Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-07-21

ebhb liz lliSll W Tic DCOplS MY pei
cent. less than they charge for it at
present.
Farming in Japan.
All travellers in this country are i'm
pressed with the smallness of the fields.
A wheat or barley field containing more
than two acres would be hard to find.
In most cases they do no. exceed one
fourth or one-half an acre. Their
farming is all on very small scale.
Many of their rice fields resemble lit
tie lawns or croquet plats, and few
rows OF potatoes or other vegetables are
all the average farmer ever thinks of
planting. Notwithstanding the small
ness of their individual farms, great
quantities are produced, for great num-
bers are engaged in farming. The
wheat and barley are sown in rows and
very carefully cultivated. Consequent
~, it grows luxuriantly and is entirely
free from other plants. So of all the
fields: they are free from weeds and
thistles. There are no fences or hedges
in the fields, and the divisions consist
of narrow paths. Thus you look with
out obstruction over many farms at
once, and the variety Of crops, all
growing richly and without weeds, pre-
sent a very pleasant picture.
Their grains consist chiefly of rice,
which is the most important of all
their productions, because it is their
leading article of food, and sake, their
national drink, is made from it. Wheat
and barley is extensively cultivated l
saw no oats. Peas a2d millet are also
grown. Among vegetables, they raise
cabbage, turnips, potatoes, onions and
radishes The latter is a special favor
tie and is grown in large quantities; it
is pure white in color and grows to an
enormous size. | have handled and
measured them three feet in length.
They are preserved in salt by the natives
and used as pickles. A meal is not
complete without this vegetable. The
entire country is mountainous and well
supplied with streams, which are used
very successfully for irrigating pur-
poses and for flooding their rice fields.
The plow is scarcely known in many
parts of the empire, and, when used, it
consists of Il very primitive instrument,
which does not turn furrow, but SIM
ply scratches the surface of the soil
The earth IS generally broken by Eand,
and the instrument most in use is Il
long hoe, which the workman forces
into the soil with skillful blow and
then pulls over the earth. They are
wiser than we i'll that they never
plant crop without fertilizing the soil;
hence, while their land is not naturally
very rich, it constantly increases in
fertility. They have no exact chemi-
cal knowledge of the soils, still they
seem to understand the great essential
principles of successful husbandry-
namely, to restore fully the wasted
energies of the soil, and bestow care
full, unremitting cultivation on the
plants They suffer nothing to be
wasted which can possibly increase the
producing power Of their fields. These
leaves of autumn are carefully gather
ed and placed in tanks to rot All the
refuge of their crops is also utilized,
and, where it is possible, seaweed Is
gathered for the same purpose. Along
all the highways are tanks ut frequent
intervals, placed on a level with the
dild lIlG ISNCISC vi lllC COul-
mon notice commit no nuisance
here Is posted up near at hand. The
farmers near large towns and cities
may be seen III scores at almost any
hour carrying wooden buckets filled
with night. soil, which they are bearing
away TO their gardens to be used as
a fertilizer.
In travelling through the country one
sees no pasture fields nor green mead
ows, smells no clover nor the scent of
new-mown hay; these are quite I'M
thought of by the farmers. They
have no need for them, for the few
horses owned by the people subsist on
the wild grass growing along the edges
of their rice fields or the steep hillsides;
also on millet and beans. Sorry speci-
mems they are of that noble animal.
The men and women do most of the
work. The horse is seldom used for
any other purpose than to carry few
bundles on his back. He is then led
with rope, and shod with straw shoes,
which will last only short distance,
and then must be renewed. l have
journeyed hundreds of miles into the
country without seeing COW, and |
believe | never saw pig while IN the
country. There are no fruit orchards,
although many or all the kinds peculi
ar to the tempera e zones can be grown.
This Is not the season for any fruit ex-
cept strawberries, but am told by in
telligcnt American residents that all
their fruits lack flavor and are COM
paratively worthless, excepting the
persimmon, and Of this they speak in
terms of highest praise.
The diet of the farmers believe to
be the most simple Of any other people
possessing an equal civilization. 1t
consists entirely of vegetables, eggs,
and fish, but i'll vas. majority of cases
never of any meat. Strange to say,
milk and butter as articles of food are
unknown, and no part of my outfit
called forth more. EXPLANATIONS of sur
prise than a tin of butter which used
at every meal in the houses where
rested. They have no idea of milking
a COW, and are convulsed with laughter
at the suggestion. l have seen no
other nation where this ignorant preju-
dice prevails. 1t would seem that ore
reason Why they are so weak physical
~ Is the lack of nourlshing muscle
producing diet.
Excepting some of the half-starved
East Indians they are the weakest peo-
pie | have ever seen. Their average
height IS only FIVE feet two inches, with
narrow chests and small muscular de-
velopment. Their s.lke-drinking and
universal RIGHTEOUSNESS. ! believe, has
set the seal Of extinction on them as
nation, unless western customs and
Christian civilization are permitted to
pour new life into the failing fountain.
The Farmers houses are all exceed
lngiy simple and very inexpensive. but
cleanly; also very similar in size, con-
struction and furnishing. There seems
to be more of that bitter and injurious
rivalry In dress and house-building
which prevails xith us. They are very
polite and hospitable to strangers-the
commonest rustic has suayity and