1. -24 ■•> 



Of the practical apple; growing cfenters, Tsugaru or Hiro- 

 saki region in Awomori-Ken' and Kazuno or Hanawa: region 

 in Akita-Ken have long since taken the leadership, ' in the 

 central markets of Tokip and other cities. Their fruits are 

 -unsurpassed in quantity and in ftavour and Iceeping: quality. 

 As regards appearance, they are often inferior to those of 

 .Hokkaido. Here they are planted on steep hill-pides or in 

 i^ich alluvial , deposits with gravelly subsoiL They are also 

 often grown in humous soils with fair success^ although would 

 remain fruitless in such soils in south Japan. .. Hence it is clear 

 that in North Japan climate is the, primary factor, in the produc- 

 tion of good apples, while the ; soil ; plays only a subordinate 

 part. . : ■ 



Though apples are grown , with best results in these dis- 

 tricts insects; and disease give trouble. Fungi arte kept away 

 by means of.spraying and bagging, and those, neglected are 

 always subject to the harm of parasites. 



, The ,■ spot , fungus and sooty mould,. ;bo.tih : of Tv'hich are 

 saprophytes, grow on the fruit skin and thus spoil their appear^ 

 ance. ,'■,,- ...'.■' '.-..'. ■ /■•.: .■-. .. 



.Aside from the parasites oX friiits.and trees; the .abundance 

 of th ese saprophytes on the fruit skin :would .surprise -any; con- 

 tinental growers, -anti are unipislakable; proofe ofour: warm and 

 liumid-climate. , ........ .- , - .. . 



V Finally, apples grown in-.so.iith Japan, that is, ia the.prov- 

 inces of the Inland Sea Region, are characterised by poor 

 quality, dull appearance, deformity, dry and mealy texture, 

 want of keeping quality, etc. The late varieties behave like 

 the early ones. The ripening process appears to be much 

 accelerated, the fruits cease to grow' at an early period and 

 tend-,to premature colouring. Therefore they are markedly 

 sma,ll, dry in texturej, light, and keep badly. As conipared 

 >y,ith the same variety growij in .north Japan, how wide a 

 difference! • , .!;...: . ■, • - 



* " Ken " n}e^5 PrefejQUjre.. 



