26o AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY. 



143. Magnolia Kobus^ D. C, Jap. Kobushi. This wood stands 

 next to H6-no-ki in abundance. It is found in Middle and Northern 

 Hondo, also on the island of Yezo, generally in the plains, on river 

 banks and edges of woods, and even in the lower mountain forests. 

 It does not grow as high as the preceding, but broadens its crown 

 still more, and forms a beautiful tree, which blossoms while it is 

 putting forth leaves. 



There are six other magnolias which are known in Japan, though 

 not in sufficient numbers to have a value as wood-producers ; Mag- 

 nolia conspicua, Salisb. [M. Ynlan, Desf. .?), M. parviflora, S. and Z., 

 M. obovata, Thunb., M. salicifolia, Maxim., M. stellata, Maxim., and 

 M. compressa^ Maxim. 



144. Katsura japonica, L. {Uvaria japonica, Thunb.), Jap. Sane- 

 katsura, Binan-katsura and Kuro-gane-modoshi, i.e.^ iron sumach, 

 is a notable sumach variety of the foliaceous forest. In the autumn, 

 before the leaves fall, it has a glowing brownish red colour. The 

 long trunks, from a finger's to an arm's thickness, are distinguished 

 by their cork-like bark and the flexibility of their wood, so great 

 that it is often used instead of cables in small bridges, and in other 

 cases where strong binding is required. 



145. Cercidiphylliini japonicum, S. and Z., Jap. Katsura. Mag- 

 noliacese find their greatest representative in this beautiful tree of 

 the mountain forests of Northern Japan. Its heart-shaped leaves re- 

 semble those of the Cercis-tree, as the name of its species might 

 indicate. It grows to a height of 30 m., and a circumference of 

 4 to 5 m. in the warm part of Yezo, and is found also in Hondo 

 of a similar size, but only exceptionally. It is marked by rapid 

 growth, a layer of wood 4 to 5 cm. thick being the yearly addition 

 to the trunk of old trees. A soil made up of crumbled clay- 

 shale on a basis of volcanic material suits the Katsura best. Its 

 light soft wood is darker than that of H6-no-ki, is of a light red 

 varying to yellowish brown, is capable of high polish, and used in 

 furniture making, and for the same purposes as H6-no-ki. 



146. Umure-gi (vulgo Omore-gi), i.e., fossilized wood, and Jin-dai- 

 boku, or wood from the time of the gods, is a heavy, dark brown 

 lignite. It is used for making numerous articles, such as plates 

 and trays, adorned with mottoes, flowers, birds, and other decora- 

 tions, which are sold in Nikko, Tokio, and elsewhere. The wood, 

 which looks like dark walnut, but fails in resemblance on closer 

 investigation, is said to come from Sendai (Natori-gawa), hence the 

 designation of these articles in Tokio as Sendai-no-umure-gi-zaiku. 



