JAPANESE MANDARINS ORANGES*

Y. AsAMI

(College of Agriculture,Tokyo Imperial University) There are great varieties in the Japanese , but the one most popularly cultivated in this country is what is called the Unshiu , which belongs to the Mandarine oranges. This is known in America as Satsuma Orange. Some people hold that this particularr orange was first imported from Wen Chou-fu, Chekiang Province in China. However, this theory of Chinese origin is not quite in accordance with actuality. For in the Chekian Province of China there was no such orange in the past. It seems more likely that the Unshiu Oranges first were originated in the Kyushu districts of Japan. The cultivation of the Unshiu Oranges in Japan dates back to 300 years. There are some Unshiu Orange trees still growing in Kyushu, said to be nearly 203 years old. Upto 1870, the Kinokuni Oranges were more popularly cultivated than Unshiu, but the latter soon overcame the former. Today, the name orange in Japanese has always a connotation of this Unshiu Orange. The fruits most popularly cultivated in Japan today are Japanese per- cimmons and Unshiu Oranges. The total land on which the latter are being cultivated is estimated to be 84,000 acres, which amounts to 24% of the entire land devoted to the cultivation of fruits in this country. Due to the high popularity of oranges, the land is yearly being augmented. The annual production is about 330,000 tons, last year was particularly rich, amounting to the record figure of 430,000 tons. The Unshiu Oranges particularly suit the climate of this country. For- mosa is too warm for Unshiu Orange cultivation. Outside of Japan, Unshiu Oranges are cultivated on the Gu'f States of the United States, West-Northern part of , the South of Alabama, Missippi, and the southern part of Louisiana. And for those districts whose climate is too cold for Sweet Oranges and , Unshiu Orange is the most important among the citrus fruits. The total land devoted to Unshiu Oranges in these Gulf States reach 20,000 acres, its production 400 carloads. The history of the Unshiu Oranges in the ljnited States dates back to 1876, when Dr. George Hall imported nusery stocks from Japan to Florida. In 1878, General Van Valkenburg imported Unshiu Oranges again to America, and it was he who first named them Satsuma Oranges. However, * This was broadcasted over the Pacific from the Broadcasting Station JAOK on December 9, 1936. 198 Journal of the Horticultural Association of Japan Vol. VIII it was after 1908 that nursery stocks were imported to America in great quantity from Japan. Outside of the United States, Algeria in Africa, the Baltic Sea districts, £hekiang Province of China, have lately begun to grow Unshiu Oranges importing the trees from Japan. These oranges are meant in Japan not only for the domestic but for foreign consumption. Its export reaches 32,700 tons, with the price of 3 million yen, 44% of which goes to the Kwantung Leased territory, 1900 to lIanchukuo, 11% to Canada, 4% to the United States, 2% to China, and the rest to Soviet Russia., Philippine Islands, the Dutch Indies, the Mandated territories, and Hongkong, etc. The reason why the Japanese Unshiu Orange is exported to Canada and the United States, while California is the very source of oranges, is that which comes out from May, disappears by November, and December is yet too early for the Navel Orange. Our Unshiu Orange comes out at a time when there is no California oranges on the markets, and that just before Christmas when the bright color of aliy fruit is very welcome. It has a peelabe skin, is seedless, and its cheap- ness hightens its popularity to a great extent. One million ten thousand boxes each containing 10 lbs in average is exported to the United States, 21% of which goes to Washington, Oregon, Montana States to be con- sumed in the cities of Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Spokane; 2400 goes to Canada for the consumption of Vancouver and Victoria markets, 55% goes to Manitoba and Albata markets of middle Canada. All export oranges are under the strict supervision of the Japanese Government, thereby causing the shipment of only the very best of oranges produced in this country. Even the size of containers and packing me- thods are decided by the regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and .Forestry. The first orange boat of this year left on November 7, and the last one is to leave on December 3 for Vancouver The Unshiu Orange is the best type of orange which ripens by the Thanksgiving Day. It is comparatively large among the varieties of the Mandarines and , with an average diameter of 2.4 inches, and usually oblate. There are various strains of oranges with all different ripening periods. Some of them have a size as big as 5 inches diameter. The skin is orange yellow, not too thick, easy to peel. All the segments of pulp ae e easily detachable, besides, because of its seedlessness extremely easy to eat, requiring no knife, neither does it soil the finger tips. Its pulp is deep orange and pretty, full of juicy, aad of superior sweet taste. Its juice is rich in vitamin C, and experiments indicate that the daily injection of 4-5 c.c. of it to the guinea pig, which is suffering from scurvy, will completely cure it at the end of 50 days. The crop of Unshiu fruits in Japan finishes by the end of the year, ASAMI, Japanese Man Marine Oranges 199 after which it enters the storage period. The Unshiu fruit has an unusual endurance. It is kept clean without refrigeration up to the end of May. It is easy to transport. It is easly and safely transportable to Vancou- be and as far as New Orleans. Coustunt improvement is being made by means of selecting bud mutant. The Unshiu Orange is usable raw and i,t juice is as go)d as Sweet O.ange. Lrtely a considerable amount of canned oranges are also being exported abroad. This canned orange is something quite unique to Japan. It is made like this: first the skins are removed and each section of pulp detached after which it is subjugate to a solution to dissolve the segment wall, so that the pulp is left without destroying its original shape. Then the se4ments are dipped into the syrrup and canned. This canned orange is very handy for every kitchen, usable at all times of the year, not requiring slicing or scooping to eat as the wall of each segment is already removed. As the appetizer for breakfast, and as the accompaniments of all sorts of inert dishes, and together with French toast, it is also ideal. Again because of its brilliance of color, it is good for salad and shortcake and jelly. The canning of oranges. started here about 1930. Last year the outl)ul was 240,000 boxes, each containing 4 dozen one pound canns. From the beginning of this year up to June, 590,000 boxes were shipped. Our main customer is Great Britain,, which takes about 84% of the total export production. Beside s the Unshiu Orange, Japan is rich in all sorts of citrus oranges. Next to the Unshiu Orange, what we call Natsumika.n or Summer Orange, resembling , enjoys a wide popularity. Next to these, comes the Washington Navel Orange. There is also the Sour Orange from which superior marmalade is produced. Formosa is also rich in various types of citrus fruits. However, as the California oranges are represented by the Washington Navel Orange, so is Japan's orange represented by the Unshiu Orange.