JO FORESTRY OF JAPAN. 



occasions they arc also allowed to take the shrubs growing 

 on regenerated land. The Regulations concerning the State 

 forests left in care of temples and shrines, or forests entrusted 

 to villages or towns have been issued for the purpose of 

 preserving the State forests, but also with a full consideration. 

 of their economical relations to the villagers, and according to 

 these Regulations these minor-pioducts are left to be collected', 

 under supervision, by the villagers free of charge throughout 

 the year. 



2. The growth of weeds is remarkable in all parts of the 

 country, the ground being moist. The weeds are allowed to 

 be collected by the people for the purpose of tending the forest 

 and for their special uses, within the limit not affecting the 

 capacity of the ground. The custom of making the weeds in 

 forest and field into fertilizers or to feed cattle with, is still 

 prevalent. There are, therefore, many forest lands throught 

 Japan left open for the special purpose of growing weeds. 

 In the southern part of Honshu there is an objectionable 

 custom of burning those grass fields in winter. This custom is 

 specially prevalent where agriculture is advanced. This 

 burning of dead grass gives very bad effects to the growth of 

 forests. The practice has now greatly abated but is still not 

 entirely abolished. 



3. Mushrooms are a very important minor-product of the 

 forests and almost every forest in Honshu produces them, and 

 there are numerous kinds of mushrooms that are edible. 

 The most important kinds are as follows : 



SJiiilakc ; The dried Shiitake is one of the important 

 staples exported to China, Hawaii, Hongkong, British India, 



