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Ryukiu 'Isles also produce the best fruits, but none comes 

 from Formosa. There are two varieties, red and wliite. 



GOOSEBERRIES AND CURRANTS. 



The cultivated varieties are introduced from America and 

 Europe. The allied* species grow wild in the north eastern 

 part of Hokkaido and the south parts of the Kurile Isles and 

 Sakhalin. Their horizontal distribution seems to he restricted 

 to north Japan, but they are also well adapted to the mountain 

 districts of central Japan. I have never heard of their occu- 

 rence in our southern provinces, even at high altitudes. They 

 seem to grow and bear the best kind of fruits between 42 

 degrees and 44 degrees N. L. in north Japan. 



BRAMBLES. 

 Many species of brambles grow quite wild in the mount- 

 ainous parts of our south and the plains of north Japan and, 

 Hokkaido. The wild fruits are gathered and used but no cul- 

 tivation has been carried on. The cultivation of the bush 

 fruits being still in its infancy, our people have not paid suffi- 

 cient attention to this interesting branch of fruit culture.. 

 There is little demand in the market and no supply in conse- , 

 quence. 



MULBERRIES. 



Our mulberry plantations increase from year to year with 

 wonderful rapidity for sericultural purposes. Silk-worms are 

 now raised three times a year ; spring, summer and autumii 

 crops being not uncommon. The area of the plantations 

 amourited to 2,coo,ooo acres in 1904. Wood-lands and fields 

 are often tinned into mulberry plantations. They are as 

 familiar to our people as the vineyards are to the French. 

 But no cultivation of this plant for fruits has ever been carried 

 on anywhere in Japan. The plants have a. very wide dis- 

 tribution from Hokkaido to Formosa. 



