Tony

http://www.oldimprints.com/OldImprints/search.cfm?UR=37504&search_stage=details&records_to_display=1

Tony, let us know if you find a source for it.

Alex

The larger size and brighter color of the Japanese persimmons
have to some extent attracted the attention of southern fruit growers
away from the hardier though less conspicuous native species. In
recent years, however, a number of promising varieties of the more
widely distributed of our native species, Diospyros virginiana, have
been named and introduced. There has at the same time been a
general recognition of the desirability of growing hybrids of these
species in the hope of securing varieties hardier than the Japanese
and yielding larger and possibly less astringent fruits than the native
parent. One such appears to have resulted from an accidental cross
of the Yemon (synonym Among) on Josephine, on the grounds of
Prof. T. V. Munson, of Denison, Tex., about 1893. a Professor Mun-
son grew a large number of seedlings of Josephine from seeds of a
tree of that variety near which stood several trees of Yemon. From
among these he selected a number that showed thicker and more
pubescent twigs and larger leaves than their seed parent, resembling
in these respects the Japanese species. Some of these showed much
more strongly marked Japanese characteristics in tree and fruit than
does this one, which he named Kawakami in 1902, but he preferred
it to them because of its superior hardiness and vigor of growth as
well as its marked retention of the distinctive flavor of the Josephine,
which is considered superior to that of most of the Japanese varieties
known in this country.

Professor Munson propagated the variety for dissemination about
1903, 1904. Its behavior thus far warrants the belief that it is con-
siderably hardier than any of the Japanese varieties yet tested in this
country and likely to succeed through a wide geographic range.

DESCRIPTION.

Form roundish oblate, sometimes quadrangular; size medium to
large ; cavity regular, of medium size and depth, with gradual slope,

a Letters of T. V. Munson, October 12, 1908, and April 2, 1909.

PROMISING NEW FRUITS.

covered with bloom; calyx small, segments reflexed; stem short,
stout; apical point, short, stout; surface moderately smooth; color
brownish yellow, covered with a bluish white bloom ; skin thin, ten-
der; seeds plump, broad, of medium size and number; flesh yellow -
i>h. translucent, with yellow veins, crisp, meaty, tender, moderately
juicy; flavor sweet and rich, with but slight astringency; quality
good to very good. Season medium to late, September 15 to Novem-
ber 1, in northern Texas. Tree more spreading and stocky 7 than
Josephine but less productive. It has thus far endured the winters
as far north as Farmingdale, 111., and is considered worthy of testing
throughout the native persimmon belt.

I was searching for some more American persimmon varieties and found the article on ehow, http://www.ehow.com/list-7701550-american-persimmon-varieties.html. Within this list, I saw this Kawakami hybrid persimmon dated back to 1900. I was supprised that no one mentioned this hybrid persimmon. We all known about the Russian Hybrids. I just want to know what happen to it? I would love to grow one if it is available on the market somewhere, ?USDA? to obtain the scionwood? I hope someone out there still have this live hybrid.

Tony

He must have been one interesting guy with such an eye on multiple crops.

Tony

The other thing would be to check which state and federal experiment stations issued bulletins on persimmons around then and inquire of them if old experimental stands still exist. These exist in some other woody crops. I'm searching for what is believed to be a natural hybrid of muscadine and a close more-southern grape relative (named, ironically, after Munson: Vitis munsoniana or Vitis rotundafolia var. munsoniana). It too was popular enough to be named and distributed, though the selection name escapes me at the moment.

Tony

Bass

Bass

That is very good news for persimmon enthusiasts like us all. In couple of years we will have more hybrids. In, addition, I hope the person in charge of persimmon at the USDA can come up with the source for Kawakami, that will be awesome.

Tony

Bass

I didn't see any kaki's. I did see about 20 grape vines at the home. ALso a local university has about 90 of his grape varieties about 10 miles away.

I'll follow up with the people in charge of the house and see if they know Of any kaki's. Also I'll contact the university prof in charge of the vineyards. And next oct I could drive through the neighborhood looking for the fruit. Though after 110 years who knw what is still alive.

I am glad you have the chance to visit Pf. Munson's home. Too bad that there were no persimmons present. I hope this is not the end of this hybrid.

Tony

http://webpages.charter.net/jtholdeman/PFLC1_QLH.pdf

"Diospyros cv.Kawakami originated near Dennison, TX. It is thought to be a hybrid of D. virginiana x D. kaki.(Note: The female parent is always named first:) Some investigators consider it to be a large fruited American persimmon (McDaniel 1974 p 60)."

Tony