1 882.] A few of the Useful Plants of Northern Japan. 1 2 1 



Arundinaria japonica is so abundant everywhere, from bottom 

 lands to the summits of mountains over 4000 feet in height, and 

 its rhizomes form such a strong network just below the surface, 

 rendering it exceedingly difficult to properly clear the land and 

 plough it, that the plant, from the farmer's standpoint, is regarded 

 as an intolerable nuisance ; nevertheless it possesses some quali- 

 ties which render it of considerable value. Like the true bam- 

 boo, the wood is exceedingly strong and elastic, and finds many 

 useful employments in a variety of manufactures. It likewise 

 serves as an important material in the construction of houses and 

 fences. During the winter months, when all else is covered with 

 snow, the yet green, though dry and silicious leaves furnish al- 

 most the only food for the numerous wild deer, and constitute a 

 very large part of the diet of the hard-worked and much-abused 

 pack-horses. When the young shoots appear in early summer, 

 they are carefully gathered, and under the name of take-no-ko are 

 used for food as we would employ young asparagus; though by 

 no means so tender as the latter, they make a very desirable 

 dish. 



The clothing of the Aino, though to some extent made of cot- 

 ton cloth obtained from the Japanese, is almost entirely a product 

 of their own industry, and made of such material as can be 

 found in the fibers of wild plants. 1 The fiber for their cloth is 

 obtained from both the Ulmus campestris and U. montana. 



The long leaves of the Typha laiifolia, or kina, serve the same 

 people with most admirable material for floor mats. Each sum- 

 mer long excursions are made to the localities where the plant is 

 particularly abundant, and large quantities of leaves are gathered 

 and prepared for winter employment. 



The bark and leaves of Pntmts padus have long furnished the 

 principal medicine in use by the Aino, and it is interesting to ob- 

 serve that they have been employed in precisely those disorders 

 for which our P. virginiana bark is used. 



Another plant which is held in high esteem for its medicinal 

 Properties, is a species of Acorus, the roots of which are em- 

 ployed in cases of dysentery with good effect. 



1 See American Naturalist for August, 1S80. 



