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fruit or as a stock on which to graft the persimmon. In China it is largely cultivated, and the fruits, known as 4ez-tsao or ‘black dates,” are an article of commerce. (A.H.)

The date-plum was early introduced into England, being cultivated by Gerard? in 1633 or earlier. It grows easily from seed, and, according to Loudon, at the rate of 12 to 18 inches annually, if planted in rich soil,? but requires a warmer climate than ours and never attains a large size, so far as we know, in England; though trees of 20 feet or so in height are sometimes seen in botanic gardens and in parks. It ripens fruit usually every year at Kew.

Mayr® figures the wood, which is very remarkable on account of the contrast in colour between the black heart-wood and the pale sap- wood. Judging from this and the wood of the Japanese kaki, this wood if procurable would be valuable for cabinet-making ; but, so far as I know, it is nowhere common enough to have acquired any recognised commercial value. (H.J.E.)

1 Herball, Johnson’s edition, 1495 (1633).

2 The seedlings which I have raised from seed collected in France, seem liable to injury by frost, and do not ripen their shoots when young.

3 Fremdländ. Wald- u. Parkbäume, 464, t. xvii. fig, 29 (1906).