Grapes for shipping and table use, however, appeal to take the lead,
and the prices reported through the press represent them as being
very profitable.
 APPLES.
 The apple in Florida has not proven a success. In Jefferson
county the crabapple grows wild and it appears there are several varie-
ties of them. Around Monticello they grow quite luxuriantly and,
bear heavily. Many years ago, I am told, large numbers of them
were grafted and budded with improved varieties. These all failed.
This failure, however, may have been caused by an itijudicious selection
of varieties. In Leon county, which joins Jefferson, there are several per-
sons who have tried to produce the early Southern varieties, and have
claimed success. In Hamilton and as far south as Levy county I
have known a few trees to bear, but they have not encouraged a gen
eral effort to cultivate it. I have budded a few of each of about a
dozen of the Southern varieties on LeConte pear stock, and they are
growing off finely. It is barely possible that this valuable fruit may
become acclimated at least in one or more varieties. C,ire will be
taken to test their adaptation at various points, in the hope at least
of finding some section where they will bear and add to our stock of
fruits.

 JAPAN PERSIMMON OR KAKI.
 This is one of the most delicious of oriental fruits. Grafted on
our native stock it succeeds finely, fruiting wherever the native variety
does. The growth is slow, but its fruiting qualities are good. It
makts a beautiful tree and produces a showy fruit, and gathered
when grown and hard, bears shipping to the most distant
points. It ripens up after being plucked, and when fully
ripe will keep for weeks if kept in a cool dry place. I have kept
them for two months after taking them from the tree. It is my opin-
ion that this fruit does not receive the attention it deserves. It cer-
tainly would be very profitable and popular if grown in sufficient
quantities to produce a demand for it.
 Its two great enemies, so far as I have discovered them, is a worm
which eats into the roots, and the birds. A general cultivation of
them would, however, meet the demands of the birds, and proper
efforts may control the grubs. There have been complaints about the
difficulty of getting them to live when transplanted, but I am con-
vinced that this largely depends upon their preparation for transplant-
ing. I have found a very small percentage of them to die, but I
have cut them back freely and also cutting away lateral roots, taking
great care to pack the dirt firmly around their roots and supporting
them with a stake to prevent di placement.
 The Department of Agriculitre sent me the past spring fifteen
varieties, freshly imported, out of which I have lost but three. I shall
plant native seed on which to propagate them. half of which for five
years will be given as per agreement to the Department at Washington.