( S ) 



In Japan the national drink is sake (i.e. rice-wine). This 

 .liquor is used universally and by all classes, from Mikado to 

 the lowest members of the community, and is to be found in 

 evidence on all occasions of joy or grief, fortune or misfortune. 

 As a beverage, it may be considered inferior to the liquors of 

 Europe and America, but it is not likely that these will take 

 the place of sake in this country, seeing that the latter has 

 been in use for many centuries in close association with all 

 rites and ceremonies. In recent times scientific investigators 

 have introduced an improved process in the brewing of sake by 

 adopting the pure yeast culture of western methods, and thus 

 are enabled to manufacture a better liquor than formerly, and 

 whatever hygienic value and fine flavour may be possessed by 

 the fruit wines of the west, they do not take any strong, hold 

 on the appreciation of the Japanese. 



Another cause of neglect in the cultivation of fruit trees 

 is the fact that a large area that would be suitable for that pur- 

 pose is occupied and has to be maintained under forest for the 

 production of fire-wood and charcoal. The amount of land 

 required for this purpose is enormous, for up to the time of the 

 Restoration the only fuel used in Japan was wood and char- 

 coal, and even now coal forms but a small percentage of the 

 country's fuel. These forests require but little attention and 

 are profitable to the owners on that account. 



Finally, to summarize the causes why in Japan fruit culture 

 has not been taken up to any extent, it may be stated ; — 

 (l.) That as the principal food of the Japanese consisted 

 of starchy and sugary substances, these have not deve- 

 loped a taste or desire for fruit. 

 (2.) Japan being surrounded by the sea, fisheries developed 

 to a great extent, and consequently fish were consum- 

 ed very generally while the consumption of the 

 flesh of cattle was but little. The former has lighter 

 taste, than the latter. 

 (3.) In all Japan, pickled vegetables have taken the 



