The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-02-02

CnnTacteT OI the Lhhu AupTOhe-
ments and Prospects OF the Coun-
try-The Old system and the New
The Crops and A AnImaIs-The Manu-
featuring Interest.
Japan is land o islands. II IS esti-
mated to have surface of $50 900 squar
miles. The stranger, in whatever par
he may be. is sure to he surprised at IFS
irregularities of surface. After sligh'
examination he can have llttle doubt OF
It's being subject 10 frequent volcanic
upheavals. For ages it ls said to have
averaged two earthquakes a month; and
often has been visited with hundrt d
during ore moon. These elevations art
crumpIed. distorted. serrated and twist
ed into every imaginable shape. Geo
logically speaking, the largest portion is
of recent origin. However, in the
nation abOunds. Japan is certainly
land of tall mountains, deep valleys.
numerous rivers, extensive forests. rich
bottom lands and propitiOus skies. II
has a vast population for its area, numb
ering more than thirty-eight millions.
averaging two hundred persons to tht
.quare mile Not more than one tenth
OF the whole area is susceptible of cult
vatiOn, and not more than one-fonrth oi
the fertile surface has yet been Improv-
ed. The valleys near the sea have been
largely cultivated and are producing
today about the same as they did in the
Jalmy days of feudalism, fifty bushels
to the acre.
The great want of the land is live
stock. 1t is surprising that there should
be such dearth of domestic and even
wild animals. Wandering over the hills
through the valleys and along the flank
of the mountains you will see no tlJcks
of sheep, no herds of cattle. no droves
of horses as in our great West; still
there is an abundance of grass and
brush vegetation. Ihis dearth can BE-
accounted for only on the ground thai
during the long feudal reign no COM
munIcations were allowed with the out
side world Really no improvements
were made, The tillage WAS all done by
human hands, lord and vassal were
bound to remain as they were. THIS
state continued as late as 1870, when
the present Government was instituted
1t was blessing when the castle gave
way TO the palace and the emperor sup
planted the feudal lord. Since the rev.
Olution and the establishment of the
present form of government in Japan
rapid progress has been made in agrI-
cultural methods. In few instances
sheep have been introduced, horses have
multiplied, cows are feeding in the
pastures and oxen have been made tn
turn the furrow. Still, on not more than
half dozen farms will you yet find
plows, cartS, wagons, seed sewers. reap
ers and other implement such as are 81
common in our country. On the land in
connection with the Agricultural Col
lege, apple trees, pear trees and vines
have beeu planted out and are doing
we'll Their fruit is favored the same az
with us, being entirely unlike the pear
and apple hitherto grown here. having
UeelIngs as tough as ,owhlde and a
pulp of woody fibres.
Formerly the land was all owned by
the Mikado. and rentals we're made 10
sustain the government, such as it was.
The ruler was sure to take the lions
share, and his KIN, or daimios, would
come III for theirs, so that the pea>aut
would not have even fourth part left
IN favorable season; and in drOuth
he would be forced 10 give up his all
and beg for himself. But az the present
his taxes are nothing as burdensome,
and in the course Of few years he is
likely to have his little farm in his own
possession, However, he can only own
the soil II mines are discovered on his
acres the Government claims these and
controls them. Most Of the peasants live
in hamlets Still many have their homes
close by the fields they cultivate 1t is
quite safe for them to live isolated il
they wish. 1t is quite different here
from what it is in Spain or Asia Minor.
| The people there are obliged to live in
communities for self protection. The
true wealth Of Japan lies in her agri-
cultural resources and not in her mines
and manufacl ures. Is not this eSpec-
tally trne of our own country? Dispense
with the farms of the East and the
West and our wealth and national
strength would be largely gone,
The present MiEado and what may be
termed the mobiles Of the land are taking
decided interest in the advancement oi
agriculture. From tEis fact and many
others it Ia PLAN TO see that Japan has 9
future before her that Will be Ceriain "a
Burpass her bygones. The soil Of the IN.
tervals and valleys is dark and rich,
ruuIPOVed Of VVtrsuic and vegetable pro