CHAPTER I. 

 The Climate of Japan and Its Local Modifications- 



Unrivalled in her physical endowment, our insular empire, 

 though trifling in area, is characterised by specific climates and 

 soils with numberless variations. From the extreme north to 

 Formosa, spanning 28 degrees of latitude, some 2j>500 miles 

 long, our floral paradise is said to be without parallel in the 

 world. 



The empire abounds in fruits, both tropical and temperate, 

 partly indigenuous and partly exotic. Our continental brethren, 

 have often had the good opportunities to introduce their fruits, 

 most of them with high qualities, with their civilization. The 

 western fruits, especially of the Old World have frequently 

 been introduced with the opening of commercial intercourse 

 mainly at Nagasaki through the hands of the Dutch, Portuguese 

 and Spaniards. Beside, there are a number of introduced 

 fruits dating since the Restoration of 1867. 



Most of these exotic fruits, both of tropical and temperate, 

 varieties, thrive well and some have been found to grow with 

 great luxuriance. 



The archipelago of Japan consists of four major islands, 

 Formosa excepted, and three chains of oceanic islands. 



Being in proximity to the Asiatic Continent, our insular 

 climate has undergone certain disturbance through continental 

 influence. So we find that extreme conditions of climate are 

 greater than those of oceanic islands. 



Thus the difference between the average temperatures of 

 the summer and winter amounts to about 30 degrees or more 

 Centigrade in the north and over 20 degrees even in the south. 



