20 FORESTRY OF JAPAN. 



Varieties of trees being numerous in forests of this zone, 

 there are large numbers of them which possess an important 

 value in the forest economy. The climate of this zone being 

 mild and genial, and the population being dense, gave rise to 

 various productive undertakings so that the supply of forest 

 products falls short of meeting the demand. As a result of 

 the reckless felling of trees for years in the past, there are very 

 few forests which retain their primitive features. In Honshu, 

 such primitive forests are found only in the premises of shrines 

 and temples in various districts. The trees in these forests as 

 they stand at present may be divided into ever-green broad- 

 leaved trees, deciduous broad-leaved trees, and pinus species. 



Of ever-green broad-leaved trees, the following are the 

 important varieties : 



Kusu-no-Ki [Ciunamomum Camphor a Nccs.). This species 

 finds its native soil in Shikoku, Kyushu, and Kii (of Honshu), 

 forming an extensive natural forests, but this species grows 

 in any place of this zone where there is found rich, fertile, and 

 clayish soils, but it especially thrives in southern districts free 

 from the cold wind. In Formosa, it grows even in places 

 which arc i,ooo metres above sea level forming pure or mixed 

 forests with other species. In Kyushu, Shikoku, and the 

 southern part of Honshu, it has been customary with the 

 people to add to the natural scenery of temple^ and shrines by 

 the preservation of this tree species, and therefore in various 

 places there are seen not a few of old trees of this species in a 

 large size. The wood being hard and lustrous retaining a 

 peculiar fragrance, it is prized as the material for costly ap] 

 tus and furnitures. Since the timber possesses durability against 



