i64 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY. 



ations since then, from 106,000 yen in the year 1878 to 377,000 in 

 1873. England and the United States are the chief purchasers. 



The amount exported and its value depend in this case, too, 

 upon the demand. If the demand were to increase, Japan would 

 soon be in a condition to meet it, by limiting the use of candles 

 on the one hand, and also by gathering and utilizing the very 

 considerable quantity of lacquer-tree fruit which now often goes 

 to waste. Besides, the country still has at its disposal great areas 

 in which the cultivation of both species of sumach might be ex- 

 tended, in case it should be advantageous. 



16. Ibota-ro, Ibota-wax, from Ligtistrum Ibota, Sieb. (Z. vulgare, 

 Thunb.) This is very solid, of a beautiful white colour, fibrous, 

 and with a silky sheen, like the fibres of asbestos. It resembles 

 Chinese Pelah-wax, which is produced by the Coccus Pelah (a kind 

 of cochineal) on the young shoots of Fraximis cliiriensis^ Roxb., as 

 is well known. Ibota-wax is said to result from the secretions of 

 a similar insect. I do not know how it is produced or used, nor 

 have I observed that cochineal insect on the Ibota-privet, which 

 is very widely distributed.^ 



Supplementary. 



Thunberg, in his "Flora Japonica," p. 180, remarks, under Melia 

 Azedarach, that a fatty oil of the consistency of wax is made 

 from the fruit, which is ripe in December, and that this is used for 

 making candles. This note has found its way into several later 

 works. 



In reference to this, however, I agree with Siebold's remark : 

 "E fructibus exprimitur oleum (Thunb.), id quod ignoro," and am 

 ready to believe that this is a case of confusion with RJms succedanea 

 or R. vernicifera, to whose fruit that of Melia Azedarach bears 

 some resemblance, though it is much larger. 



Siebold says oil is obtained also from the fruit of Litscea glaiica, 

 L., and L. Thunbergii^ Sieb. {Tomex japonica, Thunb.), but I could 

 learn nothing further as to that. 



Kujira-abura, whale or train-oil, and Gioto, or fish-oil, are ob- 

 tained from the animal kingdom. The large number of herring- 

 species {Clupeacei) caught, especially on the coasts of Hondo and 

 Yezo, are utilized for the most part in the manufacture of fish-oil 



^ I take opportunity, though late, to thank Prof. Fesca of Tokio for the follow- 

 ing observations on this subject, collected by his Japanese assistant : 



" Ibota-wax is obtained principally in the provinces of Chikuzen, Chikugo, and 

 Buzen, on the island of Kiushiu, and is brought to market via Osaka. The 

 total amount from these three provinces is only 2,000 kin (1,202 kg.) a year. 

 The price ranges from 50 to 70 yen for 100 kin. The Japanese use this fat as 

 varnish (.?) for their furniture." A small specimen of the raw material, sent me 

 by Prof. Fesca, consists of light, loose lumps of a grey- white colour, which 

 feel like flour. 



