( 4° ) 



STRAWBERRIES. 

 All the cultivated varieties are exotics. They flourish, 

 well throughout the country, excepting the extreme south. In 

 the southern littoral districts of Kii Province, with the heaviest 

 rainfall in our country during summer, the plants show often 

 excessive vigour in ample, tall foliage, Jbut always remain 

 fruitless. In other parts of Japan, the strawberries have adapt- 

 ed themselves with ease and have now become a popular fruit 

 in early summer. They require some protection only in 

 winter in north Japan. 



FIGS. 



Figs grow up to 40 degrees N-. L. in Japan. Its south 

 boundary may extend to Formosa, although I have never 

 heard of its growing in the extreme south. They luxuriate 

 with abundant crops between 37 to 36 degrees N. L. From 

 Tokio northwards, the growth is poor. Our growers do 

 not pay attention to their culture, although they prosper 

 well anywhere in wet places along streams and ditches. 

 Our humid climate does not materially afifect the beariug of 

 this fruit. Farmers and cottagers plant a few trees in their 

 inclosures. It should be the poor man's fruit in Japan. The 

 figs bear crops only twice in Tokio and lii-ce latitudes. The 

 summer figs are marketed about the middle of July and the 

 next crop, with snjaller fruits, comes in September and October. 

 In warmer districts a third crop is obtainable. But from 

 Tokio northwards, the half grown young fruits, near ths apex 

 of the current year's shoots, shrivel on the coming of cold and 

 drop down, 



GRAPE VINES. 



We have two distinct species of the wild and cultivated 

 vines. Vitis Coignetiae and Vitis Thunbergii grow wild 

 throughout our country. Cottagers make a kind of wine from > 



