage of the stronger-growing 
ones being hut little distinct from that of some 
of our native forms, while many of the others 
resemble the improved or named sorts of their 
type. Those with large leaves often produce 
flowers the third year, while the most vigor¬ 
ous specimens do not show these until they 
are five or six years old. The proportion of 
male trees is very large, not over 10 to 15 per 
cent, of the seedliugs being fruitful. Again 
most of the fruitful trees yield a small acerb 
and worthless fruit, thus corroborating the 
statement of one of our most erudite and 
traveled pomologist that the proportion of 
edible seedlings is not as great as that derived 
from eumniou apple seedlings. It is therefore 
unadvisable to propagate Japan persimmons 
from seed for the purpose of producing or¬ 
chard trees as the results are very unreliable, 
but experiments by this method should by all 
means be made by amateurs, as new varieties 
of value may be thus produced. 
Hardiness.— While the habitat of the na¬ 
tive species ranges from Texas to the New 
England States, the Japanese is more re¬ 
stricted in the area wherein it can be success¬ 
fully grown, but it is safe to say that some of 
the varieties may stand the winters as far 
north as where cotton can arrive at maturity. 
From the fact that seedlings have been pro 
duced in Tennessee, which stood a cold of sev¬ 
eral degrees below zero, when all grafted im¬ 
ported trees were killed, the supposition 
arises that there are various forms in Japan, 
ns in the United States, some of which are, 
like some apples, more hardy than others, and 
if experiments are made upon this hypothesis, 
varieties susceptible of withstanding the win¬ 
ters as far north as our native species, will tie 
produced The uumerous trees now found in 
the cotton and orange zones of the Southern 
States, are so thrifty aud productive that they 
could scarcely do better in the country of 
their origin. Perfect fruit has been produced 
as far north as Baltimore, wliich seems so far as 
now known, to lie its extreme northern limit. 
Gathering, etc.— The fruit of nearly all 
the varieties varies from a light to a dark 
orange or verinilhon, some varieties being- 
yellow. It begins to color when half or three- 
quarters grown, but should he allowed to re¬ 
main upon the tree until just before a frost is 
expected; or in the ease of the early ripening 
varieties, when fully* soft. Late-keeping 
kinds, if gathered before a frost, although 
soft, have more or less astringency next to the 
skin, but this disappears after being kept in 
the house a few days. If slightly touched by 
frost there is an improvement iu the quality, 
but the keeping properties are lost Keep the 
fruit iu a cool and dark room where a supply 
can be had for the table from October until 
March. As the fruit adheres firmly to the 
stem, the latter should be cut with a sharp 
knife. 
Borne varieties are apt t*> over-bear, small 
trees, three to four feet high, yielding as many 
as 150 persimmons. It is advisable to thin 
these out so soon as the fruit has set in the 
spring. There is also some difference iu the 
jjeriod when vegetation begius. Late frosts 
occasionally nip the first growt h, which is very 
often succeeded by another and fruit sets 
abundantly. This year the unusually low 
temperature which prevailed here early iu 
April destroyed the fruit, and none appeared 
upon the subsequent growth. A second crop 
often sets iu August, hut the fruit seldom at¬ 
tains more than half the normal size. 
Commercial Value —Owing to the limited 
quantity of fruit produced by any one grower, 
few shipments have been so far made to 
Northern markets; hence it is difficult to ar¬ 
rive at their market value. Two years ago, 
in order to test this point, we shipped a dozen 
crates, each holding a peek, to New York and 
Philadelphia. At first, sales were slow, but in 
a low days returns were received, four dol¬ 
lars per crate from New York a ,d four dol¬ 
lars and a half from Philadelphia and are- 
quest from the latter poiut to send all that we 
could secure. Just as the ease stands with all 
new products, consumers must become gradu- 
Hybrid Japan Quince and Pear. Fig. 351. 
