Sport and science on the Sino-Mongolian frontier . quainted with thevarious methods of grafting, and judicious in se-lection. In this way some of their favouritefruits, such as peaches and persimmons, have beenbrought to a high state of perfection. On the whole the fruit of this country resemblesthat of Europe ; but there are some very character-istic kinds. The commonest, and perhaps most characteristicof the fruit-bearing trees of the country on thesouth side of the Great Wall is the Jujube (Zizyphussativa) or Tsao. In and round every villageand town on the plains and in the lower foothillso
Sport and science on the Sino-Mongolian frontier . quainted with thevarious methods of grafting, and judicious in se-lection. In this way some of their favouritefruits, such as peaches and persimmons, have beenbrought to a high state of perfection. On the whole the fruit of this country resemblesthat of Europe ; but there are some very character-istic kinds. The commonest, and perhaps most characteristicof the fruit-bearing trees of the country on thesouth side of the Great Wall is the Jujube (Zizyphussativa) or Tsao. In and round every villageand town on the plains and in the lower foothillsof Chihli, Shansi and Shensi numbers of thesetrees may be seen. They are especially abundantin Western Chihli, on the plains of Tai-yiian Fuand Hsin-Chou in Shansi, along the banks ofthe Yellow River from He-Kou to Tung-kuan,and up all the tributaries of that river in Shensiand Shansi. In Shantung also the Jujube is ex-tensively cultivated, many specialized varietiesbeing grown there ; but this province scarcelycomes under our title. 226 PLATE «•./?:?»:-?? >K V ^y^. opposite p. Zz6.] SINO-MONGOLIAN FRONTIER The cultivated Jujube tree produces a greatabundance of fruit, which when green resemblesin appearance nothing so much as the ripe the fruit is very palatable and is of arich red-brown colour. It does not decay, butdries easily, and so can be conveniently kept forlong periods, or transported over great fruit is greatly esteemed by the Chinese,who use it extensively in their confectionery,and by soaking it in honey, make an excellentpreserve. These honey dates are shipped toSouthern China in great quantities. There are several varieties of Jujube, the differ-ences lying in the shape, size, substance and sweet-ness of the fruit. A stoneless variety is grown inthe Wu-hu Magistracy of Shantung, near Lao-ling. Of a sweet taste and good flavour tliis Jujubeis greatly esteemed, and was annually sent to theManchu Court at Peking. The wood of the J
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectscientificexpedition
