DECIDUOUS TREES AND SHRUBS OF JAPAN. 



21 



Hornbeam are Carpinus laxiflora, C. japonica, and C. yezoensis, 

 the last named seen only in cultivation in the neighbourhood of 

 Tokyo. 



Pterocarya rhoifolia is a large and important tree, 60 to 80 feet 

 high, with a straight trunk 2 to 3 feet in diameter ; it occurs on 

 the slopes of Mount Hakkoda up to 5,000 feet elevation. At 

 the time of my visit it was finely in fruit, and its large pinnate 

 leaves were beginning to assume their autumn tints. Other 

 important trees are Juglans Sieboidiana, Alnus japonica, Alnus 

 fir ma, and Platycarya strobilacea, but I must refrain from 

 wearying you with details, and conclude my remarks with a brief 

 notice of two Birches that are so unlike any we are accustomed to 

 see in British plantations that their introduction will be wel- 

 comed by all lovers of arborescent vegetation ; of both these 

 species I obtained a quantity of seed. One is Betula Ermani, 

 common on the higher slopes of the mountains of the central 

 island ; it is well distinguished by the bright orange-coloured 

 bark of the principal branches, in strong contrast to the white of 

 the trunk. Superior to this as an ornamental tree is Betula Maxi- 

 mowiczii, which is really one of the finest trees of the northern 

 forest, and perhaps one of the most beautiful of all Birches, cer- 

 tainly one of the most distinct ; it not infrequently attains a height 

 of 80 to 90 feet, with a trunk 2 to 3 feet in diameter, covered with 

 a beautifully variegated grey and orange bark, a piece of which 

 may now be seen in the Museum at Kew. The leaves are longer 

 than those of any Birch known, being from 4 to 6 inches long, 

 and almost as broad. 



I have endeavoured to bring under your notice some of the 

 leading features of the forest flora of Japan, very imperfectly it is 

 true, but enough, I hope, to awaken some interest in the sub- 

 ject, and to show what a wealth of material yet remains available 

 for the improvement and further adornment of our park and 

 landscape scenery. 



