FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
29 
petition with citrus and tropical fruits ; 
but there is nothing more delicious than 
a well ripened fig or preserves made from 
it, and every family ought to have a few 
trees for home consumption. 
A year ago the Subtropical Laboratory 
received a consignment of caprifigs from 
California, through the Department of 
Agriculture, of which some varieties did 
very well last year, when the freeze of 
last winter killed nearly all to the ground. 
They have sprouted very well, however, 
and are making rapid growth. The fruits 
of these figs are not edible, but the plants 
are necessary for the propagation of the 
Blastophaga, which again is necessary in 
the caprification of the Smyrna figs. 
Later on, when the caprifigs are well es¬ 
tablished, Smyrna figs will be tried and 
Blastophagas introduced from California 
where this insect is well distributed in the 
fig region. The progress of this experi¬ 
ment will be watched with much interest. 
Persimmons can scarcely be said to 
have had a trial in the lower east coast. 
I have seen remains of trees that were 
planted several years ago, but I am satis¬ 
fied that the failures in many instances 
lay with the cultivators. 
Trees that I know receive intelligent 
culture are now making good headway 
for their age (four years), and are this 
year bearing their first crop. The native 
persimmon grows wild on river banks and 
moist land, and there is apparently no 
reason why the Japanese persimmon 
should not do well budded on this stock. 
DISCUSSION. 
Mr. Gibbs—What is the color of the 
leaf of that wild grape to which you re¬ 
fer? Is it the wild scuppernong? 
Mr. Wister—It is very similar. 
Mr. Gibbs—Over on the Indian River 
peninsula where I live, nearly opposite 
Melbourne, there is an interesting grape 
slowly getting a foothold among the wild 
scuppernong. The foliage is much lighter 
in color, and the fruit nearly as large 
as the Concord, and is a dark red. It is 
very acid, but it is the best jelly grape 
we have tried. It is not a true bunch 
grape, but often shows clusters of three 
to five berries. It is sometimes found 
bearing heavily, but generally seems to be 
a shy bearer. I have heard it called the 
“Missim” grape, but have suspected it 
was an escape from some of the Munsons 
that were brought in by Dr. Hall, an early 
settler. 
By W* C Steele* 
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: 
I have very little to say on the subject 
of grapes, figs and Japanese persimmons. 
There was a time, years ago, when I was 
familiar with all the varieties of figs which 
are grown in Florida, and with most of 
the northern varieties of grapes. But 
for several years I was engaged in other 
business, which prevented me from keep¬ 
ing up my acquaintance with them. Du¬ 
ring the last three years, circumstances 
have enabled me to learn something of 
present conditions. But the subject has 
been so thoroughly and ably discussed by 
previous committees, that there is but lit¬ 
tle left to report. So far as I know, no 
