BOTANY AND ZOOLOGY OF CHINA 95 



Cycas revoluta or wu-lou-tvu, grown in gardens; bear 

 red fruits which are only used for medicinal purposes. 



Quince (Cydonia sinensis) or mu-hua are cultivated 

 largely in many districts of Fukien province. They are seen 

 on hill-sides and on the sea shore, on the shore of the Min 

 river, on the way to Foochow, and on hill-sides around 

 Foochow, etc. The quince seen at Foochow belong to 

 several varieties. The trees do not bear fruit every year. 

 Some varieties of the Cydonia are grown by the Natives for 

 ornamental purposes. 



The loquats or the Japanese meddlar (Eriobotrya 

 japonica) or pi-pa are grown at Foochow in several varieties, 

 most of which are of an inferior quality. 



The wampee (Clausena wampi) or huang-pi-tzu or 

 liuang-pi-kua are also cultivated at Foochow. The fruits are 

 of the size of grapes, sour, and have a yellow skin. 



The papaw or the tree melon (Carica papaya) or mu-lcua 

 was introduced to Fukien from the South. This tree grows 

 quite well at Foochow, bears fruits, but surfers in winter, 

 when it often loses its young leaves. 



Of the many kinds of citrous fruits mandarins are the 

 most extensively cultivated here, Foochow is well known as 

 the mandarin-orange district of South China. Mandarins 

 have been cultivated here for a long time in the inland 

 districts on which Foochow is situated and a large area of 

 land is here covered with mandarin trees. As a safeguard 

 against inundations and dampness of the soil each mandarin 

 tree is planted on specialy elevated ground of 3-4 feet in 

 height. Many of the mandarin groves are very old, but 

 some are young and a few have been fruit bearing for several 

 vears. 



Against aphis and other pests, the Chinese invoke the 

 aid of local tree-ants, the nests of which are made on the 

 branches of the trees. These ant's nests with the insects are 

 collected by the Chinese and attached to the branches of the 

 mandarin trees. These ants protect the leaves and branches 

 of the mandarin trees against pests. It is one of the most 

 interesting practices of Chinese horticulture. 



The mandarin oranges grown at Foochow are known in 

 other parts of China as Foochow mandarins. They are very 

 similar to the Japanese mandarins. When ripe the fruits 

 are carried to the market and are sorted there. The best are 

 exported to various Chinese ports. 



Besides the mandarin orange at Foochow 2-3 other 

 varieties of the common large ogange are found and they all 

 are hard skinned. 



