AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES. 



After what has been said of the various uses made of it by the 

 inhabitants of the monsoon countries, and taking into account 

 its ornamental features, it will not cause surprise to know that 

 its praises are much sung by Chinese and Japanese poets. It is 

 a favourite subject with the Japanese artist, which he imitates not 

 only with his brush but the chisel also — and to be able to repre- 

 sent its characteristic likeness with a io,'^ strokes of the India-ink 

 pencil is considered in Japan an unmistakable sign of artistic 

 ability. 



FAM. PALMEiE. 



6. ChamcErops excelsa, Thunb., Jap. Shuro or Shuro-no-ki, also 

 called Shuro-gi. The wood of this palm is especially valuable on 

 account of its durability and resistance to damp, and is prized 

 above all others in boat and house building. It is also used like 

 bamboo in making hollow ware. 



7. Cycas revoluta Thunb., Jap. Sotetsu. This beautifully spotted 

 but very light and porous wood is distinguished for not splitting. 

 It is used like Keyaki, for small boxes, plates, and other similar 

 articles. (See Hakone-zaiku.) 



Fam. Conifer.^. 



a. Taxacece, Yew tribe. 



8. Taxus cuspidata, S. and Z., Jap. Araragi, Ichii and Suwo, 

 called by the Ainos, Onko — a bush or low tree six meters high, 

 found mostly in Hida and on Yezo, and used often as a decora- 

 tive plant. Its highly valued wood is marked by a beautiful red 

 colour (like our yew), fine grain and great toughness. On account 

 of this last quality it is used by the Ainos for their bows. 



9. Torreya 7iitciferay S. and Z. (Taxus nucifera^ Thunb.), Jap. 

 Kaya (see p. 157), is mostly found as a bush and underwood, and 

 seldom as a small tree. The wood is uniformly firm and thick, 

 light-coloured, yellowish, and serves as building material and for 

 chests and boxes. 



10. Cephalutaxus drupeacea^ S. and Z. [Taxus baccata, Thunb.), 

 Jap. Inu-gaya (see p. 157). The wood is used like the foregoing 

 varieties, but is not so fine-grained and is less prized. 



11. Ginkgo biloba, L. {Salisburia adiantifolia, Smith), Jap. Ichio 

 and Ginkiyo, must be considered a unique specimen among exist- 

 ing conifers, on account of its leaf, blossom, and plum-like fruit 

 forms. Kindred specimens have been found in the Dogger-form- 

 ation and were widely scattered over the northern hemisphere 

 in the tertiary period, but are now reduced to the single Gingko of 

 Eastern Asia. It is now known only in a cultivated state. The 

 Chinese and Japanese cultivate it partly on account of its edible 

 fruits (p. 94), but principally for the adornment of their temple 



