258 AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY. 



light and very porous. Cross-sections of it are used for Dobin- 

 shi, or mats for little tea cups, and it is further used for turning 

 various small articles. The most notable of these varieties are : 



138. Actinidia arguta, Planch. {Trochostigma arguta, S. and Z.), 

 Jap. Shira-kuchi, Shira-kuchi-katsura and Ko-kuwa. 



139. A. polygama, Planch., Jap. Matatabi (p. 92). 



140. A. voliibilis, Planch., Jap. Tsuta-no-ki. 



Fam. Magnoliace^. 



The wood of the varieties belonging to this family are moderately 

 light, equal, fine grained, soft, somewhat elastic, but not very durable. 

 In the cross section sharply defined year-rings are to be seen, 

 very fine, extremely numerous and evenly distributed pores, and 

 fine, prominent pith-rays, also very numerous. The following 

 varieties deserve special mention : — 



141. Illicium religiosum, S. and Z., Jap. Shikimi (pronounced 

 Skimmi). This small tree is found wild in Southern Japan, is cul- 

 tivated in gardens, and especially in the neighbourhood of Buddhist 

 temples. In April it displays its numerous sweet smelling yellow- 

 ish white blossoms. The vases of Buddhist temples are adorned 

 with its branches, as those of the Shinto sanctuaries with Sakaki. 

 The bark of the Shikimi (Shikimi-no-kawa) is used as described 

 on p. 136 to make the quill-like brown Makko, or incense candles. 

 The wood is employed in making chopsticks, and in turning. 



142. Magnolia hypoleuca, S. and Z. {M. glauca, Thunb.), Jap. 

 H6-no-ki. This fine, highly interesting tree appears in all the 

 mountain foliaceous forests of Japan from Kiushiu to Yezo, not, 

 however, collected together, but scattered about among other de- 

 ciduous woods. Towards the north its frequency increases ; it 

 attains here, also, its largest dimensions, trunks of more than 2 m. 

 circumference and 20 to 25 m. high. It is found, also, in the high 

 foliaceous forests of Middle and Northern Hondo, on the island of 

 Yezo, and even in Southern Sachalin. It rivals in height and 

 thickness the other deciduous forest trees in its company, and all 

 the other varieties of its own race, even the North American M. 

 grandiflora. Few of its kindred endure the rigours of winter so 

 well also. 



H6-no-ki loves a good soil, and grows best in the shade of high 

 trees, especially the beech forests. Oaks, maples, ashes, and 

 especially yEsculus turbinata, and Calopanax ricinifolia are fre- 

 quently its companions, as has been before stated.^ 



^ Dupont errs in his work, which has already been several times quoted, when 

 he says (page 58) " On le trouve toujours associe au chataignier (Kuri)." On the 

 contrary, I found the Ho but seldom in the company of the chestnut, which 

 latter makes far less demand upon the soil, but much greater upon the light and 

 heat. It loves sunny mountain slopes, but does not grow in the same high alti- 

 tudes as the magnolia. 



