The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-11-18
japanese Agriculture.

Japanese agriculture that the American
farmer can proftably initiate. I might
say, though not quite so positively, there
is little in American agricultural prac-
tice than Japan can proftably adopt,
so great is the difference in seasons, peo-
pie, and institutions. But while the
American farmer finds but littlein in Jap.
anese agricultural practice OF value, there
is certainly much in its spirit worthy OF
his attention and study. Their thorough
tillage, preierring rather 10 cultivate
well than much 4; the care with which
they husband and apply manures their
diligence in cultiyating forest trees for
timber, ornament, and shade, are worthy
Of all emulation and praise.
In Japan the Government Inns the alb
solute proprietorship OF all the land,
and this isfarmed out to the peasantry,
tue Government tax being something
over one'hali OF all produced. Under
this system the life OF the peasant is
usually one Of unrOmitting toll and
wretchedncss. His farm rarely exceeds
in size few square rods, but this he
tills SO well and thoroughly that the
amount produced is u matter OF surprise
to foreigners. In early spring, II on the
uplands, the wheat or barley is sown in
drills about one iootapart. This is care
fully aud repeatedly hoed, and liquid
manure applied during the season. To
manure the plant seems to be tho object
rather than to fertilize the soil and it
is certain TINT theliquid form in which
all manurcs 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 aud
during the same season.
Perhaps the most serious obstacle TO
tile introduction Of new sorts, as well Us
to the prosecution Of old methods Of
farming, is the number and variety Of
insect enemies that contend with the
agriculturists. / am well convinced
that but for the abundance and cheap
ness Of labor there are few plants that
could be pro6tably cultivated here. AS
tits, none but the hardest and most
rapid.growing are attempted. The
growing OF the apple tree has been re-
peatodly attempted in Yokohama and
vicinity, yet they rarely survive more
than two years from the time Of plant
ing. The present season I have seen
Swedish turnips tried, but the wny in
which the pitris olerpotd swooped down
upon the plants MS soon q they appeared
will forbid q repetition Of the expert
ment.
Tho truth is Japan is reaping the
Legitimate fruit Of yielding an indiscrim.
mate protection to all kinds Of birds.
Firearms to hemasses here are unknown
and indeed any other kind Of offensive
weapon except tue everlasting sword.
Not one Japanese in a hundred ever
drew tho trigger. Thus left 10 them
selves in the "sttuggle for life," the
ybracious, greedy crows and hawks be-
come "masters Of the situation y and
so far as my observation has extended,
tho small, or intoxicating birds really
valuable to tile agriculturist, have be-
come all but extinct. Their eggs as
soon as 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
omaipresent. They cav and scream at
you from well.nigh every thatched roof;
and with impudence only equalled by
their greed, stand ready to catch every
unlucky bit Of fish that escapes from tho
chop sticks Of the natives.
In the matter Of tree cultivation, both
the people and Government manifest n
most commendable zeal. Stringent
laws exist TO restrict the cutting and on
courage the planting of timber. Little
kgroyes Of Kiakas, cedars, and iaponicas,
dot every hill side and adorn every val
LEY. question whether there is another
country in the world, MS densely popu-
lated as Japan, that can show m equal
breadth Of timber growth. Nearly all the
housesare Of wood, and wood isexclusiye-
| ly the fuel Of tho people yet there isno
dearth, nor dread Of future failures, no
rubbing Of musty political economies,
or coming Of new theories, to explain
our conduct when the "timber SUPPLY
shall be no more. The exercise Of the
same common sense and forecast in re-
gard to crop twenty or thirty year, in
maturing, that we are compelled to exer-
else with annual or biennial crop Is the
Japanese substitute fer our ever present
ears, and scarcity, with consequent high
prices. = Correspondence Of he Pratrt.
Fmu,t.
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