Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-11-26

garden. No ploughs arc used the ground
is dug up with a spade-like implement at
tachod TO a handle, the same rs hoe. All
agricultural implements are of the rudest
and most awkward construction. Tho
sickle is used for harvesting. Fails are
employed for threshing and bellows for
winnowing. Straw is carefully saved and
utilized. All the products from the field,
as well as those prepared for market, are
carried on the backs or shoulders of COO
lies. Ira nsporied considerable distances,
horses and cows are packed with the far
mer's products 10 be conveyed to market.
There are no meadows here such as we see
in our country; the grass for hay is gath
cred from hooks and corners aud side-hlls
and mountains, where land is unavailable
for cultivation, and the supply is thus Sc
cured without euCrUaChing upon arabic
soil. And stock is subsisted Ivy feeding in
out-of the way places, the horses and cat
tie, OF which there are comparatively few,
being watched and guarded by women and
children. Japanese cattle are small and of
black color, with protuberance in the
centre OF the back, something like the buff
fllo. They make very good beef. The
cows are never MIXED tho japanese do
not use milk or butter. Some stock has
been imported to the country from Ameri-
ca, aud SO cows have been supplied to fur
nish milk for few Of the lai ger towns; all
the butter used is importcd. There are no
sheep; it is said they cannot live here.
This may be true of the valley region, with
lis moist and almost swampy soil, but per-
haps they would do well enough on the high
lands. The government has contracted
with an American experienced in sheep
husbandry TO import large number aud
make full trial, with a view of stocking
the country with sheep. He has no doubt
the enterprise will prove successful, and if
so, Japan will be able in the course of
few years TO furnish supply of wool, and
ultimately OF wooden goods, sufficient for
home consumption. Now these are ali i'm
ported, and the mutton used, which is of
superior quality, is brought from Shang-
hal. japanese horses are tough little beasts,
naturally wild and vicious. The people of
The country use them only for transporting
burdens, packing them down with very
heavy loads. They do not ride or drive
them, the coolies always leading The horses.
Foreigners in some Of the larger towns are
using them with saddle and carriage, but
they are treacherous animals and few seem
10 be well broken. \ bello always accom-
panies turnout 10 clear the way and as a
precaution against accident, or TO furnish
relief 10 the inmates of carriage or the
rider in saddle in case the horse or horses
become unmana2eable. The betto, with
his graceful, Looping gait, Will travel quite
as fast and as long without stopping, as
one cares 10 ride or drive. But to return
from this digressiun: Ten acres is consid-
cred quite large farm. Two and three
crops year are produced. Rice is to this
country what wheat is 10 our western ag-
riculturisls, the great crop; cotton, millct
and barley are next in aggregate quantities
produced; wheat, buck wheat, latterly some
Indian corn, Irish and sweet potatoes, are
also produced for ample supply of home
demand. Farmers are an honored class in
social status, and in former caste classified
lion they occupied position next TO Off
cial dignitaries. They lease their lands
from the government, in which the owner
ship of all the soil is vested. Farms are
not fenced of; there are no fences. Occu-
pancy is marked of with bitches. Coolies
do the farm work, receiving eight 10 ten
cents day, which covers twelve TO four
teen hours of laborious service. The far
mer does not work he is above what is
regarded as mental service. An overseer,
who receives lille more pay than the COO
lie, directs operations under the farmers
supervision. The fruits Of the country
embrace pears, peaches, persmmous, cher
ries, plums, lemons, oranges, pomegran-
ates, grapes and figs. They are not, how
ever, of the best flavor and quality. There
are no apples. The woods embrace a con
siderable variety, some Of superior quality
for fine finish. n largo proportion is soft
wood the pine is not equal TO ours. There
is very hard wood resembling our oak.
There is no end TO the bamboo, and IL is
used more extensively than any other
wood, both for objects of utility and orna-
mentation. Even clothing for summer
wear-and very comfortable it isis manu-
featured from the fine fibre of the bamboo.
AS in California, the flowers Of the tropics
as well as the semi-tropical regions and
temperate zone flourish here in great pro-
fusion, and the air i'll the vicinity of the
beautiful gardens is laden with their sweet
Udors-a sort of antidote for the villainous
smells that prevail in many places both in
town and country from the uses of ferliliz-
ing material of kind that we do not at
tempt 10 utilize, and which enrches the
earth at the expense ola sweet atmosphere.
The training of trees and shrubbery for
augmentation is curious feature of ia
panese gardening. They are made TO grow
in the most grotesque shapes, representing
animals Of all sorts, dragons, serpents and
idols being iavOrite forms Of this sort of
culture.-J. NJ. Francis in Troy Times.