THE ECONOMIC PLANTS OF JAPAN— II. 



79- 



pleasant to the taste after having been touched by the first 

 frosts in the fall. It has a fruity flavor reminding one 

 somewhat of pears, which, perhaps, suggested the name 

 nashi. The fruit proper is a small, dry, three-celled 

 capsule, which is entirely distinct from the edible por- 



the breaking of the branches some distance from the 

 top, because it is next to impossible to climb high enough 

 to reach the tips by hand, and they have as yet no im- 

 plement to pick them with. The task is usually dele- 

 gated to small boys. As a fruit tree, it can, of course, 



JUJOKE. ZlZYPHUS VULGARI 



tion, as may be seen in the illustration. Each cell con- 

 tains one black seed. The edible "fruits" are quite 

 small, but they make up in number what they lack in 

 size. On old trees nearly every twig terminates in a 

 seed vessel with its enlarged peduncle. The labor of 

 gathering the fruit is considerable, and usually results in 



iNERMis. Full Size. (See page 78, 



have no great value ; but coupled with the interest 

 which this peculiarity awakens, it has merits which will 

 render it useful for ornament and shade. As already 

 stated, it grows to a large size. Its whole appearance 

 bears much resemblance to our basswood. Like it, it 

 has broad ovate leaves, quite large on young, thrifty 



