THE ECONOMIC PLANTS OF JAPAN. 



pears of this western hemisphere. In shape, it re- 

 sembles an apple more than a pear; in color, most 

 kinds are of a dull greenish-russet, with minute yellow 

 specks and a rough skin, and in quality they are coarse- 

 grained and watery, without flavor or aroma. This is 

 not giving them a high recom- 

 mendation, but my object is to 

 tell the truth, be it favorable 

 or not to the subject treated. 



The trees are vigorous, and 

 attain a good size when grown 

 as an orchard tree is with us. 

 They have mostly an upright 

 habit, but several varieties 

 have spreading and drooping 

 branches, perhaps the effect 

 of ages of horizontal training. 

 The leaves are large, shining, 

 ovate, with finely serrate mar- 

 gins ; the buds large and 

 prominent ; flowers white, in 

 corymbs, but differ in size 

 with the variety, some being 

 very small, others large. 



The four accompanying il- 

 lustrations are representative 

 types of the fruits of all the 

 varieties that have come 

 under my observation. The 

 drawings of these, as of all 

 other specimens used in the 

 illustration of these papers, 

 were made by a native artist, 

 an old gentleman, who had attained marvelous skill in 

 portraying plants, flowers and fruit, of which subjects 

 he made a specialty. His only tool was a small, pointed 

 brush, and often have I been lost in admiration of his 

 skill in wielding it, while portraying the specimens I 

 brought him.* 



Fig. 2 (page g) represents the Taihe (syn. Oiran), the 

 variety which the Japanese prize above all others. It 

 has an attractive color, and even at times a slight red- 

 dish blush, and it is sweeter than most other varieties 

 and very juicy ; but aside from this, the description 

 already given to the class applies also to it. It is hard, 

 coarse, and without flavor or aroma. It ripens in the 

 beginning of October and does not keep long. 



Fig. 5 (page ii) show< the Mino (syn. Okago), which is 

 the largest and, in my judgment, also the best of all that 

 have come under my observation. The natives, how- 

 ever, call it poor. What distinguishes it from the 

 others is that it has a fine-grained, pure white flesh, 

 though somewhat spongy. Its juice is pleasantly 

 sweet, yet slightly acidulated. It is the only variety 

 that would be likely to meet with favor in this country. 

 It ripens in October and keeps a couple of months. 

 In Fig. 6 (page 13) is shown a variety called Akatsupo 



* Figs, z and 5 were made in colors, and in the reproduction the 

 effects were partially lost, so that the fruits look flat— Ed. Am. G. 



Fig. 3. 

 Seedless J.\PANESE Pear. 



(syn. Akato), which is quite common about Tokio. It 

 is rather elongated in shape, compared with the others. 

 It ripens in August. 



Fig. 7 (page 15) shows the Shiri-yuki, a flat medium- 

 sized variety with coarse watery flesh. It ripens in 

 August. 



Other varieties in common culture are: Asa-shimo, 

 round, reddish, much grown ; Tsuronoko, small, pear- 

 shaped; Naga-nashi, long, oblong; Dai-koko, round, 

 poor; Tora-fu, round, bluish, good keeper; Shiodai 

 (syn. O-nashi ), large, pear-shaped, short stem, good 

 keeper ; Kozo, ripe in September, has a very broad 

 leaf and zigzag shoots ; Waseaka (literally meaning 

 "early red," but it is a late variety), a good keeper and 

 heavy yielder ; Nakaza, ripe in September; Shinchiu, 

 ripe in July, small, and no better than a turnip, is used 

 to offer to Buddhist idols by the faithful ; Waseruku, 

 ripens early in August; Okuroku, ripens last of August ; 

 Yedoza, ripens last of August ; Jobana, ripens early in 

 September ; Heishi, ripens middle of September ; Riki- 

 ya, ripens last of September ; Akariu, late and splendid 



keeper — packed in tubs 

 it will keep till June the 

 following year ; Mari- 

 baka, also a late variety 

 and good keeper. Of 

 these, the Taihe, Akat- 

 supo, Kozo and Wase- 

 aka are favorites with 

 the growers. 



Fig. 3 represents a 

 seedless pear, natural 

 size, that I found at an 

 agricultural exhibition 

 in Tokio. It was lab- 

 eled Inu-nashi (literal- 

 ly, Dog-pear ). It is 

 evidently of the same 

 class as the others, but 

 differs in that it had a 

 delicious flavor, was 

 soft and fine-grained 

 and seedless. This list 

 comprises all the most 

 important varieties 

 grown in central and 

 northern Japan. Many 

 of them appear under 

 different names in dif- 

 ferent districts. 



Pears are cultivated 

 somewhat extensively 

 in certain districts, 

 where the soil is suita- 

 ble to the growth of 

 the trees. One of these 

 places is at the village 

 of Kawasaki, situated midway between Yokohama and 

 Tokio. Another place is at the town of Ogoki, in Gifu 



Fig. 4. Japanese Apple.— 

 Beni-Ringo. (See page 12. 



