67 



clouds, so that downpours are of daily occurrence and the humidity 

 is unusually great. As a result the trunks and limbs of trees are cov- 

 ered with lichens, moss, and fungi. In the woods, and especially on 

 the elevated mountain plains this side of Yumoto, were found a species 

 of wild apple, probabl}- a Crataegus, having a fruit varying from an 

 eighth to a quarter of an inch in diameter. No means of determining 

 the species were available. The San Jose scale had either never been 

 introduced into this region or had failed to get a foothold, and it cer- 

 tainl}^ occurred on none of the trees planted in temple and private 

 gardens nor on the wild plants on which it might have been expected, 

 as, for example, this Crataegus. 



Early in August the writer left this region for an extended trip 

 through the northern provinces, the distance being- covered partly by 

 rail and partly l)v boat, and side excursions were made into the 

 interior by jinrikishas. Either going or returning, stops of sufficient 

 length to investigate the adjacent regions were made at all the princi- 

 pal towns, and from several of these lateral excursions were made. 

 In the north island the exploration covered the principal town on the 

 southern shore, Hakodate, and a trip across the center of the island 

 from the east to the west side, with a stop of some four or five da3"s 

 in the capital town of Sapporo. 



Over a large region in the northern end of the main island of Japan 

 (Hondo) Japanese settlement and complete occupation has onl^- taken 

 place within modern times, and there are still large areas in native 

 grass land, the rolling nature of the country in portions of this region 

 recalling somewhat our own prairies of the Middle West. Through- 

 out this section and in the island of Hokkaido, which is also new to 

 Japanese settlement, the agricultural conditions and methods are 

 totally difi'erent from those of the older settled portions of Japan. 

 Horticultui-e especially is here modeled more directly after the Amer- 

 ican pattern, and in the north island American methods of farming as 

 well as of fruit raising are closely copied. This is largely due to the 

 work of the agricultural college at Sapporo, where for many years 

 were American instructors and a general introduction of American 

 methods. ^J'his institution is continued now under Japanese direction 

 and with a Japanese faculty, but the whole region, both in its fruit 

 raising and general farming, reminds one very strongly of America. 



The chief interest in this region comes from the fact that in the 

 northern provinces of Hondo and in the settled portions of Hokkaido 

 fruit raising has l)een developed on a scale not equaled elsewhere in 

 Japan. The f i-uit raised is chiefl}^ the apple, and the products of this 

 region suppl}^ Japan, and to a certain extent, also, the markets of 

 eastern Asia. The apple is grown in all this region very much as it is 

 with us, in large orchards: the varieties are our varieties, and have 

 been imported from America, very few European varieties having 

 been introduced. 



