Japanese fruits are attracting considerable attention from American growers, especially on the Pacific coast. Our illustration (page 13) shows a branch of Myrica rubra, an evergreen fruit-bearing tree from Japan, imported by H. H. Berger, of California, who says : "As this branch had to be carried a long distance before reaching Kioto, where the photograph was taken, a great many of the fruits dropped off, and therefore the branch does not quite show the very prolific bearing qualities of the tree".

The Myrica rubra is a native of the southern parts of Japan. It attains a height of forty to fifty feet and a diameter of two and one-half to three feet. The evergreen foliage resembles that of the magnolia. The fruit resembles the blackberry, and is about an inch long by three-quarters of an inch in diameter. There are two varieties of this fruit: one a dark red, almost black ; the other a light rose, which in flavor is superior to the other sort. The fruit of each is said to be delicious as a dessert fruit or for making preserves. It is highly flavored, vinous and sweet.

The tree is very ornamental, and the timber is used in Japan for the making of the finest cabinet-ware, the wood being light, tough and very durable. The tree is hardy only in latitudes where the thermometer does not fall below 15 degrees above zero, say from lower Virginia southward. Mr. Berger writes that "there is no doubt but that the tree will be a valuable acquisition to the. southern states. Unfortunately its nature does not admit of planting out in cold climates. It is well adapted, however, to pot culture and might be made to yield well under glass. Plants are not yet obtainable, as the Japanese have never propagated the tree beyond the chance seedlings".

The propagation of this species is best accomplished from seed, to which it comes true, or by grafting scions from a fruit bearing tree on seedlings. We understand that fresh seed is obtainable now, but only in small quantities.

Japanese Fruit #1

I am unacquainted with the Myrica referred to, but let me call your attention to another "new" Japanese fruit; namely, Eloeagnus longipes. True, it isn't new by any means; at the same time it is almost unknown in general cultivation. It is a thrifty shrub, of comely form and appearance, and in midsummer bears the utmost profusion of red berrylike fruit, and two-year old plants fruit freely. The fruit is cooked and used as a sauce with meat, especially chicken, and it is one of the most delicious sauces that ever tickled the human palate. We are planting this shrub in quantity for its fruit, as we are currant bushes.

A prominent florist was here last summer when it was in full fruit, and was so favorably impressed with it that he at once saw a bonanza in it as a "novelty." " Where can I get stock of it ?" he asked. " How many plants would you need ?" I enquired. "Thirty thousand," he replied ! "Not on the face of this earth," I answered.

When I was at Ellwanger & Barry's last August I wished to get some more plants of it, for I noticed they offered it in their catalogue under the name of E. edulis, but I found they had only one plant on their place, and that was their stock plant. But after a while I found a quantity of it in Vermont. Since then I find it at Cambridge, Germantown and elsewhere. It is not costly, and it is well worth growing either as an ornamental or fruit-bearing shrub, and it is perfectly hardy.