THE ECONOMIC PLANTS OF JAPAN. 



KocHiA scoPARiA, Schrad. {Chenopodium scoparuun, 

 Thunb.) ; Jap. Hahakigi, Hoki-no-ki. (Broom Bush.) 

 This is a native plant which has been brought under 

 cultivation and improved. It is not grown so much for 

 greens as for its seed, and for the stems which are used 

 for brooms. The latter fact is indicated by the name 

 Hoki-no-ki, hoki meaning 

 broom, and ki tree or 

 bush. It is an annual, at- 

 taining a height of three 

 or four feet. It has an 

 erect and very dense top 

 with many slender tough 

 branches. There are 

 three or four varieties 

 which differ from each 

 in size. The seeds as 

 well as the young tops 

 are used for food, and 

 the mature plant for 

 brooms. Small patches 

 of this crop are often 

 seen about the farm 

 houses in the north. 



Chenopodium album, 

 L. [C. giganteiiin, Don.); 

 Jap. Akaza, Shirosa. 

 (Lamb's Quarters, Pig 

 Weed.) A plant com- 

 mon both in Europe and 

 America. It is also found 

 in Japan, where it is 

 sometimes cultivated for 

 greens. It then attains 

 a large size, with broad 

 sinuate or dentate leaves, 

 which are used only while 

 young, when they are 

 said to be crisp and pal- 

 atable. Leaves of wild 

 plants are also gathered. 



Beta vulgaris, L.; 

 Jap. Tojisa, Fitdanso. 

 (The common Beet.) 

 This is an introduced 

 plant, and like most in- 

 troduced plants, it has 

 never become a favorite. 

 When cultivated at all, 

 it is grown more for the 

 root than for the leaves, 

 though the latter are 

 eaten. The sugar beet 

 has been introduced and 



is grown on the Northern island under the auspices of 

 the government, a large sugar factory having been es- 

 tablished at that place. In 1887 there were 823 acres 

 of beets contributory to this factory. Beta benghal- 

 ENSis is likewise occasionally cultivated for its leaves. 



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Our common spinach, Jap. Horenso, was probably 

 introduced by the Dutch, and is found here and there in 

 the country, but chiefly at the open ports. It is spar- 

 ingly cultivated as a pot herb. 



Brasenia peltata, Pursh.; Jap. Jiinsai, iViinawa, 

 J]/ikttri->!ti'ca , is a prolific plant of the water-lily family. 



Clump of Pampas Grass Nine Years from Planting, on the Grounds of Executive 

 Mansion, Washington, D. C. (See department, "Buds," etc.) 



Saga and Ogawa are noted for them. The leaf stems 

 and young leaves, before they expand, with the adher- 

 ing mucilage or slime, are eaten as a salad with vinegar. 



Buckleya lanceolata, Miquoig {Qiiadriala lanceo- 

 lala, Sieb. and Zucc.) ; Jap. Tstikubane, Hago-no-ki . 



