524 



is considered well off. The amount of work done 

 by a Japanese equals about a quarter of what would 

 be expected from a man in this country, which some- 

 what equalizes the low price of labor. American 



THE ECONOMIC PLANTS OF JAPAN— VIII. 



kerosene oil has done a great deal to extend the 

 working hours of the Japanese, who, before its in- 

 troduction, relied on vegetable oils for light. 



E. P. KiRBY. 



THE ECONOMIC PLANTS OF JAPAN— VIII. 



CITRUS FRUITS. 



HE CITRUS family is 

 grown all over south- 

 ern J apan, and reaches 

 northward with two 

 long arms along the 

 east and the west coast 

 of the main island. 

 On the east coast the 

 northern limit for the 

 hardier varieties ex- 

 tends to within some 

 twenty-five or thirty miles of Yokohama, where, 

 near the little town of Kodzu, several plantations 

 may be seen. On the west coast the orange belt 

 does not reach quite so far north, the climate there 

 being somewhat colder. Oranges can be found on 

 sale in every town and village all winter long. The 

 earliest gathered fruits reaches Tokio about the 

 middle of September, but they are small and green, 

 and not at all comparable in quality with the later 

 varieties. They are always shipped in light boxes 

 of uniform size, with a capacity of about half a 

 bushel. In packing the fruit is graded, each box 

 containing from 80 to 250 oranges, according to the 

 size of the fruit. The retail price in Tokio varies 

 from 50 cents to one dollar per box. Each of the 

 following species is represented by several varieties. 



Citrus nobilis, Lour.; Jap., Mikau, To-mikan, or 

 Oonshiu-mikan. The Mandarin orange. To this species 

 belong the finest and hardiest varieties cultivated in 

 Japan. It is a small spreading tree or large bush, very 

 bushy and branching, the branches for the most part 

 almost reaching the ground, and spreading out over an 

 area as large as the tree is high. The bark is green on 

 the young wood, grayish on the older branches. Leaves 

 oval, not large, dark green above, lighter below, margin 

 smooth ; petioles not winged, and no thorns on the tree. 

 The fruit is distinguished by being usually more or less 

 oblate, and also because the peel separates most easily 

 from the pulp. The sections of the pulp also are but 

 loosely attached to each other, and though the rind is 

 rich in oil, it does not have the pleasing aroma that the 

 common orange is noted for. Some regard it only as a 

 variety of 



Citrus aurantium, L. ; Jap., Yndzii. The common 

 Copyright by Author. 



golden orange. There are several varieties belonging 

 to this species cultivated in the extreme south. 



Citrus Bigaradia, Duhamel ; Jap., Dai-dai. The 

 Bitter orange. It has a large globular fruit, some varie- 

 ties of which are edible. The flowers of this species 

 furnish the neroli oil, valued as a scent. The rind is 

 used as a flavoring material, and is also candied. 



Citrus decumana, L. ; Jap., Zabon. The Shaddock 

 or Pommelmos is distinguished for the size of its fruit, 

 which, ordinarily, is about six inches in diameter, and 

 occasionally a fruit will reach the weight of 20 pounds. 



Citrus medica, L., variety chirocarpus , Lour.; Jap., 

 Bitshitikati. A kind of lemon. It has an oblong cylin- 

 drical fruit, the apex of which is divided, forming half 

 a dozen finger-like projections. 



Citrus Japonica, Thunb.; Jap., Kin-kan (literally 

 meaning Gold Orange). In America called the Kum- 

 quat, which is the Chinese for the same meaning. It is 

 a native species, forming a large bush or small tree, 12 

 to 15 feet high, the branches rather slender and willowy, 

 without thorns. Leaf small, narrow, oval or almost 

 lanceolate, blunted apex, petiole not winged. It bears 

 a very small fruit with a sweet, spicy rind, little and 

 very sour pulp, and many seeds. The trees cannot 

 stand frost. In Tokio it is much grown in pots. Loaded 

 with the little golden fruit, the plant is very ornamental. 



Citrus medica, var. limonium, Risso. The Lemon. 



Citrus trifolia, Thunb. ( Citrus fusca, Loureiro ; 

 Citrus ti-ifoliatn, L.); Jap., Karatachi, Kikoku . (Fig. i). 

 It is a deciduous and very hardy species. It bears a 

 globular fruit which, however, is not edible. It is much 

 used in Japan as a stock on which to graft orange trees, 

 and even more extensively used as a hedge plant. 



As will be seen from the foregoing species which have 

 been enumerated, the orange family is well represented 

 in Japan, and next to the kaki (persimmon) the orange 

 is the most important fruit of the country, holding the 

 second place only because its culture is limited to a 

 smaller area. There are at least seven botanical species 

 and several sub-species under culture, and a very large 

 number of varieties. Many of the varieties, however, 

 must be regarded mainly as curiosities, being almost 

 worthless from a commercial point of view. Of the va- 

 rieties which furnish really first-class fruit, there are 

 comparatively few ; but some of these will take rank 

 with the very best to be found in any country. 



Culture. — As regards situation, the orange prefers high, 

 dry land, and dislikes low, swampy soil like rice lands. 

 The best orchards are on rolling, well-drained land and 



