Main Importations


Japan in 1868 proved valueless. One of the lot, the Citrus tri-
foliata, was in great demand in 1895 as rootstocks for grafting.
But Saunders discredited the plant since it dwarfed the growth of
the grafts placed on it. Nearly 14,000 orange, olive, fig, and semi-
tropical plants were distributed in 1879.
 During the 1880's the demand for citrus plants brought more
valuable importations from abroad. The production of lemons
was encouraged in Florida and California in 1888 when seedlings
of the best European varieties were imported and distributed
among intelligent experimenters. Five trees of the Selecta orange
from Brazil were introduced in 1892 and placed in Florida,
Louisiana, Arizona, and California.

 JAPANESE PERSIMMONS

 The Japanese persimmon tree, or Diospyros kaki, bearing the
familiar, orange colored fruit resembling a tomato, was first grown
from seed sent by Commodore Perry to "Lieutenant Maury" in
1856. From the seed planted at the Naval Observatory in Wash-
ington the first fruit was produced on the trees in 1860. None of
the progeny of these trees were distributed. It is not known
whether the plants Commodore Perry brought back from Japan
in 1855 survived the voyage.
 The successful introduction and distribution which aroused a
general interest in this fruit was made by William Saunders, who
recollected his work with this fruit in 1899 as follows:

 It has long been known that the persimmon of Japan, Diospyros kaki, had been
improved as an edible fruit, and that many fine varieties were grown in that
country. Wishing to attempt its introduction, I requested the U. S. Legation in
Japan . to send some seeds to this Dept. Consequently early in the year
1863, a package of seeds were received and planted. They furnished a great
number of plants which made growths from one to two feet in length.
 The real introduction of this fruit commenced about ten years after the above
date. A young Japanese who had spent some time in European nurseries, and also
studied nursery work in this country, and whom I had met in Washington, went
to Tokio and started a nursery. He was well educated and a good correspondent
in English. One of his first works was to select and propagate the best varieties
of persimmons. As soon as he had plants for exportation I ordered 5,000 plants of
his best named varieties which came here in fine condition and were distributed
mainly south of the Potomac River, my experience with the seedling satisfied me
that they would not prosper further north. Other importations were made, and
in 78 or 79 an order for 10,000 plants was made and when they reached San
Francisco about the half of them was distributed in that State (California) where
they prosper. About 100 of this invoice were placed in Norfolk, Va., where they
perfect fine fruits.