94 NOTES ON THE AGRICULTURE, 



The laichi and lungyen are cultivated here with much 

 less care than the mandarins. The best lungyen in Fukien 

 comes from the district between Foochow and Fu-ning. For 

 export the fruits of laichi and lungyen are dried in the sun 

 or on stroves. 



Besides the laichi and lungyen miricas or yang-mei 

 (Myrica rubra) are also grown here. Their northern limit in 

 China is far lower than for the hardier citrous fruits and the 

 camphor tree. The natives plant these trees only to a very 

 small extent. Kipe fruits of yang-mei often contain the 

 larvae of small flies. 



Banana trees are very common at Foochow and its 

 environs (See Journal, N.C.B.K.A.S., Vol. L, 1919, page 

 83-84). Some belong to Musa sapicntum L. and M. 

 paradisiaca L. The best are introduced from Amoy which 

 bear tender fruits of middle size. The local banana fruits 

 are small and of an inferior quality. 



The Local climatic conditions for the banana trees are 

 not the most favourable for the developement of the fruit, 

 but nevertheless the warm and long summer of Foochow is 

 quite sufficient for the fruits to mature. 



In winter the banana tree suffers and it often drops its 

 leaves. 



Chinese pears (Pyrus sinensis) were seen only in some 

 gardens but without fruits. Pear trees are little known at 

 Foochow, but pears imported yearly from North China are 

 appreciated by the inhabitants of this province. 



The pomegranate tree (Punica granatum) is seen in 

 every garden, and practically every house has this tree 

 planted close by, but they are cultivated for their flowers. 

 Three kinds of pomegranate were seen at Foochow, the 

 red flowered, the yellow flowered and the white flowered. 

 Some varieties are grown for their fruit. 



Mangoes {Mangifera indica) are grown in Foochow in 

 several inferior varieties. The fruits are small, oval and 

 hard. The mango trees here suffer in winter. 



The trees of the "Chinese gooseberry" (Averrhoa caram- 

 bola), the wu-han-tzu, wu-leng-tzu or the yang-tao were seen 

 in some gardens of Foochow, and some of the trees seen 

 were very large. The bark of the trunk and branches was 

 covered with oblong green fruits with five ridges. When ripe 

 the fruits are of a yellow colour, juicy and sharp in taste. 



The Chinese olive (Canarium album), the kan-lan, 

 ching-kuo or wu-lan is largely cultivated at Foochow and its 

 environs. The olive trees grow on the hill-sides. The olives 

 are oblong, green, 1*1} inches long. Olives are exported 

 from Foochow both fresh and salted. 



