BOTANY AND THE ZOOLOGY OF CHINA 145 



This variety is raised in North China and in Manchuria. 

 EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 



Plate I. 



Fig. 1. The small or the native peanut. 



,, 2. A variety of peanut growing in South China. 



,, 3. A variety of peanut of the type represented on the Fig. 3. 



„ 4. A variety of large foreign peanuts. 



Plate II. 



Fig. 1. A small variety of peanut growing in North China. 

 ,, 2-3. A large variety of peanut growing in the middle part of China. 



XXXV. — The Horn-Cherry of North Manchuria. 



Among the many shrubs growing in the mountainous 

 parts of North Manchuria we find a fruit shrub — Plagios- 

 permum sinensis Oliver. It grows mostly near the streams 

 and mountain rivers. 



The Bussians call this shrub "the horned cherry" or 

 "the Manchuria medlar"; the local Chinese call it "the 

 fragrant pear" (*&52 -J-), or "the pear of the size of the 

 bean" ( E m =f ) or K M » « * ). 



Plagiospermum is a shrub 4 or 10 feet in height, with 

 strong branches and hard, sharp horns covered with large 

 lanceolar leaves. The shrub bears small, flat, red fruits 

 somewhat like a cherry, sour or bitter in taste with a flat 

 round nut inside. 



The fruits of Plagiospermum are not much valued by the 

 local Chinese, they are eaten fresh : from their pips beads 

 are made. The Russians use the ripe fruits for making 

 syrup. 



It seems to me that these fruits could be improved by 

 cultivation. Four varieties of these fruits have been observed 

 in North Manchuria, some of which are well worthy of 

 attention. 



The first variety (See Fig. 1 in text) has a small shrub and 

 small, almost round, fruits. The stems were 1.2 to 1.7 cm. 

 in length; the fruits are 1.2-1.3 cm. in length and 1.2-1.3 cm. 

 in breadth and 1-1.2 cm. in thickness. 



The fruit is juicy, without smell; the skin red, thick, 

 covered with white spots. This variety ripens in the middle 

 of September. 



The second variety (See Fig. 2 in text) has round fruits 

 with the stems 0.7-2 cm. in length; the fruits 1.2-1.4 cm. in 

 length and 1.4 cm. in breadth and 1-1.1 cm. in thickness. 

 10 



