The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-10-24

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pace OF six miles al hour on the level
sometimes exceeding that rate-ana
MiN average nearly FIVE miles On mixed
/ grades. i have one record OF nine
| and fhree-fffh miles made In one hour
and 3 minutes by = single Inaa on .
level.
RtcK CULTURE.
Ny first drive was into rice region.
The fields were cut up into all sizes.
and arranged upon ever VARYING levels.
Some were but few feet square. while
a quarter 81 an acre was large field.
The best land yields 50 bushels an
acre more or less, and the poorest
about thirty 1t Is rare TO End two ad-
iacent fielis on the SAME level. s.op-
ing lands i Of tourSe more convenient
FOR irrigation. but on this fat area
through which we were travelling the
little rice fields we're laboriously diyi-
del mp at differing heights. so that the
water might be made TO dow easily
from one 10 the other. The water IS
raised 20 the higher patches mostly by
tfeadmili pumps. We were on the
ground in season to witness the earlier
stages OF rice cultivation In some
fields the bare stubs OF the last crop
were di~maliy peering out OF the mud
In Others laborerS were tearing up the
stuss with heavy pronged forks, stand
| ing nearly to the hips IN water and
slime. Bullocks drawing long -foothesi
harrows were engaged in the same
operation. Wooden ploughs we're also
at work. mere stirriag-up implements
of wood with one handle. Thew had a
roanded nose, fortified with an iron
chisei. point beveled downward. Then
there was a rude plough with broad
iron share for turning shallow fur
row, and heavy oblong hoes for work
ing the soil oyer and over Grading
scoops completed the grand utensils,
but for shaping the causeways. or mar
row dykes between the fields, the
coolies used the usual hand weapons.
In some OF the fields the rice was
already showing thiekly, about siS
/ inches in height, giving a beautiful
variety To the dismal landscape OF
mud and scum. In other Arrears tho
Seeding plants are being set out il
rows, six inches apart each way. The
crop i sown in May aud reaped In
Octobe- or November. being grabbed
or puddled three times during the sea.
son. This means that the whole popu-
lation wade into the slime. pull out
the weeds, and stir up the mud about
the roots OF the plants.
TIE GRAIN FIELps.
The first thing that struck US in the
barley and wheat regions was the
peculiar burrows, They were very
shallow az first, varying somewhat in
depth, and considerable in width and
architecture, 80 to speak. They were
in the rough at the outset, so far as
anything IN Japan Is entitled to that
character, though they would be
smooth and elegant burrows anywhere
else. Then they began to be sloped
up slanting. smoothed off as evenly a.
the sides of q house. Others were
squared with mathematical precision
On the ridges the barley is sown in
thick-set rows, apparently by hand
On the narrow ridges but a single row
appeared; on the broader ones were
two rows and more rarely three. Out
side these grain rows the ridges wer,
utilized for other crops. mostiF rows
OF buckwheat, but We also saw sweet
potatoes, turnips. beans and the like
In one place we observed man water
ing this extra crop. which appeared
odd, as the ground seemed moist
lenough. To accomplish this primitive
irrigation he carried two buckets sluus
lover his shoulders on a pole, and USED
n wooden hand-dipper with slit ii
the side at the bottom, which let out !
thin disk of water. Throughout thu
fields of this vast region were numer
Gus wells, with the old-fashioned wei
sweep. Not only the ridges hSt tn,
burrows themselves are sometime
utilized for crops. The only thing W,
saw growing there, however, wa.
what our courier informed us was hfst
seed.
Aside from the barley, was whea
also. used mostly for :he manufacture
of vermieeih we did not discover
any use OF bread by the Japs. excep
in rare eases where the custom hat
been borrowed from Europeans
There were immense fields also q
what our guide called oil plant. which
We took 10 be rape seed. This eroJ
was being harvested, a. also was tn,
barley in warm localities. it being tn,
latter part of MAY. There were alss
large patches of beans and peas. an,
of the thin grass-like reed whose pjtt
furnishes japanese lamps with wick
ing We were. however. more occu
pied with the Style and character o
the farming than with crop statistics
And this style was really gardening
on grand scale The nice little fur
rows, to which | have referred, all haze
the appearance OF being careinll,
pat,ei By hand, 50 smooth and ever
were their surfaces.
ORNAMENTAL BOUNDARY Inns.
Then. in addition TO the nice regu
larity OF the sown crops. there was an
other peculiar gardening feature. \,
fences or hedges appeared in the fields
Tor good land is too valuable, beinI
worth S59a 10 5000 the acre. and ever
more in some eases. boundaries ar'
marked bs stakes or stones with tn,
owners name or symbol attached
This l. not difficult 10 regiltte, a
many OF the patches are very small
But in place of fences there were cr0I
boundaries in many places on the ria
OF the fields. For example. q ihicki'
sown row of wheat would extend nj
around a barley field. The rows o
grain usually ran with the ends towars
the road. an the bordering rows o
another crop. had pretty elect Ii
| .one cases. however. the grain row
wonlti ran one way for u certain dis
lance and then would come anothe
patch soWn 1T right angles. This VIZ
alsn quite novel and picturesque
Sometimes the ornamental b2rde
would he Of the same crop, A. baflel
around harley bur this was not usa
aIlv the case. One field gave Us vcr1
pretty eiiect II was a small are
planted e. peas with plfts-eolore'
Blossoms Is border va i Tick ro7
of The ahiie-fioNered variety A. a
were he hoom. the elect was charm
ling
WEEp cUErr RE.
The weediar of these fields Is per
feet. G. & our cultiystors might take
ie,-oa f4om the Japs Numbers {
Women were rrauehed between IN
ln'es 81 b rley wocdinr by hand Wit
the ;ffros systcnl she eHliivatOr
ont of place; and, moreover, hans
T, work Is the rule IN this crawtie3 coar
, try. ans. IN days drive ~ taiTty-t~
mile. se Only saw t@o horse Nhes