National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-11-15
japanese Agriculture.

There is but little in the practice Of
japanese agriculture that the American
farmer can profitably initiate. / might
say, though not quite SO positively, there
is little in American agricultural prac-
tice than Japan can profitably adopt,
so great ia the difference Ia seapops, peo-
pie. and institutions. But while the
American farmer finds but little in Jap
anese agricultural practice OF value, there
is certainly much In its spirit worthy of
his attention and study. Their thorough
tillage, preferring rather to cultivate
we'll than much ; the care with which
they husband and apply manures; their
diligence in cultivating forest trees for
timber, ornament, and shade, are worthy
of all emulation and praise.
In Japan the Government has the ab-
solute proprietorship Of all the land,
and this is farmed out TO the peasantry,
the Government tax being something
over one half of all produced. Under
this system the life Of the peasant is
usually one of unremitting toll and
wretchedness. His farm rarely exceeds
in size few square rods, but this he
tills so well and thoroughly that the
amount produced is n matter of surprise
to foreigners. In early spring, if on the
uplands, the wheat or barley is sown in
drills about one foot apart. This is care
fully and repeatedly hoed, and liquid
manure applied during the season. To
manure the plant seems to be the object
rather than to fertilize the soil and it
is certain that the liquid form in which
all manures are applied here best accom-
plishes that object. About the time
the grain is in the bloom another crop
is sown between the rows of standing
gram. and thus two and often three
crops are grown from the same land and
during the same season.
Perhaps the most serious obstacle to
the introduction Of new sorts, as we'll as
to the prosecution of old methods of
farming. is the number and variety of
insect enemies that contend with the
aericulturists. | am well convinced
that but for the abundance and cheap
ness of labor there are few plants that
could be proftably cultivated here. AS
it is, none bat the hardest and most
rapid growing are attempted. The
growing of the apple tree has been re-
peatedly attempted in Yokohama and
vicinity, yet they rarely survive more
than two wears from the time of plant
ing. The present season l have seen
Swedish turnips tried, but the way in
which the pieris olerpcca swooped down
upon the plants as soon they appeared
will forbid a repetition of the expert
ment.
The truth is Japan is reaping the
legitimate fruit of yielding an indiscrlm-
mate protection to all kinds of birds.
Firearms to the masses here are unknown
and indeed any other kind of offensive
weapon except the everlasting sword.
Not one Japanese in a hundred ever
drew the trigger. Thus left TO them
selves in the "strugge for life" the
voracious, greedy crows and hawks be-
come "masters Of the situation )" and
so far as my observation has extended,
the small, or insect eating birds really
valuable to the agriculturist, have be-
come all but extinct. Their eggs as
soon rs deposited become the food OF
crows and hawks or should they pass
the egg stage, their fate is sealed as soon
as they leave their hiding place. The
crows and hawks, on the contrary, are
omnipresent. They cav and screain at
you from well-nigh every thatched .oof;
and with impotence only equalled by
their greed, stand ready to catch every
unlucky bit of fish that escapes from the
cnDp S'ions attor ~ WV of trao cultivation both,
!, IN .ae iiar.IA aaud Govarnmant man;fesk1~ q
lle peopio anu 5,1,,o a1al Str;e~'
Ihos' ooti.in.n AZ uas.r;ct +ho ~ ~c,,tt;nl -
Jaws eAis, " ,4;n ies.t,e. .,le af t;ms
couraSe sIs Tlnna plan neaor. and
groves va M IN na' 20 - ! IN
,'o' every M SUI ,'.o
icy. quest,ion s.sas m.s N. r.
country IA ~ - Ssy kn,,al
lated as ya4i y5 q. = u Efl ! II tLa
housesafeOl ll Il. Fis exclusive
ly aZlmol q 0yyet there is no