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were pro.«pering' finely. Undoubtedly tlie counliy is capable of abundantly producing 

 cereals, with the exception, perliaps, of maize, which, for its successful cultivation as a favm- 

 crop, may require a warmer climate. Hemp of equally excellent quality, as cultivated else- 

 where in Japiin, there is every reason to expect would succeed. 



Approaching Ishkara, at the mouth of the river of the same name, the soil becomes drier, 

 and the elm less plentiful, the maple and linden, with other trees, taking its place. From 

 Ishkara southward toward Otaranai, along the sandy beach, the vegetation exhibits no re- 

 markable peculiarities. The lower part of the plain, extending from Satsporo to the sea, is 

 a dense growth of scrub or dwarf oak. Immediately bordering the sea the sandy hillocks 

 are covered with Rosa rvgosa, which is also plentii'ul on the gravelly soils near Volcano 

 Bay. Its large, fragrant flowers, succeeded by its bright-colored fruit, has rendered it one 

 of the most highly-prized Japanese plants introduced abroad. 



Crossing the mountains from Yoichi to Iwanai, in these higher regions, in addition to the 

 catalogue of deciduous trees, we find several species of Abies, or spruce. The most plenti- 

 ful is Abies pichta found also throughout Siberia. Besides these, of lesser growth, 

 among deciduous shrubs are found Sophura japuTiica and Styrax ohassia, one of the most 

 elegant shrubs in all Japan. Ctrcidopkyllum jwpomcum, a tree of the largest growth, and 

 peculiar to Japan, attains here its greatest size. 



The road from Iwanai to Kuromats does not differ in its general character from other por- 

 tions of the road from Ishkara. Wherever mountain-streams enter into the Japan Sea, there 

 are valleys of alluvial soil expanding in width as they approach the coast. They are sus- 

 ceptible of easy cultivation and of supporting a large population, but at the present time 

 are simply wastes. 



The road from Kuromats to Oshmambe, at the head of Volcano Bay, has also the same 

 general features as that from Yoichi to Iwanai. The rugged mountaius are covered with the 

 same varieties of trees, and the valleys between them are in places rendered almost impass- 

 able by dense thickets of a species of bamboo. The valley extending back from Oshmambe 

 into the interior is equally fertile with those on the west coast, and as equally undeveloped. 

 From Oshmambe to Mori the road follows the shore of the bay, and is comparatively unin- 

 teresting in a botanical point of view, within the range of this report, to that passing through 

 the interior of the island. 



Before leaving the island of Yesso I cannot refrain from again refeiTing to its agricultural 

 resources. The efforts of the government toward developing them are worthy of praise. 

 Much remains to be done, and the fields of action are even closer at hand than at Satsporo. 

 In the immediate neighborhood of Hakodate the experimental farm cannot but have iu time 

 a good influence in improving the modes of cuhivation as at present conducted there. The 

 introduction of nutritious grasses for pasture, or hay for horses and cattle, is to be desired 

 in place of the coarse weeds that are gathered to serve the same purpose and in a very in- 

 sufficient manner. The planting of a larger vanety of hard timber useful for purposes of 

 utility, to take the place of inferior woods, in districts not well fitted for the cultivation of 

 crops, would, in course of time, bean additional source of wealth to the country. 



At Avvomori,on the island of Niphon, we find at once trees peculiar to the island, to which 

 I have already referred as being absent in Yesso, and indicate the milder climate of Niphon. 

 Proceeding farther southward, the change is still more apparent in the growth of various 

 species of Laurus, Osmanthus, Camellia, and ivy ; also the pomegranate and Lagerstroemia, 

 found frequently in the neighborhood of dwellings. 



FACTS FROM VARIODS OFFICIAL SOURCES. 



Chain-boats on the Neckae,. — A borse can draw 20 cwt. od a 

 turnpike, 200 cwt. on a railway, and 1,200 cwt. on a canal, says the old 

 proverb. Horse-towage, which has taken the place of the immense 

 wagons formerly used on the Neckar in Germany, annually transports 

 2,000,000 cwt. An accumulation of freight often causes great delay, 

 and the cost of towage has increased 15 per cent, since 1872. Paddle- 

 wheel steamers and locomotives on the river-bank have both been tried, 

 and found impracticable. It is now proposed to introduce the chain- 

 boats which have proved successful on the Rhine, Neva, Weichsel, and 

 Havel, and which are now or shortly will be placed on the Seine, Ehone, 

 Volga, Oder, Saale, Spree, and Elbe. The system requires a chain laid 

 in the river-bed, which passes over the vessel, being wonnd on friction- 

 rollers in its course, that arc turned by steam-power. The Upper Elbe 

 3 a 



