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Kurile Islands southwards towards the Pacific coast of Hok- 

 kaido. The dense fogs which cover this part of Hokkaido 

 and the northern parts of Hondo are due to this current. 



Next to Hokkaido, the east or pacific coast of Hondo 

 often show the highest percentage. This part is also quite 

 foggy in the summer, though not so densely as in Hokkaido.^ 



Ura-Nippon shows, on the whole, a hjgher percentage 

 than the East Coast of Japan. But it is less humid than the 

 East Coast in summer. 



As regards the air temperature I may add a few words. 

 According to the reports of the authorities, the minimum tem- 

 perature is in January or often in the early part of February. 

 It then gradually, rises with the monthly rate of 4 degrees C 

 and finally reaches, its maximum in August. The« it slowly 

 decreases at the rate of 3.5 degrees C. through September and 

 October when, the rate suddenly drops to 6 degrees C. per 

 month. 



Thus the rise of monthly temperatures is slow taking 

 seven months, while its fall is quicker and requires only five 

 months. 



From the foregoing one can see that the temperature of 

 the air falls below zero in all districts except the extreme south. 

 But there is no serious damages to the growing vegetation. 

 Fruit treas thrives well in the open air. Even the tender ones 

 such as oranges and lemons, grow well without protection up to 

 35 degrees 30 minutes N.L. Of the severe freezing of the soil 

 familiar to continental people we have no experience. Except 

 in the extreme north our open fields abounds in crops and 

 vegetables in winter, and in some sheltered corners peas Bind 

 raipes often break the monotony of winter with white and 

 golden flowers. 



Probably such a state of things would deserve your Wonder. 



As above stated, Ura -Nippon is quite free from frost (or 

 other cooling injuries) the ground being always covet'ed with 

 deep saow, or the sky clouded duriog the winter' and early 



