PROPAGATION AND CULTIVATION OF FRUIT TREES IN JAPAN. 99 



by several days. Moreover, the skin remains very thin and deHcate, 

 and the fruits are larger in size, and above all they are more uniform, 

 whether exposed or in shade, a point of high importance in the market. 



Many kinds of enemies increase rapidly in our favourable climate, 

 and have to be contended with to insure success. These operations 

 become sometimes very troublesome, and take much time and labour, 

 besides entailing additional expense. Moreover, they have to be done 

 in addition to the primary occupation of our farmers and cultivators, 

 which is rice cultivation. It is, therefore, too much to expect them to 

 devote a large amjount of labour to orchards or invest much capital in 

 spraying and like operations. The widespread adoption of the process 

 of bagging is to be attributed to these circumstances, as being the 

 simplest, most economical, and most effective means for the protection 

 of the fruits. 



The paper bags are, of course, removed at the time of gathering. 

 Tn the large centre of orchard-growing between Tokio and Yokohama 

 the work is done several days before the harvest, in order to bring out 

 the full colours of the fruits. 



The work of bagging is done exclusively by women. A skilful hand 

 can put on 1500 to 2000 bags a day, and even unskilled workers can bag 

 500 to 700 peaches or pears in a day. The mouth of the bag is closed 

 so as to keep out enemies, and tied with twine, such as that of * Eiukiu ' 

 {Scirpus iriqueter, L.). or young leaves of ' Shuro ' (Tr achy carpus 

 excelso, Wendl.), cr with fine zinc or copper wire. 



Bagging is mainly practised on peaches, pears, and apples, but early 

 varieties, and those with hard flesh and less sugary contents, are always 

 grown naked. Eecently, the vine-growers of Kawachi and Kai have 

 begun to adopt this method as a preventive against the mildew. In 

 this case long bottomless bags covered inside with light sulphur paste 

 are used. The results have been fairly good, but the superiority of 

 spraying with Bordeaux mixture is admitted. 



Trials made with Kaki fruits have proved conclusively that bagging 

 is effective against premature dropping of the fruits due to insects and 

 fungi. Moreover, as stated above, a thin skin, smoothness, large size, 

 and uniformity of quality can be secured. 



Ibeigation and Drainage. 



Our damp climate greatly reduces the necessity of irrigation in 

 summer. Though abundant water is one of the essential conditions 

 for rice plants in their growing stage, there is very little need of it for 

 orchards. The extensive irrigation system of the orchards of such 

 regions as California is a surprise to our home growers, and is beyond 

 their imagination. 



Only those pear orchards which are located on sandy soils near river- 

 beds and seashores require irrigation in mid-summer. Even plantations 

 on steep hillsides do not require much water in summer, whilst a light 

 mulch, though seldom necessary, is often a great help to cultivation. 

 A heavy mulch injures the plants, the exclusion of the heat and light 



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