PRODUCTS AT THE ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. 411 
5. Wax from Rhus vernicifera, Dec. 
Up till quite recently extremely little has been known as to 
the details of the lacquer industry of Japan. The Kew Museum 
did not contain a single specimen illustrative of it, or of any thing 
belonging to Rhus vernicifera, Dec. which yields the peculiar 
varnish-like substance which is the foundation of lacquer. 
Tn order to remedy this defect, application was made to the 
Foreign Office for the assistance in the matter of H.M.’s Lega- 
tion in Japan. The result was the formation and despatch to 
this country of the most complete collection illustrative of the 
products of the Japan varnish-tree, and of the Japanese lacquer 
industry, which has probably ever been got together. For this 
excellent piece of work the greatest credit is due to Mr. J. J. 
Quin, H.M. Acting-Consul at Hakodate, who further enhanced 
the value of the collection by a minute and valuable Report on 
the whole subject, which is printed amongst the Foreign Office 
Blue-books*. 
From this Report, which, although it will always bea standard 
authority for reference on the subject, will probably find its way 
into the hands of but few botanists, I extract the following pas- 
sage descriptive of the conditions under which Rhus vernicifera 
grows in Japan :— 
“The Rhus vernicifera, the well-known lacquer-tree of Japan, 
is met with all over the main island, and also in smaller quanti- 
ties in Kiushiu and Shikoku; but it is from Tôkiô northwards 
that it principally flourishes, growing freely on mountains as 
in the plains, thus indicating that a moderate climate suits the 
tree better than a very warm one. Since early days the cultiva- 
tion of the tree has been encouraged by the government ; and 
as the lacquer industry increased, plantations were made in 
every province and district. The lacquer-tree can be propagated 
by seed sown at the end of January or the beginning of February. 
The first vear the seedlings reach a height of from 10 inches to 
l foot. The following spring the young trees are transplanted 
about 6 feet apart; and in ten years an average tree should be 10 
feet high, the diameter of its trunk 23 to 3 inches, and its yield 
of lacquer sufficient to fill a 3-ounce bottle. 
“A more speedy method is, however, generally adopted. The 
roots of a vigorous young tree are taken, and pieces 6 inches 
long and the thickness of a finger are planted out in a slanting 
* Japan, No, 2 (1882). 
