10 
P. J. BERCKMANS COMPANY’S TREE AND PLANT CATALOG. 
Persimmons—(J apanese) 
(Diospyros Kaki.) 
PRICES OF TREES. 
3 year, grafted, heavy, well branched, 5 to 6 feet. 
1 year, grafted, ----- 3 to 5 feet. 
Each Per 10 
.50 84 OO 
25 2 OO 
Per 100 
815 OO 
The Japan Persimmon is thoroughly adapted to the Cotton Belt. It does especially well in the coast region. The 
tree is a vigorous grower, an early and prolific bearer. As it is apt to overbear the fruit should be thinned out, leav¬ 
ing only a number commensurate with the size of the tree. The fruit varies in color and shape. The dark-fleshed 
varieties are never astringent, but the light fleshed varieties should never be eaten until soft. The flesh also varies in 
color; in the pointed varieties it is usually deep orange; in these it remains solid and quite astringent until Novem¬ 
ber. but become soft and edible after being house-ripened. In the round varieties, those having dark-brown flesh are 
edible while still solid, while most of those with orange flesh should be allowed to become soft before being eaten. 
The fruit of nearly every variety begins to color when half grown, but should be allowed to hang on the trees until 
just before a frost, is exp-cted, or in the case of the early ripening varieties, when fully soft. If gathered before a 
frost, there is a slight astringency next to the skin, but this disappears after being kept in the house for a few days 
or weeks. If allowed to be slightly touched by frost the flavor is much improved, but the fruit will then not keep 
many days. Gather the fruit before frost, if intended for keeping; some varieti- s will remain sound until January or 
February. The flesh is soft, rich and sweet, and of a slight apricot flavor. Some varieties will be perfectly seedless 
during one or more years, and again every specimen will contain more or less seeds the following season: 
The list we give includes the best and most distinct varieties, with their meaning in English. 
Hacliiya (Beehive in Japanese — Synonyms: Costata, 
Imperial, Yomato). Oblong, with a blunt apex, slightly 
ribbed, 2%x8 inches; average weight. 5 ozs.; flesh deep 
orange red, astringent while solid, but sweet and very 
ood when soft. Should be house ripened, and can be 
ept until March. Tree of vigorous and tall growth. 
Hiyakuiae (100 “me,” a unit of Japanese weight). This 
is perhaps the most desirable of all the round, red-fleslied 
varieties, and as the fruit affects various shapes, it is 
known under many names, such as Found, Taae-nashi, 
or Seedless, etc. The Agricultural Bureau of Tokio gives 
the latter name to a variety with black mottled apex, but 
we And both round and elongated forms upon the same 
tree, as also uniformly orange and orange-yellow colored 
specimens, while many are heavily tipped with black. 
This variation of form and colors has doubtless led to its 
array of synonyms. Fruit large; averaging 8 inches in 
diameter and 5 ozs. in weight; usually flattened, but 
elongated forms are quite common upon the same branch. 
Flesh, bright orange red; keeps very late ; must be soft 
before being edible. Tree of moderate height. 
Mara-Gata (Round shaped in Japanese.) Synonym: 
Yedo Ichi Medium; round; some specimens slightly 
oblong. Flattened at base and narrowing at apex. Skin 
darkjed, often with black mottlings near apex. Flesh ma¬ 
hogany brown, with darker spots. Is edible while solid 
as early as October. 
Miyo-Tan ( Mazeli ). Round or slightly oblong; 2 % 
inches in diameter; average weight, f>% ounces; slightly 
ribbed; skin deep orange red ; flesh usually deep brown- 
red, but bright-red or half-brown specimens are often 
produced upon the same tree, the result of cross fertili¬ 
zation by other varieties. Tree of medium or dwarf 
growth; exceedingly prolific. Fruit keeps very late. 
The brown-fleshed specimens are edible while solid, and 
become so as early as October 1. 
Oka me (Mikado, or Oblong Hiyakume). Large, round¬ 
ish oblate. 8 x 3% inches. Skin orange yellow, changing 
to carmine. Tree vigorous and a gooa bearer. 
Tsuro-no-ko ( Stork Egg; Mino kaki) Large, oblong. 
2H x8 /4 inches ; weight, 4 to 6 ounces,sometimes lOounces. 
Skin bright red, some specimens covered with black at 
apex ; flesh red, very good; keeps late. Edible only when 
soft. Foliage long and shiny; tree compact, of vigorous 
growth. 
Zengi or Zingi (Name of Japanese village.) Small, 1% 
x 2 inches, weight 3 to 4 ozs Flesh dark brown with 
darker spots: very sweet. Edible as early as the middle 
of September, while stiil solid. Very prolific. 
Plums 
Native Varieties. 
IMPROVED CHICKASAW TYPE 
Price, one year old, very fine, 25 cents each, $2 for 10, $15 per 100. 
Varieties of this type are less liable to attacks of curculio than those of European origin, and combine vigor of 
growth with great productiveness. Plant trees 15 or 18 feet apart each way. 
Cumberland. Originated near Augusta, from seeds 
collected upon the Cumberland Mountains in 1804. 
Large, yellow, juicy, sweet, good. Maturity, August and 
September. 
Wild Goose. Large, somewhat oblong; bright Ver¬ 
million red; juicy, sweet; good quality; cling. Ripens 
middle of June. A very showy and line market fruit, 
prolific bearer. 
N. B.—All these plums should be picked when they 
commence coloring, and ripened in the house. In three 
days time they will acquire a brilliant color. If left on 
the tree too long the fruit drops, and never attains the 
quality of that which is house-ripened. 
Japanese Plums 
(Prunus triflora of Botanists; Prunus Japonica of Pomologists.) 
Price of trees, one year, very fine, 25 cents each, $2 for 10, $15 per 100. 
This race is as distinct from our native varieties as is the Le Conte Pear from the Bartlett. The trees resemble 
somewhat our vigorous varieties of the Chickasaw type, but the foliage is larger and quite distinct. Some are hardy 
in the far North, and for our Southern States they open a new era in Flum Culture. We have fruited many varieties 
of this type, and find many of decided value for market and for family use. The confusion existing in the nomencla¬ 
ture as given by the importers of Japanese fruits is such that scarcely two invoices, received under similar names 
contain the same varieties. 
As with the persimmons, our Japanese horticultural friends have given to then- plums names usually indicating 
a class or type, and thus helped our own pomologists in increasing the already existing confusion. 
To simplify the nomenclature, and to avoid the increase of an already perplexing synonymy, specific namos, under 
which these varieties are now being disseminated by leading American nurserymen have been adopted. 
These plums are not curculio proof, and the fruit must be sprayed, as suggested on page 6. Distance for planting, 
16 to 20 feet each way. All are budded on Mariana stock unless noted. 
