JAPANESE HORTICULTURE. 



27 



Natsitmc (Zizyphus vulgaris), Jujube. — The native Japanese fruit 

 is inferior to the Chinese in size, and the latter are more generally 

 cultivated. 



Mwne (Primus Mume). — The mume plum has been highly esteemed 

 by the Japanese from olden times on account of the fragrance and 

 hardiness of its flowers, which blossom in the severest frosts of the 

 winter. The varieties cultivated for blossom are numerous, while barely 

 ten are grown for fruit. As the fruit is very acid it is not suitable for 

 eating raw, but when pickled in a particular way it constitutes one of the 

 most useful articles of diet for all classes of Japanese, especially lately, 

 when it has been used in providing soldiers with a sub-focd when they 

 are on campaign. This tree is the most indispensable of all the fruit 

 trees of Japan. 



Budo (Yitis vinifera). — The vine has long been cultivated in the Kai 

 and Kawachi provinces, and is very prolific, but the crops are inferior 

 to the French sorts. The cultivation of French vines has been at- 

 tempted in some parts, but up to the present with little, if any, success. 

 This perhaps is due to proper care not having been taken when they 

 were in flower, and to the quantity of rain in Japan being too great for 

 the vines. 



Fusasuguri (Ribes rubrum). — The currant has only recently been 

 introduced, and is not much used. 



Suguri (Ribes Grossularia). — The gooseberry occurs only in a wild 

 state in the mountains, and its edible properties are very little known. 



Kiichigo (Rubus Idaeus). — The raspberry grows wild, but the crops 

 are insignificant. The French raspberry has been recently introduced. 



Ichi-jiku (Ficus Carica), the fig. — Though known very well does not 

 seem to suit people's taste, and no effort has been made to introduce any 

 good kind from abroad. 



Kuri (Castanea vesca). — The chestnut grows in a wild state, and is 

 often planted for the purpose of affording a supply of good timber. The 

 trees in fruit gardens produce good crops, some fruit acquiring a length 

 of an inch and a half. It is chiefly used in cookery. The fruit is 

 exported to the United States. 



Kurumi (Juglans regia). — The walnut is generally planted for timber, 

 while its fruit is mainly used for making cake. Seven or eight varieties 

 are grown. 



Hashibami (Corylus avellana). — The hazelnut is found wild, but it is 

 never cultivated. 



Bingo (Pyrus Malus), the apple. — The native apples are much inferior 

 to the American and English ones, but since the introduction of these 

 kinds Northern Japan has supplied excellent apples, and they are now 

 exported to China and Korea. Among the fruit trees which have been 

 introduced from abroad comparatively recently, the apple is one of the 

 most successful. 



The fruits dealt with above are those which are cultivated or grown 

 in Japan proper. In Formosa many tropical fruits are cultivated, and 

 the Formosan Government is encouraging their improvement. The 

 following are the principal ones : 



Mibasho (Musa sapientum), the banana. 



