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climate, tbnn apples, provided suitable sites and soil 

 be given. Consequently peach orchards are found scattered 

 here and there all over the country. For the peaches there 

 is no difference between the two longitudinal haU^es of Japan. 

 At present, large orchards of peaches, regularly planted and 

 trained, are found on the alluvial lowlands and hillsides. The 

 heavy rainfall during June and July causes an overluxuriance 

 of growth and considerable portion of the fruits drop down 

 without reaching maturity. To prevent the damage from the 

 parasites our people have learned through experience the 

 important operation of bagging. On the loamy soils, good 

 qualities of fruits may be attained, but the growers are 

 accustomed to prefer light sandy soils to insure success. 

 Sometimes rather dry hillsides give good results. 



Our damp climate is always apt to induce sappy growth 

 of shoots, from which the gum disease follows. This is the 

 case in loamy soils in particular, and the custom of planting 

 them in sandy soils must have resulted, partly at least, from 

 this cause. 



JAPANESE PLUMS. 



Plums behave like peaches, and none have been found 

 growing in Riukiu, Bonin Isles or Formosa. The north limit 

 of plum culture lies in the south part of Hokkaido. But its 

 range seems capable of being extended farther north by the 

 selection o hardier varieties. Japanese plums are more 

 adaptive to climatic conditions than the Kernel f:uits and 

 vinifera grapes. Some varieties can be found in Ura-Nippon 

 and Omote-Nippon. They are more healthy, vigorous and 

 fertile than Domestic and American varieties. Exotic plums 

 are rarely seen, except in amateur's gardens. They seem to 

 be more exacting as to climatic conditions than the native 

 plums for the perfection of fruitage. 



Native plums are cultivated with much less care than 

 pears and peaches. They are like Kaki to tlie growers. From 



