The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-06-05
Commodore Psrry's Expedition 4
Japan. E-

Commodore PsrryS Expedition 70
Japan.
We are indebted 70 Hon VIM. p. Tsssn-
den. q. s. g., for . government copy Of
Commodore Psrry's Expedition to China,
for which be viii please receive our thanks.
The work il in three quarso volumes and
illustrated with pictures of incidents Of the
expedition and Of the manners and customs
Of the Japanese. We make the following
extracts from one Of the volumes, the first
having the wonderful effects produced by
the use fguanO in promoting the growth
Of the sugar cane at Mauritus.
Before the introduction Of guano a. fer
tililer, the product was from 1000 to 25,-
600 French pounds Of sugar to the arpent or
French acre but the increase since the ap-
plicstion Of the guano. has been % extraor-
binary as to be scarcely credible. In ordin-
AIRY seasons the product has been from six to
seven thousand pounds, and under peculiar
~ favorable circumstances, II has even reach
ed-eight thousand pounds to the acre. .
The land would produce cotton and tobacco,
but the entire thoughts Of the agriculturists
of the island are directed to sugar. The
proportion of guano is about one-tourth Of
Q pound to o cane, and the French arpent
or acre il estimated 70 contain about two
thousand plants.
Sugar Making in Leu Chos. The sugar
mills consist of three cylinders ofhard wood,
supported in an upright position BY means
of wooden frame. The cylinders are
about o foot in diameter, and are arranged
in row, with mortice between them to
regulate the approach and their pressure
upon the cane. The central one has WOOD
on axle or shaft extending through the frame
which supports it. TO which is attached .
curved lever Of fifteen feet in length, by
which the mill is readily worked. This
central cylinder has o row Of cogs Of hard
wood near its upper end which play into
mortices cut into each Of the two other cylin-
ders. A single bull Or horse is generally
used to work the mill, and the animal moves
in circle of about thirty feet in diameter.
The cane is placed first between the central
and right cylinders, and before its escape it
is caught by the hand Of the workman and.
being twisted like rope, is thrust in be
tween the central and left cylinders, by
which il is completely crushed and its juice
expressed, which flows through cutters into
tub placed in hole near by. The juice
is then conveyed to neighboring houses,
temporarily constructed for the purpose, and
there boiled in iron pans containing about
eight or ten gallons. What use is made Of
all the sugar 1t is difficult to understand, as
the common beverage, which is tea, is never
sweetened.
1t probably il kept as a dellcacy for the
palates of the higher classes, who delight in
sweetmeats and other confections Of sugar,
or sent a. an export or tribute to Japan. In
spite Of an abundant product, sugar is evil
IDENTIFY scarce article among the common
people. The refuse cane after being pressed,
Is carefully dried and used AZ fuel.
Agriculture. OF animals to assist in cul-
ture, the Japanese have the horse, or, and a
large species of buffalo, which they train to
draw carts and carry heavy loads on the
back. They pillow with both the OK and cow.
OF milk and butter they make no use
When they cannot use cattle to pillow, as on
the steep sides of hills, men are substituted
and sometimes the pillow is laid aside, and all
the labor in preparing the earth is done by
hand. Generally their soil is rather poor,
but by means Of the immense labor they
bestow upon it, by irrigation, and especial
ly by the use of manures which they under
stand well, they make very large crops.
Their chief grain is rice, Of which they
are said to produce the best in all Asia
They all make Barley and wheat. The first
is used for feeding cattle; the other is not
much valued, and is chiefly used for cakes
and soy. This last Is made by fermenting,
underground, wheat with peculiar. kind Of
bean and salt.
Next to rice in importance, 10 the tea
plant. Immense quantities OF are pro-
duced, for its use is universal. Beside the
plantations devote to it, the hedges on the
farms are all Of the tea-plant. Siebold says
the finer kinds require great care and skill
in their cultivation. The plantations are
situated, Us far as they conveniently can be,
from all other crops, and from human bab-
itations, lest the delicasy Of the tea should
be impaired by smoke or any other impuri,
ty. They manure the plants with dried
anchovies, and with the juice pressed out Of
mustard seed. The harvesting is a process
of great nicely. DR.. Siebold thinks that
the green and black tea are from the same
plant, and differ only in mode Of prepara-
ton, though Others have said the plants
differ themselves. Neither, however, is ever
dried on copper, but are dried on an iron
pan.
In horticulture, the japanese are very
skillful raising radishes weighing from
City TO sixty pounds.