FORESTRY OF JAPAN. 2J 



adapted as the material for buildings, ornament's woods, earth 

 works, and the building of ships and bridges. In point of 

 variety of utilization and the high respect in which it is held, 

 this tree occupies the most important position among the 

 conifers in Japan. It grows in ail the districts such as, the 

 central and the southern part of Honshu, Shikoku, and 

 Kyushu while in those provinces of Kii, Yamato, Musashi, 

 Totomi, and Tajima, artificial forests of this species occupy a 

 greater part. The natural growth of this tree of the Imperial 

 forests in Kiso are celebrated as one of the three beautiful 

 forests in Japan, and natural forests of Koya-san in Kii province 

 arc known for the production of large timber of this species. 

 The native soil of this tree is found in the central part of 

 Honshu at the height from 550 metres to 1,500 metres above 

 sea level but it grows in either above or below the said altitude 

 provided that the air does not lack a proper amount of mois- 

 ture, either alone or mixed with other species, retaining the 

 perfect sylvan features. 



Miba (Thujopsis dolabrata S. ct Z.). Together with 

 Chamaccypcwis obtusa S. ct Z., Chamaecyparis pisifera S. ct Z., 

 Thuja japonica Maxim., Sciadopytis vcrticillata S. ct Z., this 

 tree constituted the five important species, so-called "five 

 trees' of Kiso during the feudal times and enjoyed careful 

 protection as "Tome-ki" (Lit. the preserved tree). This is 

 principally grown by means of natural regeneration but seldom 

 by artificial planting. Such districts as Aomori, the northern 

 end of Honshu, are celebrated for the existence of the pure 

 growth of this species while in the State forests covering an 

 area about 100,000 cho in peninsulas as Tsugaru, and Nanbu,. 



