X. UTILIZATION OF CHERRY TREES 
The true merit of the Japanese cherry, lies in the 
superexcellence of its floral beauty. The tree is there- 
fore valued as a decorative plant. Still, the plant is 
not without merit for practical purposes. It gives very 
fine wood, and is widely used for making a variety of 
things, such as furniture and other useful objects. The 
beautiful bark of the tree is also used for decorative 
purposes, and as a veneer for coating furniture and things 
made of different materials. Again, its flowers, pickled 
in salt, and then soaked in a cupful of hot water, make 
an excellent beverage which serves as a substitute for 
tea. The leaves, when preserved in salt, emit a cumarin- 
like fragrance, and as such are used for covering 
sakura-mochi, a kind of cake much enjoyed by Japa- 
nese. 
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