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boshi " were sent out for the .use of our fellowmen at the front. 

 The " Umeboshi " is believed by some people to have a 

 medicinal value, and so it is usual to see it served at breakfast 

 in many hotels and private families. 



CHERRIES. 



The native cherry-trees bear poor fruits and do not belong 

 to the category of orchard fruits in the strict sense. They are 

 valued as ornaments and take in our national life the place of 

 the Roses of western nations. The fruits are small, round, 

 deep purple, and rather bitter in taste. Besides, tiiere are 

 dwarf wild cherries called Fujisakura, growing wild in the 

 high altitudes of Mt. Fuji, Hakone a J other mountains. 

 These bear fruits similar to those of the ordinary cherry trees 

 but small. TJiey are dwarfed in pots and used for 

 ornamental purposes, trees have been recently used as 

 dwarfing stock for grafting European cherry trees. This 

 use is quite a new thing. The result is very satisfactory, 

 and European cherry trees can be made by this means to 

 fruit very profusely while young. Flowering cherries have 

 been used as stocks in our country, but they have no dwarfing 

 effects on cherries and require some particular attention as to 

 soil and managements to let them bear freely. The cultivated 

 fruit cherries are entirely introductions from Europe and 

 America. One kind from China is also now grown. The 

 western varieties succeed well oilly in districts with cool and 

 dry summer. The suburbs of Yamagata, the metropolis of 

 the Province of Uzen and Sapporo in Hokkaido are noted for 

 its culture. The profitable boundaries for cherries appear to 

 be more restricted than those for apples and quinces. On the 

 contrary, the Chinese edible cherry seems to be better 

 adapted to the warmer and moister parts of our country 

 where the European varieties are apt to run to Vvfood at the 

 expense of the fruits. 



