AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES. 269 



later, and must be grown in the florist's hothouse for this purpose, 

 as in China. 



In March, the second month of the old Japanese year, the 

 flowers of the Momo, or peach tree {Amygdalits persica, L.) follow 

 the Mume, and towards the end of the month those of the Higan- 

 sakura {Pruniis siibhirtella, Miq.) are seen. Several Magnolias, 

 too, unfold their blossoms at this time, before their leaves come 

 forth. Prominent among them, Magnolia couspiam, Salisb. (^M. 

 Yidan, Desf ), the Hakuren, or white lotus flower of Japan, and the 

 Kobushi (M. Kobus, D.C.). 



April is the flowering time of the second great favourite of the 

 year — the Sakura {Primus psetidocerasiis, Lindl.). This is called 

 the Japanese cherry-tree, because its whole appearance and flower 

 resemble the cherry ; but its fruit is not pleasant to the taste, and 

 not larger than that of our Prunus Padus (see also p. 249). The 

 wild original variety, which grows extensively in the mountain 

 forests, is called Yama-sakura. A great number of varieties, 

 with pink and white blossoms, have been developed from this tree, 

 among which those with very full flowers are especially noticeable. 



The Sakura is sung by Japanese poets almost as much as the 

 Mume, and copied likewise in art-industry. For this, the simple 

 flower of the Yama-sakura is always chosen, and may be easily 

 recognised in decorations by the accompanying leaves. 



The soft air of the south-western monsoon prevails at the flower- 

 ing time of the Sakura. Nature is then at her best, and invit;es 

 again into the open air. It is an old custom and pleasure of the 

 most innocent sort, to wander forth at this time by families, and 

 admire the Sakura — a pleasure in which everybody shares. It is 

 a delight even for the stranger to see so many happy, gaily 

 dressed people. He, too, follows with the crowd toward Muko- 

 jima, Uyeno, Oji, and difl"erent other places in and around Tokio 

 where the Sakura grows in greatest quantities. The Sakura of 

 Yoshino in Yamato has also an old reputation. So by Tomonori 

 more than a thousand years ago, of whom a couplet runs this way : 



" Wenn ich auf Yoshino's Berg die Bliithe der Kirsche erblicke, 

 Tauscht mich ein liebiicher Trug, denn sie erscheinen wie Schnee." ^ 



A kindred species appears here and there in gardens about the 

 end of May — the Niwa-sakura (Garden Sakura), or Ko-sakura 

 (Little Sakura), also in full bloom. It is the Japanese dwarf cherry- 

 tree {Primus japonicay Thunb.), resembling Amygdalus nana in its 

 bushy appearance. 



The Yamabuki {Kerria japonica, D.C.) has earlier, and at the 

 same time as the Sakura, unfolded its yellow blooms. The wild 

 bush is very frequent in the mountain forests and on the river 



^ " Miyoshino no | yamabe ni sakeru sakurabana | yuki ka to nomi zo \ aya- 

 metari keru." — Lange, Old Japanese Spring Ballads. Berlin, 1884. 



