( 36 ^ 



damages are somethnes, though seldom, done by late frosts 

 on flowers in the early weeks of May. 



"UiMES" ("Japan Apricot" of American Authors) 



In the range of adaptation they are similar to the two 

 foregoing. They are more fruitful in all parts of Japan than 

 the plums and apricots. Any climate and soil seem to suit 

 them equally well. Only the selection of a proper site is 

 of the hightest importance to avoid spring frosts, since the 

 umes are the first to bloom among our orchard fruit trees. 

 In Tokio, they begin to flower in late January. So, it is 

 important to obtain a northern exposure and some elevations 

 where the frost injuries are out of reach. Besides, under 

 these conditions, good quality and appearance of the fruits 

 can be secured. The Ume (Prunus Mume) to which the name 

 of "Japan Apricot" has been given is something quite 

 different from any native or exotic apricots. It has descended 

 from our forefathers and is much esteemed. The plants 

 are used both for ornamental and utilitarian purposes. The 

 fruits are gathered while unripe about the middle of June, 

 and are preserved in salt under pressure. During the clear 

 hot w«ather from late July to August the squeezed fruits are 

 dried in the sun in the open air on trays. When enough drying 

 has been done, they are placed in a salt solution coloured 

 crimson with the leaves of Perilla Nankinensis. The drying 

 is repeated a number of times and the fruits are finally 

 preserved in the juice. The Ume fruits are very acid when 

 fully ripe, it contains a high percentage of free citric acid, 

 ;ind can not be used as desserts. In this way the Ume fruits 

 can be kept safe for several, years and though not highly 

 palatable, they have a place of their own among household 

 fruits not easily replaceable by any other articles. The preserve 

 is called " Umeboshi ", and the housewife prepares them. Our 

 forefathers , used always to carry them in the camp. In th'i 

 late Russo-Japanese War, some hundreds of tons of " Ume- 



