Vegetation of Hutaoi-zima , Yamaguchi Prefecture

Hutaoizima locates in Hibikinada Sea fa part of Japan Sea) almost 5.5km. apart from the main land Hondo. It is 3.3km. long and 1.4km. wide, and 13.3km. in circumference. The island is rather hilly, its highest point (Mt. Ooyama) being 230.4m. It has no rivers, though' it is rich in water. It consists mainly of porphyrites. The soil is rather fertile. The annual mean temperature is 19.8°C, and the annual mean rainfall is ca. 1750mm. The fine days ure 130 days per year. In winter west wind prevails and in summer south- wind does. The island has been well known from olden times. The shrine has its origin in the reign of Zingfi Kdgd (393 A.D.). In the mediaeval times the island was once a base for sea pirates. The present population is 227, among them 117 being men and 110 women. The rice field is 52562 ares, farm 8C301 ares, forest 272729 ares and pasture being 138844 ares. The chief industry is fishery which is carried out by men. The women engage in farm work and also fishing by diving near the coast. The cattle raising is flourishing. The forest is almost secondary excepting the forest reserves for shrines. The forest reserves (Forest for Mountain Gods) have the primitive type of Shinto Shrines and have no buildings. It is a kind of the so-called ”Himorogi”. The forest consists of Castav.opsis cuspidata ― Camellia japonica var. spontanea association. The forest consisting mainly of Camellia japonica var. spontanea is generally found in this island. The forest of Pinns Thiinbergli is found near the east coast of the island. The sandybeach is never observed and the beach full of gravels is of frequent occurrence. The cliffs.