| OCR Text |
Show 1 almost profusely in the island of Shikoku, but its growth is not limited t this southern Inrzli(y It bears yellow flowers in abundance and the fibr of its barkis comparatively fine and easily separated. The small-leaf shru also bears yLI\ow flowers, but the length between the root and the firs triple branches is shorter than with the large-leaf varicty. The large-lea shrub produces also a finer papermaking fibre. Neither of the varieties o the mitsumata flourishes in the extreme north. If grown in a warm par of the country the bark may be used for making paper when only one yea old, while if grown in a colder climate three years of growth are necessar before the bark is considered sufficicntly matured. Mitsumata grown i localities where there is plenty of rain and moisture is comparatively tall but the bark s correspondingly thin, while the shrub produced in drie regions s apt to be of slow growth, but with heavier bark. The harvestin of the shrub takes place during the winter months and consists of simpl cutting the plants at the ground by means of a s -shaped knife dle Ith the tops are cut every other winter, the roots of the mitsumata remain aliv for a number of years, but for papermaking purposes the roots cease t throw out profitable new shoots after eight to twelve years. After servin their usefulness the old roots are dug out and replaced by young plant which have been raised from seed. Two years are required for an old stum to produce a usable bush, and many of the plants are given three or fou years before being again cut The finest mitsumata barks for papermaking are taken from shrub that have attained a height of ten or more feet, measured from the groun to the triple branches. The most desired barks are white, but aslight trace o red does not interfere with the papermaking quality. Mitsumata barks fro shrubs of different ages, unlike those of the paper mulberry, may be mixe without interfering with the quality of the paper, provided the shrubs hav had a growth of less than five years. The cultivation of mitsumata in Japan Digitalimage© 2004 Marriott Library, Universiy of Utah. All ights reserved |
