Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-07-20
Intere.,,nr Fact. Abou, Japan

President Clark, Of the Mass. Agricul-
tural College, who went to Japan TO found
an Agricultural College, is succeeding adj
mirably, but heis not yet ready to make his
work public, here, preferriug to wait for its
further development. From an interesting
letter under date of Feb. 7tb, not intended
for publication, the Scientific American
makes the following extracts:
1--WE have a fine herd of Shorthorn cattle,
but intend to import some Ayrshires, as it
seems trife absurd to be raising stock
and using condensed milk, as we are oblig-
ell TO do. 1t is astonishing to see how the
japanese cook great variety of nutritious
dishes without milk, butter, or fat Of any
sort, or even sugar. They seem TO make
peas aud beans furnish their albuminoids,
and rice their amyloids. Thus you per-
ceive they use the simon pure, original ar
ticles. The one vegetable which serves all
purposes, and seems to be absolutely indis-
pensable TO every japanese, whether high
or low, is the radish (Rdphanats SdtivuS.)
They have developed il to gigantic proper
lions; the roots being olteu three feet long
and three inches in diameter. The color is
always white. They eat it raw with salt ;
they boil and serve ii as we do turnips
they pickle it in brine, tops and roots, and
consume the Ito us) nasty, sinking result
In vast quantities.; they dry tops and roots
and feed upon them; and, worst of all,
they hang them on poles in the fields to
freeze and thaw all winter, and then con-
slider the shriveled remains worth eating.
1 believe the Chinese use the radish in a
similar way, and it is undoubtedly special
ly suited, in its taste and effects, TO the
wants of rice eaters. Who knows but it
might prove blessing in Massachusetts?
intend to send home some seed and have
it tested. The people here raise great va
riety of roots and vegetables, but they evil
IDENTIFY have taken little pains to improve
them. They eat tiger-lily-bulbs, nardosmia
bulbs aud petioles, burdock roots, seaweed
of several species, &C., &c. Our only fruit
this winter is the orange, and this is the
best ever saw. The best cost about cent
apiece. The skin is thin and loose the
pulp is very tender and free from seeds,
and delicious. Twenty make dose.
AS for the Sapporo Agricultural College
which we came here to organize, it is per-
fiction itself, that is, If perfect conduct on
the part of officers and students can make
1t so. Professors Penhallow and Wheeler
are both doing admirably and winning
golden opinions from the authorities. The
students are absolutely without fault. 1
wish you could see their note books on my
lectures. They are fit to print, and are not
only well written and correctly spelled,
but beautifully illustrated with the pen.
These students were all blood-lhirsty
Samurai, who were trained only to fight,
and every one carried two swords until
two years ago. They were absolute heath
en-, aud had only Confucian training in
morals. But they are moro free from every
vice, and more amiable, polite, obedient
and teachable than the boys Of Massachu-
setts. They have taken all the conceit out
of me. am ashamed of myself and my
countrymen in comparison with them.
Christianity must turn over a new leaf or
take back seat. The fact Is, we all do
need conversion. The doctrines OF Christ
are unequalled for excellence, but the prac-
tices OF Christians are not ditto"