The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-11

American Agricuturist.
Labor in Japan is exceedingly cheap. The
ordinary farm hand averages from $40 to $50
per year, without board and lodging. AS
the land is in general very infinitely divided,
the farmers cultivate their own lands with
their own hands. There are about IL, OO0 600
acres of land under cultivation at the pres
ent time and the people engaged in farming
are about ID. 500 900, SO that the average ex-
tent OF land per farmer is little less than
one acre. The wives of farmers not only per-
form their household duties, but also consti-
tute part OF the regular farm force taking
the easier kinds of work, such as picking up
potatoes, transplanting rice, etc. The Japan
csc farmers subsist upon simple diet, but
they enjoy robust health, and are very hos
pitable. In the northern provinces of Japan
the farmers emigrate to the Island of Hok-
kaido after harvest is OYER. and engage in the
salmon and herring fisheries where their la
Dor commands about $50 for five months
service, with board. This is considered as the
highest wages in Japan.
The manure, the most important item in
farming, is carefully economical by the Jap
anese farmer. He never wastes what will
contribute to the fertility of the soil. Fish
guano, lime, barn-yard manure and night
soil are the principal manures used. He OBJ
serves strict economy in the preservation
and application of these manures. Here it
may be safely said that what keeps up the
Japanese farm in its virginia. fertility is prin-
cipally the virtue of nghtsoi The chem
ical analysis of fish guano showed that it
contains nine parts of nitrogen and three
parts of phosphoric oxide. This fish guano
is made on the northern coasts and used in
the southern provinces. Paying great atten-
ton to the economical application of manure
the japanese farmer next considers the
thorough tilage of the land. The soil is
finely pulverized by rude implement, some
what simiar in construction to common
hoe, and the weeds are carefully pulled up
or plowed under.
The japanese farmer never allows weeds to
grow and draw elements of fertility from the
soil. Every farm, every field, looks like a
garden. From this point of view, japanese
farming may aptly be called gardening rather
than farming. IL is a joyous time for every
farmer when the wedding of the rice field
begins. Men, women and children all 90 out
into the field and pull up every weed they
can find, and leave the field in the incest pos
sible condition. They do not mind how
deeply they must get in the mellow mud of
the rice field, but proceed with their work
singing merrily and heartily, and when their
labor is over they have big feast in family
circle, and look for u future blessing from
heaven. Rice may be understood as the sta
pie crop in Japan, and the Japanese farmer
depends entirely upon this one crop; but rice
needs water for its growth, hence the water
question in Japan becomes most important
one Al present every water system is cure
fully utilized for the irrigation of rice fields,
and the system of irrigation is such that
when the rice ripens its seed, and is ready Tor
its harvest the water is drained off and the
field is made accessible for men to work.