NAGIS. 45 



FINGERED LEMONS. 



The fingered lemon, or "Buddha's hand" {Citrus medica digitata), 

 is a queer fruit largely grown by the well-to-do Chinese as an orna- 

 mental pot plant. The strange fruits are greatly prized by the people 

 as presents and as religious objects. They are supposed to bring 

 good luck to the household. Indeed, so highly are they valued that 

 in the north a good sound fruit sells for one Mexican dollar. 



NOVEL CITRUS FRUITS. 



In Peking one can sometimes buy in the winter some strange orange- 

 like fruits. They have the appearance of a warty Satsuma orange, 

 but the flesh is fibrous, sour, bitter, and not edible. They are used as 

 room perfumes, like quinces. (S. P. I. Xo. 21904.) 



In the neighborhood of Hangchow there is a peculiar citrus fruit 

 growing wild upon the hillsides. The fruit is very large, 4 inches 

 long by 2\ to 3 inches in width. The skin is of a dark yellow color, 

 thick but loose, and contains a peculiarly pungent volatile oil. The 

 pulp is of a refreshing sour flavor, between that of a lemon and a 

 pomelo; in fact, it serves as a lemon for foreigners in that part of 

 China. It is full of large flat seeds, resembling those of the pomelo! 

 The trees grow straight and tall, are rather bare branched, and are 

 furnished with large spines. They are capable of standing severe 

 frosts and heavy snowfalls without being hurt, and might therefore 

 be utilized as stock in the United States. The Chinese names for 

 this fruit are "Schu yu" and "Xing bon." (S. P. I. No. 18439.) 



Besides the citrus fruits mentioned, the Chinese cultivate several 

 others, some of which the writer was not able to see in fruit. In 

 some small nurseries one often finds twenty or more citrus varieties, 

 all grown in pots and vessels as dwarfed specimens. Some are 

 slipped, others have been layered, some are grafted upon Citrus tri- 

 foliata, others, again, on seedling stock of some kind or other. They 

 are all in great favor as pot plants and there is much demand for 

 them. 



NAGIS. 



[Chinese name, "Yang mae."] 



The nagi {Myrica nagi) thrives to perfection on the slopes of the 

 hills in the Chekiang Province. It also occurs on the Chusan 

 Islands and in other places in southeastern China. It prefers a well- 

 drained situation, and where found wild it often grows in rather 

 poor, rocky soils, in semishady localities. The wild shrubs or small 

 trees grow very straggling and open. In cultivation, however, 

 where they get full sunlight and proper care, they grow dense and 



204 



