THE ECONO.\riC PLANTS OF JAPAN. 



653 



very slow headway in gaining the favor of the Japanese. 

 It somehow does not suit their taste. They also grow 

 for greens several kinds of mustard, of which may be 

 mentioned Brassica juncea, J. Hooker and Thomas ; 

 (i5. VVilldenin'ii , Boistf ; Sijiapis jztncea , L. ; Sinapis in- 

 tegrifotia, Willd ); Jap., Taka-na, 0-garixshi. 



This species is not a native of Japan. It is indigenous 

 to Africa and China, from which latter place it has 

 doubtless been introduced. It is a large plant, as is in- 

 dicated by the native names, one meaning " tall greens " 

 and the other ' ' large mustard." It is hardy, and is usu- 

 ally sown in the fall in rows two feet apart for winter 

 use. The leaves are large, spathulate or obovate, the 

 radical ones often a foot long, the lower portion of the 

 margin dentate, and the upper portion entire or slightly 

 sinuate. It is highly esteemed for salad, and is used all 

 winter long. Certain varieties are also grown for the 

 seed, which are used both for condiment and as a source 

 of oil. It is said to be cultivated in all parts of India 

 for the seed, which is exported under the name of Sa- 

 repta mustard seed. 



Brassica (Sinapis) CERNUA, Thunb.; '\-s^-^., Karashi-na ^ 

 is a species with thick, sharply dentate leaves and rather 

 long petioles ; but there are many varieties, showing 

 much variation from each otiier. These likewise are 

 grown for winter greens. 



Brassica (Sinapis) Japo.nica, Thunb. (.9. CInuciisis, 

 L.); Jap., Mtdzu-iia . is still another species which per- 

 haps furnishes the most fa\'orite varieties. One of these, 

 which originated in Yamashiro, is called Sciuiiji. It is 

 remarkable for the large number of leaves produced by 

 a single root, and the leaf is narrow and deeply and 

 irregularly cut. All the.se mustards are sown in the fall 

 and used for greens in the winter, being gathered as 

 wanted. In cold situations I have often seen the rows 

 partially protected by leafy bamboo branches stuck 

 thickly in the ground. The market gardeners on the 

 east side of Tokio make a specialty of this winter crop. 



Nasturtium officinale, R. Brown [Sisyinhrudii nas- 

 tiirlium, Thunb.); Jap., Midzn-garashi . (Water Cress. ) 

 This plant, so well known in western countries, is also a 

 native of Japan, and grows spontaneously in shallow 

 streams. The young leaves are much sought for salad, 

 and it is a common thing to see women and children 

 gather it along small streams and irrigating ditches. 

 Vegetable dealers and peddlers often supply it in its 

 season. It is cultivated in the neighborhood of cities, 

 where the demand cannot be supplied from wild-growing 

 plants. The seed is sown on the edges of streams of 

 clear water, and the only care it receives is to prevent 

 other water plants from crowding it out. 



The Marsh Cress — Nasturtium palustke, DeC. 

 (N. n III phihiitiii , S. and Z.; Sisviniiriuni a in p/u/ii 11 in , 

 Thunb.); Jap., Siikiis/n-tugo/'o, is also used for the same 

 purpose. It is a common weed in wet places, with pin- 

 nately lobed leaves and yellow flowers. The young 

 plants are gathered in their native habitat, but it is not 

 cultivated. 



Another little cruciferous plant which has some value 



in Japan is the Shepherd's Purse, Capsella Bursa- 

 paSTORis, Moench. (^Thlaspi Buisa-pasloris, Thunb.); 

 Jap., jVadziiiia . Although this plant is almost as com- 

 mon in Japan as it is in America, it is frequently culti- 

 vated for its young radical leaves. It is grown in rows 

 like cress, and cut before the stem shoots up and used 

 for salad. Varieties with larger leaves and more rapid 

 growth than the wild plant have been developed, but 

 the leaves of the wild plants are also gathered. It is 

 one of the "seven grasses" which superstition enjoins 

 the common people to eat at the beginning of the new 

 year, in order that they may live the year through in 

 health and prosperity. These so-called "seven grasses" 

 must be eaten at breakfast on the morning of the seventh 

 of January. They are gathered a day or two previous, 

 and on the evening of the sixth they are boiled and 

 chopped a little. The following morning they must be 

 chopped fine before the cock crows or thev lose their 

 virtue. The boiled greens as prepared the evening be- 

 fore are then put on a block, and some person of the 

 family chops them with two large knives, one in each 

 hand, while he sings the following chant : 



Nihoii 110 tori lo, 

 Todo 110 tori to, 

 Ulo wa no sal<i iii. 

 Nana kusa nadsu-na. 



A free translation in English may be rendered thus: 



Before the cocks crow in Japan, 

 And before they crow in China, 

 We chop these grasses all, by hand , 

 Seven grasses and summer greens. 



Thus duly prepared, these greens are served at break- 

 fast to each member of the household, with the belief 

 that they protect them from all harm during the year. 

 Although the ordinary experiences of life must pro\e 

 that the immunity conferred by this rite is wholly imag- 

 inary, it is a general practice among the common people. 

 The ' ' seven grasses" are not the same in all parts of the 

 country, but vary, so to speak, with the latitude or the 



plants available. The orthodox list is the following ; 



Scri CEiiaiiilie sloloni fcra . 



A^adzii-iw Capsella Bur sa-paslori s . 



Hakobc : .Slcllaria media. 



Iloloke-iio-zit Laiiiiiiin a 111 ple.xi eaitle . 



Cogio 



Sii-zii-na * 



Sii-zii'S/iiro * 



But about Tokio, where all of these cannot be gathered 

 at New Year's time, the following list is used : 



^.77 lJutaiil/ie si oloiii fera . 



A'adzii-iia Shepherd's Purse. 



Daikon The large radish. 



Niii/iii The carrot. 



Na Chinese cabbage. 



diiio The potato. 



ij'olio Root of Lappa major. 



Marsh Marigold — Caltha palustris, L. [SU'erica 

 A'eg.); Jap., }'eiil:a-so, Riiikiiilr,iia , is a plant whose 



* I failed to learn what these were. 



