20 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



would be both useful and interesting to know something of their 

 progress and present condition. 



Turning to the Oaks, which form one of the principal elements 

 of the Japanese forests, one of the best known in British gardens 

 is Qicercus dentata, more familiarly recognised as Q.Daimio y 

 remarkable for its long ovate deeply serrate lobed leaves. In 

 the extreme north of the central island and around Sapparo it 

 grows on dry gravelly slopes at no great elevation above the sea. 

 I met with Q. dentata in quantity near Fukuro, at the base of 

 Chokaizan, on the north-west coast, growing at low elevations ; it 

 sometimes attains a height of 60 feet, but, owing to its irregular 

 spreading habit when old, it is not so attractive as in its younger 

 state. The Oaks of the northern island are totally different from 

 the evergreen Oaks of the south ; they are highly ornamental trees 

 for the landscape, and also valuable for their timber. The best 

 of these are Quercus crispula and Q. grosses errata, which form 

 a considerable part of the forest growth around Volcano Bay. 

 Here are many fine specimens of both species — that is, if they 

 are specifically distinct, for in general appearance they are very 

 similar. Even so accurate an observer as Professor Sargent 

 considers them indistinguishable in habit, bark, and foliage; the 

 cup and acorn of Q. crispula are, however, different from those of 

 Q. grosseserrata ; both are grand trees, of from 80 to 100 feet 

 high, that should receive a trial in this country. Another species, 

 Quercus glandulifera, is the common Oak of the high mountains 

 of Central Japan, and probably the most widely distributed of 

 all. Compared with those just mentioned, it is a tree of much 

 smaller dimensions, affording in this respect and in its foliage a 

 striking contrast to the massive aspect of Q. dentata, 



The Hornbeams of Japan include several species, some of 

 which are doubtful natives. Unquestionably the finest represen- 

 tative of the genus is Carpinus cordata, a common forest tree of 

 Central Hokkaido, growing with Oaks, Ashes, Maples, Walnuts, 

 &c, and attaining a height of about 40 feet, with a trunk 18 

 inches in diameter. Its leaves are from 6 to 7 inches long, and 

 often 3 inches broad at the widest part ; they turn to a brilliant 

 golden yellow in autumn, and these, with the large drooping 

 catkins 5 to 6 inches long, and the narrow pointed buds, form 

 together a striking ensemble that renders this tree well worthy 

 of a place in the British Arboretum. Other native species of 



