AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES. 



55 



The words "Fan," foreign, and " Nanban " (pronounced Namban), 

 that is, southern barbarians, point to Europeans coming from the 

 South, especially the Portuguese ; for they, above all, were called 

 foreigners and "Nanban." The expressions " T6-morokoshi " and 

 " T6-kibi " are no less easily understood, however, than " Welsch- 

 korn " (Italian Corn), and *' Tiirkischer VVeizen " (Turkish wheat) 

 to-day. The Germans became acquainted with maize through Italy 

 and Turkey, and therefore call it after these countries. The 

 same is true of the Japanese with regard to maize, as coming from 

 China. The grain came from that country, and was also, in part, 

 like tobacco, brought directly by the Portuguese, in the period 

 of Tensho (i 573-1 592 A.D.), at the time of Hideyoshi. 



II. Buckwheat {Fagopyrum esciilentinn^ Moench ; Polygonum 

 Fagopyrtim^ L.), Japanese Soba. The home of this plant, which is 

 spread throughout the northern temperate zone, seems to be 

 Mantchooria and the neighbouring regions of Central Asia, where, 

 according to Maximovicz, it grows wild.^ PVom here it was early 

 carried over the north-eastern monsoon region, and in the middle 

 ages across Western Asia to Europe by Mongolian and Turkish- 

 Tartar peoples. As to its cultivation and use, buckwheat is related 

 most to the millet varieties. Like them, it is principally a summer 

 growth ; like them, it is satisfied with light, sandy soil, and fur- 

 nishes in its seeds a meal which is made, in a similar fashion, into 

 soup and broth. This meal, however, is also used to make little 

 cakes, though not in the form of the " Blinies " so much relished 

 by Russians, and the buckwheat cakes of North America. These 

 are unknown in Japanese kitchens, in which another method of 

 preparation prevails.^ As with us, buckwheat in Japan blossoms 

 in late summer and autumn. Its harvest is in October. It is also 

 raised as a winter crop, though rarely. 



(b) Pulse, or Leguminous Plants. 



The agricultural products included under this general name 

 come undoubtedly next to grain in range and importance. In 

 their high proportion of protein, and in nutritious value, they far 

 exceed all other sources of vegetable food, and resemble eggs. 

 Alone, or with eggs and fish, they take the place of meat for many 

 millions of the earth's inhabitants, especially in Eastern Asia. 

 They are called by the Japanese, Mame, a name which is applied 

 especially to various kinds of beans, the most important and wide- 

 spread representatives of the family in Japan. Their use is more 

 diverse than in most other countries. When boiled, they furnish 



^ Maximowicz : " Primitiae floras Amurensis." St. Petersburg, 1859. 



2 " E farina hujus placentas rotundse, saspe coloratae, coctae in usum pere- 



grinantium, in omnibus tabernis venales extant." — Thunberg, 

 p. 169. 



Flora Japonica," 



