i8o AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY. 



tions which fell to the lot of the Etas, were accordingly not 

 characterized by great results, and tannic acids had less con- 

 sideration as such than as agents for producing black in dyeing. 

 Of recent years, European habits of dress and systems of arma- 

 ment, in military and official circles and elsewhere, have brought 

 about a change in this respect. Both tanning and shoemaking 

 developed rapidly, and gained an honourable position in public 

 opinion. Side by side with this arose a demand for tanning 

 materials, in which the country abounds. This is now met in 

 great part by oak-bark, particularly that of the Kashiwa {Quercus 

 dentata, Thunb.), though that of the Yama-momo {Myrica rubra, 

 S. and Z.) is also highly prized. 



Two other Japanese tanning principles, however, are of much 

 greater interest and very peculiar. These are universally known 

 by the names Fushi and Shibu, and are much used. 



By Fushi or Gobaishi are meant the peculiar galls, rich in 

 tannin, of Rhus semi-alata Murr. {^R. Osbeckiiy D. C, R. javanica, 

 L.). This beautifully-leafed sumach is called Narude, Fushi-no-ki, 

 Kachi-ki, or Yenbuju. It forms a good-sized shrub or small tree 

 3 to 8 m. high, which is widely spread in the mountain-forests of 

 Japan, as of East Asia in general. The galls are produced in the 

 form of large blisters, of many shapes and sizes, averaging 4 to 5 gr. 

 in weight, 4 to 6 cm. in length, and 2 to 4 cm. in circumference at 

 the thickest part. They are very irregularly shaped, possess knobs 

 and horns, and as a rule hang close to the leaf-stems (seldom to 

 young twigs) with a horn that runs to a point, like the hanging 

 chrysalis of many diurnal butterflies. The ground-colour is brown, 

 though it is visible only in the protuberances, while the rest is 

 covered with a short, dense, felt-like hairs. Stripes are plainly 

 visible about the narrowing basis, gradually fading away towards 

 the thicker parts, especially on the convex side of these singular, 

 many-shaped galls. Their walls are generally about 0*5 mm. thick, 

 though in exceptional cases 3 to 4 times thicker. They are very 

 brittle, translucent, and horny. 



These peculiar formations are said to be occasioned by the sting 

 of a leaf-louse {Aphis chinensis), like Chinese gall-nuts. They are 

 indisputably of all galls the richest in tannic acid and the most 

 valuable, containing as they do 65 to "jZ per cent, of tannin.^ 



The Fushi-no-ki (gall-apple tree) I hav^e seen very often in 

 Japan, but only occasionally its galls. The best come from Shi- 

 nano. Nasu in Shimotsuke, Chichibu in Musashi, and the provinces 

 of Bingo, lyo, Idzu, and Kii were mentioned as further sources 

 of supply. The amount sent to market, however, does not greatly 



^ For a more detailed account see under Gallae chinensis, pp. 246-249 in 

 Fliickiger's " Pharmakognosie des Pflanzenreichs," Aufl. 2. A good picture of 

 the plant with a gall is given in part 2 of the eight-volume Japanese work, " K6 

 yeki koku san ko^" (Thoughts concerning the distribution of useful products of 

 the country), by Okura (Nagatsune), Osaka, 1844. 



