48 AGRICULTURAL EXPLORATIONS IN THE ORCHARDS OF CHINA. 



THE CANARIUM. 



The canarium {Canarium sp.) closely resembles our green olive. It 

 is hawked all over the Empire and is mostly eaten fresh, or while still 

 unripe is pickled in brine. It is considered an excellent promoter of 

 digestion and an appetizer. Besides the fresh fruit, one can obtain it 

 dry salted, dry sugared, or preserved in sirup. In the last two ways it 

 has a very pleasing flavor, comparing favorably with our preserved 

 citron rind, and could safely be introduced into our western lands 

 as a table delicacy. The shrubs, or small trees, can not stand much 

 cold. Their northern limit on the coast of China seems to be Foochow. 



MULBERRIES. 



[Chinese name, " Pai sang shu. "] 



In the neighborhood of Peking a variety of mulberry (Morus alba) 

 is grown which produces large white fruit that is very sweet to the 

 taste. It ripens in early June, and is but sparingly met with for sale. 



ACTINIDIA. 

 ACTINIDIA KOLOMIKTA. 



There are several species of Actinidia in the Orient. The most 

 common in northern China, Manchuria, northern Korea, and eastern 

 Siberia is Actinidia Jcolomikta . This vine grows here and there in 

 dense masses in the open forests, sometimes covering large areas, 

 crawling over bowlders and smothering all small shrubs. There is 

 much variation in its habits. Some plants are of an open growth, 

 while others are extraordinarily densely branched. 



The fruit, too, varies in size and shape, some kinds being as small as 

 and cA T eii rounder than a gooseberry, while others are elongated and 

 of the size of small plums. The color is either bright or dull green. 



In the foliage one observes at times some curious variations of color. 

 Some plants produce leaves that are either entirely or in part white, 

 silvery colored, or spotted; other plants show a similar variegation, 

 but in the red or rosy-red tints. These variegations are strikingly 

 beautiful when seen in the wild state. The white one produces the 

 effect of a shrub covered with thousands of large white* flowers. 



The fruit of Actinidia Icolomikta is edible and is eagerly collected 

 by the inhabitants of the countries where it occurs. The Russian 

 settlers in eastern Siberia dry it and keep it for winter use. They 

 call it "kishmis v and use it baked in bread and pastry. (S. P. I. 

 Xo. 19479.) 



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